Every person can not easily a handle scooter. But a new one being offered on Kickstarter is easily manageable for everyone. A German electrical engineer, Olaf Winkler has developed a self-balancing scooter called Uo with the core component spinning ball. Usually, a normal scooter consists of spinning wheels. But, in the case of Uo, there is a solid sphere of rubber that can support a rider’s weight without deforming.
Olaf Winkler said, “All the way back in 2010, this crazy idea hit me to build a vehicle that rides on a ball and to all directions. Ever since that day, I kept thinking about the best mechanism. As an electrical engineer, as well as an automotive electronics developer, I have the knowledge of building such a vehicle.”
Winkler actually wanted to develop a personal transporter that rides smoothly and safely. It moves with the top speed of 12 km/h. This self-balancing scooter is a 360-degree scooter that rides on a ball. Because the ball can move in any direction, the Üo can ensure it always remains directly below the rider’s center of gravity, making it hard to fall over. It consists of 3 gyros and an acceleration sensor.
The special machine actually moves on three motor-driven Omni wheels (made from laser cut steel) and a ball that kept under the rider’s center of gravity. These wheels do not touch the ground. Instead, they press in against the top of the ball and causes the Uo to move in response to feedback from onboard accelerometers and gyroscopes.
Winkler said, “If you have experience in skiing or skating you might understand the fascinating feeling of freedom to slide. But those activities require a lot of balancing skills and can also be dangerous. The Üo provides a somehow similar feeling, but it takes over the balancing part of the work.”
This self-balancing scooter is extremely easy to ride. A user just needs to step on it and get going. Accelerating and braking are achieved if user leans forward or back. If you lean to either side, you can make your turns.
It even consists of a small joystick that is an automatic steering mechanism.
Winkler said, “With this joystick, you can also enable and disable automatic yaw adjustment. When enabled, the Üo will rotate until you face towards the driving direction (facing forward).”
The Uo comes in two versions. 1. Uo, 2. Uo ez. Uo ez is the little brother of Uo that powered by three motors. Each motor is capable of delivering 350W of mechanical power. But, as Uo, it does not have LED lights installed and comes without a battery.