Not since the Segway Human Transporter debuted amidst a fog of hype has a transportation solution come along that makes us rethink how we may get around in the future. The Bombardier Embrio makes the Segway look old school by relying on only one wheel while in motion, though a second smaller wheel does deploy at speeds below 12 mph. The Embrio uses gryoscope technology similar to the Segway’s to keep its rider balanced, but adds a futuristic hydrogen fuel-cell motor and an active suspension with variable damping. Looking for all intents and purposes like an emasculated motorcycle, the Embio weighs a mere 360 pounds.
Bombardier’s concept may offer a sneak peak at our future, but it won’t have truly arrived until it has its own Polo league like the Segway.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Brooksie @ Mar 13th 2006 10:22AM
Dude, they should name that thing "The Cannonball".
Gimme.
John Walker @ Mar 13th 2006 10:40AM
Cool piece, but this appears to be an article from Forbes that's TWO AND A HALF YEARS old. Why are we covering it now?
Eric @ Mar 13th 2006 10:45AM
Yes please.
Bob F @ Mar 13th 2006 10:54AM
2003, yo... this is old news.
quandmeme @ Mar 13th 2006 11:17AM
Embarrassingly old, even then such details like, "it balances one or more passengers with a network of sensors and gyroscopes," made me wonder why anyone was repeating the company's hype.
Bill @ Mar 13th 2006 11:52AM
The Segway has arrived??? When???
kevin @ Mar 13th 2006 12:54PM
akira toriyama would be proud! bulma would be honored to ride it.
DaEMoN @ Mar 13th 2006 12:55PM
That is so sci-fi.
I would really love to drive one
Den in IN @ Mar 13th 2006 1:37PM
It looks like it would be hard to emergency stop. Gives a whole new meaning to "Brake Dive".
Kris @ Mar 13th 2006 2:56PM
Isn't that T-Bob from MASK Crusaders?
Brandon @ Mar 13th 2006 3:59PM
It reminds me of the uni-bike Launch rode in Dragonball:
http://www.syokuganjigoku.com/pic3/dbz_meka/lunch.jpg
TheChaz @ Mar 13th 2006 4:30PM
My question is, what's the advantage of this over a 2-wheeled motorcycle? There are plenty of bikes with similarly svelt curb weights, and assuming you can package a fuel-cell into this thing, you could put it in a regular bike with no problem. Why bother with an expensive gyroscopic balancing system, when you could just add a second wheel?
Now that I think about it, the second wheel gives you double the contact patch, too. With just one, you'd have much worse handling and breaking.
doogy @ Mar 13th 2006 5:20PM
i think we should all just pee our pants and get over it!!!!
Bill Pendry @ Mar 13th 2006 5:58PM
PWNED
http://www.jalopnik.com/cars/gadgets/the-embrio-a-unicycle-for-the-segway-set-120232.php
Travis @ Mar 14th 2006 4:53AM
Holy crap, the world is about to be taken over by a mad scientist and the ZONE RIDERS are the only thing that can save us!!!
(anybody else remember this cartoon, or is it just me???)
http://www.spiral-zone.com/story.htm
dragaonball WISHES they were that cool.
j1 @ Mar 14th 2006 5:20PM
I want one, so i can mount it to the side of my Vampire Hunting Assault Vehicle.
Autonews @ Jul 13th 2006 8:00AM
I never saw a concept so cute.