What exactly is an electric, self-balancing unicycle? It has one wheel. It has an electric motor. It has built-in sensors that determine whether it is leaning backward or forward along the disk-plane of the wheel. If the sensors determine that the centre-of-gravity is forward of the axle of the wheel, it speeds up the motor to try to keep the device balanced. That makes you speed up. If the sensors determine that the centre-of-gravity is behind the axle of the wheel, it slows down the motor to try to maintain balance. That makes you slow down. Lean forward to accelerate and lean back to brake. Simple.
The SBU V3 stands for self-balancing unicycle. It comes from Focus Designs, a Washington company obsessed with unusual electric-powered one-wheel devices The SBU V3 is precision crafted by hand with 6061 alloy. Τhe SBU is ultra-portable and is capable of 325-lb loads and beyond. There aren’t handlebars and steering wheel. You can control your SBU with natural leaning motions and experience a new way to travel. Lean forward to go, lean back to slow down/stop. With regenerative braking, unmatched efficiency and torque-control at the granular level, this BLDC controller is the only one it it’s class.
The SBU V3 takes about 20-30 minutes to learn and once you master it you’ll find that riding becomes as natural as walking. Using some cool features like Turn AssistTM, Push BackTM and Smart SenseTM the SBU V3 actively “learns” your motions and performs numerous safety calculations every second you ride. When you turn, the SBU’s motion-learning algorithms detect your intent and provide stability assistance throughout the turn. Push BackTM will kick in and push you backwards, telling you that you need to ease off. The Smart SenseTM software automatically and carefully shuts the SBU off upon sensing any abuse or an accidental crash. The Turn AssistTM navigates you through narrow turns and provides stability assistance throughout the turn.
The SBU V3 weighs only 27lbs and it is green. The SBU’s portability makes it the perfect in-between commuter as it fits on the bus, the subway, and the train.