Bizarre self-balancing Gyro-X vehicle back on the roads

Back in 1967, when a unique two-wheeled vehicle called the Gyro-X was built. At that time the prototype was built by a California-based company named Gyro Transport Systems. Physically the vehicle only has two wheels, one in front and one behind which at first glance looks more like a motorcycle than a car. The vehicle utilized a built-in gyroscope able to make it remain upright while on stationary condition or not moving.

Bizarre two-wheeled self-balancing Gyro-X vehicle gave an impressive demonstration at the 2019 Concorso d’Eleganza of Villa d’Este near Cernobbio, Italy. (Picture from: InilahKoran.id)

Even though the car developers initially hoped to take Gyro-X into production, it all faded when the company went bankrupt in the 1970 before the two-wheeled vehicle entered into production lines, and the only one of prototype was orphaned and neglected. Over the past 40 years, the vehicle has moved from one owner to another, which has made its conditions being more worse along the time.

Designer Alex Tremulis with the Gyro-X. (Picture from: NewAtlas)

The Gyro-X single-seat vehicle was created by a renowned industrial designer named Alex Tremulis. He had previously designed vehicles (the four-wheeled variety) for another big names of American automotives manufacturers such as Cord Automobile, Duesenberg, General Motors, Tucker Car Corporation and Ford, where he worked as Chief of Advanced Styling.

Bizarre self-balancing Gyro-X vehicle takes to the stage (on its two wheels) after winning the Dean Batchelor Trophy at the 2017 Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance. (Picture from: AutoWeek)

According to an article in the September 1967 issue of Science & Mechanics, a ready-made two-wheeled Gyro-X can drive up to a top speed of 125 mph (201 kph), and could swoop through 40-degree banked turns without tipping. It weighs only 1,850 pounds (839 kg), measured 47 inches (119 cm) in height, only 42 inches (107 cm) in width, and 15 feet,5 inches (4,7 meters) in length. It rolls on two 15-inches wheels, and uses a small engine with power of 80-horsepower.

Its single 20-inch hydraulically-driven gyroscope – developed by noted “gyrodynamist” Thomas O. Summers Jr. – spun at up to 6,000 rpm, creating 1,300 foot pounds (1,763 Nm) of torque. It did take approximately three minutes to build up to that speed, however, meaning that drivers couldn’t just get in and go. A set of training wheel-like retractable outriggers held the vehicle up in the meantime.

Bizarre self-balancing Gyro-X vehicle able to drive up to a top speed of 125 mph (201 kph), and could swoop through 40-degree banked turns without tipping. (Picture from: TCCT)

Now, this bizzare two-wheeled vehicle has been owned by the Lane Motor Museum in Nashville, Tennessee, United States since 2011 after it had passed hands several times and many modifications had been done. And finally the museum has successfully carried out a restoration project so that the vehicle condition has been recovered as it was in its hey days in the late 1960s.

Part of the restoration project was involved rebuilding the rear, replacing the two rear wheels with one, according to the original configuration. The missing gyroscope must also be rebuilt from scratch. To handle this, the museum has registered the service of Thrustcycle Enterprises - a company that is currently developing a gyroscopically-stable two-wheeled vehicle, known as SRT. Thrustcycle will also be tasked with rebuilding control and outriggers.

"The gyro people, their thing was that the cars were going to be narrower, they were going to take up half as much room - they will be more fuel efficient, they will be safer because it will be very difficult to flip them over," explained Jeff Lane, director of Lane Motor Museum. "The ideas are good, but I think in reality the gyroscopic part is very complicated and quite expensive... it always works on paper, but it doesn't always work in the workshop. This is a very obscure and strange part of history, but also is a very interesting part of history." he said further.

An impressive demonstration of a fully restored two-wheeled self-balancing 1967 Gyro-X vehicle at the 2019 Concorso d’Eleganza of Villa d’Este. (Picture from: InilahKoran.id)

And finally in 2017 the vehicle was fully restored and exhibited to the public at the the 2017 Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance. And again on this year, the bizarre 1967 Gyro-X two-wheeled vehicle was shown off in front of the world's automotive lovers at the 2019 Concorso d’Eleganza of Villa d’Este near Cernobbio, Italy.

