Electric unicycle

Electric Unicycle

An electric unicycle is a self-balancing vehicle with a single wheel that is powered by an electric motor. It is considered as a personal transporter because it can usually accommodate a single rider. It is operated much like the Segway in which the movements of the rider essentially control the speed and direction of the wheel. Leaning forward or backward will move or slow down the device. It can run up to 20 mph (32 km/h). Tilting your weight to the left or right using your feet will turn it in the same direction much like steering a skateboard. Meanwhile, the self-balancing process within the device utilizes Gyroscopes and accelerometers.

There are many variations of the electric unicycle in terms of the frame. The most typical is comprised of a single wheel that contained the electric motor, rechargeable battery, gyroscopes and other electronic parts at the center. It also has two flat pedals at the opposite sides of the wheel upon which the rider’s feet are rested. Some e-unicycles have built-in saddle or seat that allows that rider to sit. Still, others include handling bars so that the rider has something to hold on to while riding.

Whereas manual unicycles were primarily used for performing in circuses and festivals or just a hobby, the introduction of electric unicycles has provided people with portable urban transportation that can help people navigate their way through streets and traffic with speed and without much physical effort.

How does an Electric Unicycle work?

The electric unicycle contains a very simple mechanism consisted of an electric motor that is connected to the rim, rechargeable battery, a motherboard and gyroscopes, and an accelerometer. Like many other electric vehicles, the device is ultimately propelled by an electric motor that is powered by a rechargeable battery. However, instead of pressing a remote control like electric skateboards or pulling the throttle like electric scooters, the rider’s body movements are what triggers acceleration, deceleration, and direction of the electric uni wheel. The motherboard ultimately determines the inclination angle of the body and commands the rotor to spin forward or backward. Leaning forward is read by the motherboard as a command to move forward or accelerate and so on. Any change in the riders’ body movement would be detected and result in controlling the speed and velocity of the vehicle. Incidentally, leaning backward or shifting bodyweight back will slow down the vehicle.

Self-balancing in the electric unicycle is achieved with the use of gyroscopes and accelerometers. The gyroscope is a rotating disc in which rotation axis is permitted to take any orientation by itself and is not affected by tilting or rotation. It calculates and sustains positioning and angular speed. The rotor will continue its rotational axis direction irrespective of the positioning of the outer wheel. The accelerometer, on the other hand, regulates acceleration or speed with a change of direction. Thus, it automatically slows down the rotor spin when turning to different directions. During a free fall, the accelerator will mechanically slow down the device to prevent the vehicle from going faster and faster because of the pull of gravity.

As an electric vehicle, the built-in brake system of the electric unicycle follows regenerative braking. This means that the brake is achieved by spinning the rotors of the motor backward to counter the forward movement. When the brake is applied, the backward rotation of the rotor also generates electricity which is fed back or charges the battery.

Prices of Electric Unicycles

The price range of electric unicycles widely varies because of the different variants, types, and features of the personal transporter. The price range for a typical e-unicycle is from $200 to $1200. The average price of a quality e-uni wheel is between $500 and $700. Meanwhile an electric unicycle with seats and handle or also known as self-balancing personal transporter can cost from $2000 to $2500