Ever thougght electric bikes could be cool, cheap and integrate with your iPhone????…….me neither – but get this they can!!!! – Check out this innovation created in Copenhagen where you attach just the wheel to your standard bike which then converts it to an electrical bike this equalling a cool bike (because its yours) and an electrical bike – Then when installed the electrical wheel can be paired up with your iPhone through bluetooth to report back the speed, direction, tracking of your route etc…..This sounds fantastic and something I want even though I dont own a bike!!! checkout the pictures below:
The copenhagen wheel is far from an ordinary wheel, developed by MIT researchers and is not only a new type of wheel i.e. an add on to your standard bike to make it electric – but also an intelligent wheel that will track weather, distance, speed and even unbelievably your friends – it does this all through its iPhone app!!!
In order to promote cycling, the wheel extends the cycling experience for those who, well…who don’t like to cycle.
The wheel aids in the stuggle of tackling ascending hills and the provides added fun and speed in the descending of hills!!! – The wheel uses very technical methods of generating and storing energy too – for example when braking the wheel stores that energy within itself to be used to power the bike later on!!! – Who would of thought a wheel could be so……well technical!
Using a series of sensors and a Bluetooth connection, the wheel can communicate with your iPhone. It can provide detailed information on the bicycle’s speed, direction and distance traveled. It can also report on air pollution. Like other geo-enhanced products, you can create a network of friends and stalk them using the device.
The Copenhagen Wheel was developed by Carlo Ratti, associate professor of the practice in MIT’s Department of Urban Studies and Planning (DUSP) and director of the SENSEable City Laboratory, and his team. “Everything is controlled by your feet,†Ratti explains. Pedal backwards to engage the regenerative breaking or quickly pedal for assisted cycling. The design is simple with no pesky switches or dials.
“One of the applications that we have discussed with the City of Copenhagen is that of an incentive scheme whereby citizens collect Green Miles — something similar to frequent flyer miles, but good for the environment,” says Christine Outram, who led the team of MIT researchers.
Along with smog, the sensors can also monitor levels of carbon monoxide, nitrous oxides, temperature, humidity and noise. Data that could be valuable to both scientists and the local government. More importantly, if your bike gets jacked, you can track it. Something quite important in an urban environment.