See it for yourself on display at the Lane Motor Museum on a normal day. *** [EKA | FROM VARIOUS SOURCES | LANE MOTOR MUSEUM | BUZZ ANYTHING | AUTOWEEK | TCCT | WIRED | NEW ATLAS]
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Another 7 Most Awesome Roofed Motorcycles

Some motorcycle manufacturers continue to innovate gave birth to the best products. Very intriguing, it turns out there are some that present roofed motorbikes that aims to protect the rider. In the two-wheeler automotive history has indeed sprung dozens of the roofed motorcycles that would protect the rider from weather conditions.

Toyota i-Road in action. (Picture from: http://adf.ly/1ZYYeb)

If initially a prototype and concept vehicles, some of which have even been mass produced. Actually there are several roofed motorcycles that we've discussed here, such as Paraves Ecomobile, Lit Motors C1, Toyota i-Road, etc. 

Well, on this occasion, we summarize the article about another seven of the most awesome design of roofed motorcycles as reported by Visordown on Friday, April 15, 2016:

1. Peugeot HYmotion3 Compressor

This motorcycle was produced short after it first appeared in 2008. Not only has three wheels, this bike also uses three-wheel-drive technology. In this motorcycle planted a twin electric motors on the two front wheels and a single supercharged 125 cc can burst the power up to 20 bhp for the rear wheels.

Peugeot HYmotion3 Compressor. (Picture from: http://adf.ly/1ZYUeD)

The Peugeot HYmotion3 Compressor hybrid scooter has a top speed of 110 km/h (68.8 mph) and accelerates from zero to 100 km/h (62 mph) in 11.2 seconds.

2. BMW C1

BMW made motorcycles had become the center of attention. How not driving these vehicles as combining a motorcycle with a car. There are several the car's technologies embedded in the motorcycle. BMW even created two models with the engine capacity of 125 cc and 200 cc.

BMW C1. (Picture from: http://adf.ly/1ZYTvU)

3. BMW The Simple

This was a concept bike that never actually got a proper unveiling. As with many of the car-bike hybrids with roofs, it’s actually got three wheels to lend a bit more stability but unlike the firm’s CLEVER concept, on which the rear wheels and engine remained upright while the front tilts, the Simple’s rear pair also lean. That gives it just enough of a bike-like feel to be included. The stealth fighter-esque styling is also a bonus.

BMW The Simple Concept. (Picture from: http://adf.ly/1ZYWC9)

4. Honda Elysium

This motorcycle concept was first exhibited in 2001 is indeed very unique. On this motorcycle planted a liquid-cooled 4-stroke flat-4 engine with a capacity of 750 cc. But, unfortunately this bike was never be produced.

Honda Elysium Concept. (Picture from: http://adf.ly/1ZYTde)

The roof folds down at the touch of a button, sliding away into the rear section to make it look much more like a conventional scooter.

5. Benelli Adiva

The Benelli unique motorcycle has the roof can be folded also and very thin. This motorcycle was produced from 2001 to 2006. The front screen has a built in wiper with screen wash.

Benelli Adiva. (Picture from: http://adf.ly/1ZYUPV)

The rear luggage compartment has an 80ltr capacity with the roof folded out and is roughly halfed with the roof contained within. Benelli hopes this motorcycle will be able to become a serious challenger of the BMW C1.

6. Honda Gyro Canopy
Again, the link between roofs and a third wheel rears its head, but the Honda Gyro Canopy very much reached production. In fact, tens of thousands have been sold during a production run that started way back in 1990. Like the rest of Honda’s oddball Gyro range, the rear wheels and engine are on a separate platform that’s attached to the main structure of the bike via a pivot, allowing them to remain upright.

Honda Gyro Canopy. (Picture from: http://adf.ly/1ZYXoF)

7. Quasar 
This bike is probably the oldest roofed motorcycles on the list. Quasar was built from 1975 to 1982 and produced only 21 units. The entire power plant was taken from the Reliant Robin three-wheel car. The engine was used in absolutely standard form, giving a road-burning 41 bhp, which did not propel a 310 kg (680 lbs) motorcycle very fast.

Quasar. (Picture from: http://adf.ly/1ZYV3Q)

The gearbox was also standard Reliant, but with a foot change mechanism added on, which did not offer the rider the option of using reverse. The final drive was a custom-made unit which incorporated Reliant internals. *** [EKA | FROM VARIOUS SOURCES | VISORDOWN]

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Latest breakthrough in dealing with the urban congestion

There are vehicles such as cars, but only has two wheels but allow users to stay balanced while in it. This vehicle named C1 developed and engineered by LIT Motors since 2012. Vehicle which has a drive like a car, but it has two wheels and has an outstanding balance. In general, with a large body like a car makes the driver will have difficulty controlling the vehicle comfortably, but the engineering is done by LIT Motors provides outstanding balancing technology and also has a fairly light weight ie only 360 kg.

