Concept Torment: Wearable Motorcycle
Things have been a bit slow around here – comrade Nadya is off gallivanting around the Nevada desert and comrade Mer’s traipsing about New York, where I was all weekend. Do pardon our regrouping and accept this small offering of oh my god it’s a wearable motorcycle.
It really is. Jake Loniak, a student at Art Center College of Design, presents this wonderful invention. Basically an electric, lithium battery-run exoskeleton with three wheels, Deus Ex Machina would be run by a computer which would translate and respond to the rider’s body with the motorcycle’s own thirty six pneumatic muscles. This SciFi dream-machine is envisioned by Loniak as a sport bike, and, as fate would have it, doesn’t exist beyond his concept as of yet. He’s confident in real world potential of Deus Ex Machina, anyhow: “I believe a working prototype could be made, but it would take a great deal of time and engineering. This isn’t fantasy – it’s a green vehicle, and all of the numbers are based in the real world”. How sweet it could be, Jake. Come on, technologically-inclined billionaires of the world, make it so!
While waiting for a physical prototype, we can torture ourselves with this realistically rendered video of Deus Ex machine in action. Thanks for the pain, Jerem.
August 28th, 2008 at 12:25 pm
I just read about this in this month’s Popular Science. It’s the cover story, along with several other interesting future creations. Well worth checking out!
August 28th, 2008 at 12:38 pm
Just imagine being a junior in college and making it into Popular Science with your concept!
August 28th, 2008 at 12:53 pm
Autobots , Roll out !
August 28th, 2008 at 1:51 pm
I’ve heard the term “sex on wheels” but this is the first time I’ve ever seen it designed and produced. Well, almost produced…
August 28th, 2008 at 4:24 pm
awesome, now all we need is the personal jet suit and submarine suit then we can have the centurions in real life
August 28th, 2008 at 4:27 pm
I remember seeing this thing a while back, and every time I do I can think of nothing but the wheelers from Return to Oz:
August 28th, 2008 at 5:38 pm
Sexy.
Of course, scraping your face off when you hit a speed bump at 60 mph makes it less sexy….
Or maybe more.
August 28th, 2008 at 6:38 pm
This thing is terrible. Will your feet dangle? What happens if your front wheel kicks up a rock at 60mpg… you going to wear armor?
It looks cool, but it’s not practical for many reasons. Sorry, looks aren’t everything.
August 28th, 2008 at 7:48 pm
@ David… in the rendered video it shows the ideal riding posture. So the feet don’t really hang out but damn does it put one’s knees in a bad place.
This doesn’t strike me as the ideal way to get around but would it really be any more dangerous than a standard motorcycle? I could see something like this used for racing or for sport…and for day to day by the more brave among us.
@ Jon…I don’t think you could scrape your face in this though…the helmet does not seem to be optional.
August 28th, 2008 at 10:08 pm
The closest I might get to that goddamned rocket pack I was always promised!
August 29th, 2008 at 9:27 am
Amazing. It definitely looks like it’s main purpose would be for a fairly niche racing sport. WHICH IS AWESOME!
Wipeout and F-Zero are no longer just virtual.
I welcome the day these become reality.
August 29th, 2008 at 11:54 am
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August 29th, 2008 at 12:18 pm
This does look pretty nifty! Although I’m sure it has its pros and cons…would be a nice change from the behemoth steel monsters that roam our streets today. Although I’m sure someone has already seen this and thought “Hmm, now that would work if I added in four plasma flat screens, a couple of video game consoles and a mini bar/jacuzzi in the back…”
I think hover crafts are in order next :)
August 30th, 2008 at 10:42 am
It looks cool…