The Solowheel uses gyro sensors, a 1000 Watt motor and a rechargeable battery to get you on your way.
To understand the physics behind the Solowheel, think about the last time you went ice skating. Your feet are relatively free to move over the slick surface of the ice. When you skate in a straight line on one foot, you can see your foot steer right and left to balance your body. This observation has been turned into a concept that has been transferred to the Solowheel to help you balance and steer with ease. How? With your feet low to the ground and your legs resting against the pads, your lower body acts as one unit, like skating on one skate.
The human foot has a small mass that is easier to rotate and manipulate independently of the body than the larger mass of the hip. Using your feet to steer and balance is much easier than using your hips which is what traditional unicycles draw on.
How to Use The Solowheel:
Simply put one foot on the platform and push off. Your other foot goes on the other platform. Lean forward to go forward and lean back to slow down and stop. Twist your feet left and right to balance and steer. The motion is similar to steering the front wheel of a bicycle.
Users can ride for approximately 10 miles, at 10 miles per hour, and the lithium-ion battery can be fully recharged in only two hours. Like with hybrid cars, the Solowheel battery recaptures energy when going downhill or slowing down.
Be sure to watch the instructional videos for visual guidelines on learning to ride the Solowheel.
Advantages:
The Solowheel is environmentally-friendly: Use it to replace a car for short distances. This reduces gas costs, pollution, and traffic.
Hands free.
Lightweight.
Can be used on different terrains.
The Solowheel is portable so that you can bring it into buildings, offices, malls, college campuses, parks, stadiums, skate parks and anywhere else personal electric vehicles are allowed.