LIT Motors C1, the car-like motorcyle that can't fall down. (Picture from: http://bit.ly/1mTP2Jh)

In arranging the balance, C1 uses a gyroscope and an electric motor to keep its balance. C1 is designed for two people and a 100% use electricity. By using a small electric motor and 10 kWh battery, this vehicle can accelerate from 0-60 mph in less than 6 seconds and has a maximum speed of 100 mph. And LIT Motors claimed, when the battery is fully charged, C1 is able to drive up to 200 miles.

LIT Motors C1 does not require spacious parking lot. (Picture from: http://bit.ly/1mTP2Jh)

This vehicle has advantages compared to a motorcycles or cars, because it has a fairly small body of 4-inches wide, as well as aerodynamic and sleek design that can break through traffic congestion. With the covered body so that users will be protected from the unwanted weather such as, heat, strong winds, rain, and other.

Rear side view of LIT Motors C1. (Picture from: http://bit.ly/1DFxHZL)

In addition C1 using the technology of gyroscopic stability, that using electronic Control Moment Gyroscopes System (CMGS) which is able to produce thousands of ft-lbs of torque. With the gyro system is able to make a vehicle stand even when the vehicle stops at a red light, the user does not need to go down or supported by the foot to make the vehicle still stand, or even when a collision it can still remain standing.

This vehicle also uses the Kinetic Energy Recovery System (KERS) technology which allowed energy regeneration during the vehicle braking and store the kinetic energy in the gyro flywheel. For now C1 has been made in a limited number of 370 units, but will start plus up to 10,000 units, and sold for $24,000.

C1 is the latest breakthrough in dealing with congestion. Then C1 has an interior like cars and equipped with premium sound system, plus climate control, smartphones and cloud connectivity. Safety features such as seat belts, dual airbags, chassis reinforced with steel, and many other interesting features also installed on the C1 vehicles. *** [EKA | FROM VARIOUS SOURCES | LIT MOTORS | MOTORAUTHORITY]

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A glimpse of Helicopter history

The bamboo-copter toy.
(Picture from: https://en.wikipedia.org/)

There is no mode of transportation that can compete with the helicopter in the ease to reach place with the diverse ability. More specifically in military and civilian such as rescue and medical operations, practically helicopters could not unmatched other modes of transportation.

And without realizing it, the existence of such a helicopter with a reliable contribution to the already lasted more than a century.

Paul Cornu in his first helicopter in 
1907. Note that he is sitting between 
two rotors, which rotated in opposite 
directions to cancel torque. It was
the first to have risen from the ground 
using rotor blades instead of wings. 
(Picture from: http://jn.passieux.free.fr/)

The modern helicopter history begins, when Paul Cornu a French citizen who is the owner of the bicycle factory makes a helicopter that has an engine and crew on November 13, 1907.

The helicopter was designed and made by Cornu himself, which could fly no more than one meter. Plus the design of Cornu's helicopter was not visible. Such as difficult to handle and has the engine power is still too weak. This is reasonable, because at that time there is no machine that has a relatively light weight, small, but also has great power.

Helicopter word derived from French, 'helicoptere.' This word is connected with the Greek word, helix (spiral / spinning) and pteron (wing). The horizontal propeller rotation that driven by the engine made a helicopter hovering and landing vertically, practically can be done everywhere. Is Gustave de Ponton d'Amercourt, a French citizens, who was the first uses the word "helicopter" while testing helicopter model that driven using the steam engine in 1861. Between 1861 to 1880, many helicopter models are designed and manufactured.

Leonardo da Vinci's helicopter design. 
(Picture from: http://michaelgelb.com/)

Actually hovering such as helicopter has been around since 400 BC in China. It was the bamboo-copter toy that could float with propellers made of bamboo. The leading medieval painter, Leonardo Da Vinci (1493), also drawing a machine called "Aerial Screw" that hovers like a helicopter. Da Vinci said, he makes this fly model, but had difficulty in controlling the machine because its body also rotates.

