With A0 unicycle concept, Audi brings tech, design to cities
Luxury automaker Audi is working in collaboration with German and Mexican engineering and design students to develop the "A0," an electric unicycle that's both high-tech and high-design.
The A0 is, at least on paper, intended to solve the problem of the driver getting to his or her car. As a mode of literal personal transport, it's supposed to get you around "megacities easily and quickly" -- just unpack the A0 from your car's trunk, unfold it, turn it on and head to work, school or wherever you plan to go.
It's what urban planners sometimes call the problem of "the last mile" -- helping city residents access those hard-to-reach areas, such as Manhattan's far Midtown West or Upper East sides or Philadelphia's Grays Ferry neighborhood.
As Ray from design blog Core77 aptly points out, it's not unlike a fold-up Segway. (And we all know how much those lived up to the hype from an applications standpoint.)
A few more details about the A0 project:
- The user functions as the central axle of development.
- Light and compact as possible to be manipulated by any person.
- Handlebar and seat can be adjusted.
- Rechargeable batteries are installed. An electric engine powers it.
- The hollow wheel "allows the user to take with him a Notebook or Tablet without much trouble." But what about the grime?
- A folded footrests also functions as a kickstand.
- Has day lights with an ambient light sensor. Also has a braking light.
- Tops out around 9 miles per hour, or 15 kph.
PhysOrg also has a short video of the vehicle in action. Audi officially refers to it as a "Monocycle for Urban Mobility," and wraps it into its electric concept Global Drive program.
We're big fans of Audi's Urban Future Initiative, so we can't wait to see what else the company comes up with.
The A0 is was developed between the Technical University of Munich and theNational Autonomus University of Mexico with sponsorship from Audi Design Research Center Munich.
This post was originally published on Smartplanet.com