Modern Vespa

As reported in the New York Times: "As corporate giants like Ford, G.M. and Waymo struggle to get their self-driving cars on the road, a team of researchers in China is rethinking autonomous transportation using a souped-up bicycle.

This bike can roll over a bump on its own, staying perfectly upright. When the man walking just behind it says "left," it turns left, angling back in the direction it came.

It also has eyes: It can follow someone jogging several yards ahead, turning each time the person turns. And if it encounters an obstacle, it can swerve to the side, keeping its balance and continuing its pursuit.

It is not the first-ever autonomous bicycle (Cornell University has a project underway) or, probably, the future of transportation, although it could find a niche in a future world swarming with package-delivery vehicles, drones and robots. (There are even weirder ideas out there.) Nonetheless, the Chinese researchers who built the bike believe it demonstrates the future of computer hardware. It navigates the world with help from what is called a neuromorphic chip, modeled after the human brain."

Video link for Chrome: https://youtu.be/VjSs6KCLTC0

That is just amazing.

Really creepy but just amazing.

Bill x

I betcha a rider would ovecome its ability to balance, as the center of gravity changes from moment to moment. So no getting drunk and expecting the bike to take you home.

It's a budget Christine isn't it.

Bill x

It's clever but we've seen this before when Honda showed off their self balancing motorcycle about two years ago. That bike stayed upright and followed a person as they walked along. Perhaps Honda had some of the software developed by a Chinese company under an NDA and the inevitable happened ...

( link )

I think I prefer the lonely Hodna.

I wonder if it does the same in the supermarket ?

Very cool.

BMW have one also but it goes faster.

Bill x

"Sit, Bike. Stay. Heel. Roll over. That's a good Bike! Here's a treat."

Sorry even with instructions I still can't post the URL thingy.

Bill x

I bought one of those but one day it went to work without me.

Easy Peasy Bill- Just copy and paste what's in the address bar of your browser ( when watching the video you want to link), in between the URL tags.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VaZlTsoj0Hc

I like the variable rake angle trick the Honda unit does.