In 1919 Juan de la Cierva, a Spanish who developed the gyroplane. Gyro to generate power autorotation free carrier uses the rotor. The drive offers a classic propeller. The gyroplane's advantage is very short takeoff and landing, and power load much lower than in the helicopter. In contrast to the helicopter gyro must maintain forward speed.

In 1919, Juan de la Cierva developed the gyroplane. (Picture from: http://www.gyroplanepassion.com/)

The manned helicopters are feasible to use for the first time was completed in 1936 and called Focke Wulf (FW) 61. In 1938, it made an altitude flight of 11,243 feet (3,427 m) and cross-country flight of 143 miles (230 km).

German's FW 61, the first practical helicopter. 
(Picture from: http://www.helis.com/)

The FW 61 was the first helicopter design that had really solved the control problems, and could be flown precisely, even indoors! As Hanna Reitsch demonstrated February 1938 at the Berlin 's Deutchlandhalle Stadium. This model could reach the speed of 75.81 mph (122 kph).

The well-known German aerodynamics expert, Professor Anton Flettner, constructed FL-282 Kolibri helicopter. It was designed from the outset as a two-seater, so that, at the expense of range, an observer could be carried, with obvious benefits in the roles of army and navy spotting and anti-submarine work.

FL-282 Kolibri helicopter. (Picture from: https://sites.google.com/)

The observer was to be accommodated in a seat facing rearwards and positioned behind the rotor shafts, and the design provided for a permissible c of G travel which allowed the helicopter to fly with or without the observer without trim changes. The design was finalized by about July 1940 and work began on 30 prototypes and 15 pre-production machines at Flettner's Johannisthal and Bad Tolz factories. For early flight trials, which began in 1941, the first three FL-282 prototypes were built as single-seaters and had enclosed Plexiglas-panelled cabins, but subsequent machines were built as open two-seaters.

However, it was recorded the name of Sikorsky and Bell as the most dominant helicopter industry for a century the history of this kind of flying machine.

Sikorsky X2 Demonstrator, one of the world's fastest helicopter. (Picture from: http://www.hightech-edge.com/)

Igor Sikorsky, who made his company as the largest helicopter maker. Recorded more than 400 types helicopters have been manufactured by Sikorsky since 1942.

Bell Helicopter AH-1Z. (Picture from: http://www.aviationnews.eu/)

Then, Larry Bell who is founded the Bell Helicopter listed as the most commercially successful helicopter manufacturer. The Bell helicopter has dominated the world for both military and civilian versions since 1946. *** [EKA | FROM VARIOUS SOURCES]

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The Spherical-wheeled motorcycle

It's not unusual anymore when the progress of a technology raises many unique innovations and strange that you never even thought before.

A group of students from the Charles W Davidson College Of Engineering at San Jose State University are working on an omnidirectional, self-balancing SDS electric motorcycle. (Picture from: http://bit.ly/1AEkYtp)

One is the work of a group of students from San Jose State University that make wheel technology with a rounded shape, replacing the conventional wheel. The project they call the Spherical Drive electric motorcycle.

Final rendering of the SDS electric motorcycle. (Picture from: http://bit.ly/1AEkYtp)

Its spherical wheel is composed of carbon fiber and fiberglass wrapped with rubber coating industry. As a driver, this motorcycle utilize the frictional forces generated by three electric motors are available to him.

The initial aim is to get the vehicle stable and in control at speeds up to about 10 mph but the designers say that, in theory at least, it could zoom up to 60 mph. (Picture from: http://bit.ly/1AEkYtp)

However, not without obstacles, this spherical wheel technology is recognized by its creator is still problematic in the stability and balancing. Therefore, now the students are still developing gyro-accelerometer technology has a computerized ability to balance and move this concept motorcycle. We awaited the results later..

The SDS electric motorcycle that rides on spheres instead of wheels and features self-balancing technology. (Picture from: http://bit.ly/1AEkYtp)

Kept spur your adrenaline on the power of the two-wheeled monster and stay alive with true safety riding. May God will forgive Your sins and so does the cops...... *** [EKA | FROM VARIOUS SOURCES | GIZMAG]

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Waiting for the presence of the world's first tank boat

Almost a year and a half since the full-scale model (mock up) of the X18 Tank Boat 'Antasena' shown at the 7th Indo Defense event which took place in November 2016, here's the continuation news of this world's first tank boat.

Here's she is the X18 Tank Boat 'Antasena' full-scale model shown at 7th Indo Defense held on November 2016. (Picture from: http://bit.ly/2wsM1tv)

The boat that drew its concept since 2015 was offered by a shipbuilding company from Banyuwang, East Java, namely PT.Lundin Industry Invest. (North Sea Boats) in collaboration with PT.Pindad, an Indonesian state-owned enterprise as a local partner.

While its foreign partners are the CMI Defense weapons industry, and OIP (Optique et de Instruments Precision), a sensor system development company. Both are from Belgium and also involve the Swedish defense industry Bofors.

The toughest challenge in designing a large cannon-armed small boat was the recoil problem caused by the canon fire and the weight of the ship itself. Learning from Sikorsky's lack of success with their monohull tank boat design, PT.Lundin applied a catamaran design (double keel) on the X18 to make it more stable and also applied a gyro-stabilized gun.

These X18 Tank Boat 'Antasena' suitable to operate on the river channel and the shoreline as waters patrol boat. (Picture from: http://bit.ly/2wsM1tv)

In an effort to save the weight of the ship, PT.Lundin integrates lightweight composite materials that are 10 times lighter and 10 times stronger than steel and also fire resistant. This is different from the material that was used on their previous ship products such as the KCR Trimaran KRI Klewang 625. Besides that the X18 also uses aluminum material for the tower dome.

The CMI Defense is responsible for supplying the Cockerill XC-8 105HP turret system which already has a ballistic and stabilization computer system to provide solutions and correction of cannon shooting angles. This dome system is manned by two people whose have integrated with a bustle-mounted autoloader.

The vaulted tank cannon ships, X18 Tank Boat 'Antasena' also able to operate as a supporter ship in an amphibious landing or infiltration missions. (Picture from: http://bit.ly/2wsM1tv)

These tank boat able to fire all types of NATO caliber 105 mm tank munitions that provide its commanders with various ammunition options according to tactical situations in the field. This canon can also release the Falarick 105 Gun-Launched Anti-Tank Guided Missile (GLATGM) which can crush a heavy armor vehicle at a distance of 5 km.

Its main weapon is the canon caliber 105 mm hp (high pressure) can be used to fight larger ships. These floating-tank has cannon elevation angle that reaches 42 degrees so make it can be used to provide indirect gunfires as far as 10 km while the allies troops are making landings.

The X18 Tank Boat 'Antasena' of Indonesian Ministry of Defense being made at PT.Lundin shipbuilding facility in Banyuwangi. (Picture from: http://bit.ly/2PRjyWG)

As a secondary weapon, the X18 carries the Bofors LEMUR-Remote Weapon System (RWS) with 7.62 mm caliber machine guns. For the protection of the crew, PT.Lundin also provide an additional protection system at several points that can withstand bullet collisions up to 7.62 mm caliber and 12.77 mm caliber in frontal point.

The X18 Tank Boat 'Antasena' of Indonesian Ministry of Defense being made at PT.Lundin shipbuilding facility in Banyuwangi. (Picture from: http://bit.ly/2NwDVqn)

This small ship with double keel has a dimention of 18.79 m long, beam over all 6.10 m and draugh of 1 m making it suitable for maneuvering in shallow waters ranging from around the river mouth to the coast and small inter-island straits. And these X18 is supported by two MAN-made diesel engines able to generate power of 1,200 hp to drive a pair of MJP450 waterjet with a maximum speed of 40 knots (74 kph) for sail as far as 2,000 miles (3,218 km).

In its mission, these X18 Tank Boat will be manned by six crew members, besides being used as a water patrol vehicle, it can also be used as a support vessel in an amphibious operations or troop infiltration because the X18 can carry 20 fully armed soldiers and also one Rigid Inflatable Boat (RIB). Another function of the X18 is as a vehicle for logistical support or the role of Medevac.

As quoted of Angkasa Review on July 2018, the Indonesian government through the Ministry of Defense has been ordered this tank boat in 2017, and currently the construction process is being carried out at the PT.Lundin shipbuilding facility in Banyuwangi. In addition to fulfilling orders from the Indonesian government, the X18 'Antasena' has also been in demand by the United Arab Emirates and Egypt.

The X18 Tank Boat 'Antasena' will be sold with a selling price per unit in the range of €10-15 million, or equivalent to Rp.160-240 billion depending on the completeness weaponaries and equiptments carried by the ship.. *** [EKA | FROM VARIOUS SOURCES | TANKBOAT.COM]

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