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Can you ride a bike with two wheels that steer, in the same direction?

This is next week's video, early for Patrons. This one goes out publicly on Tuesday 23rd Aug.

There's another one-week gap the week after this one - it's been very hot here and I've also been away, so I need to catch up a bit.

Files

Previews only

Two-Wheel Steering Bike - PREVIEW VERSION

Veritasium made a video about how bicycles balance. He had a special bicycle made so the steering can be locked so it only turns in one direction, or locked so it doesn’t turn at all: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9cNmUNHSBac The conclusion of this video is that steering is the most important thing for balancing on a bicycle – essentially you steer to catch yourself as the bike tips in either direction, and bicycles can also steer to stay upright by themselves due to the geometry of the front wheel and steering position which leads in front of the pivot point. With the steering locked, it’s impossible to balance for any length of time, even if you want to ride in a straight line. But what about if we make a bike with two wheels that steer? It seems like it would still steer and balance ok if the wheels rotated in opposite directions so they steer in the same direction, but what about if they rotated in the same direction so you could drift sideways – would you still be able to balance? You can support me on Patreon or buy my Merchandise: *************************** Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/xrobots Merchandise: https://teespring.com/stores/james-bruton *************************** Affiliate links - I will get some money of you use them to sign up or buy something: *************************** Matterhackers 3D printing supplies: http://www.matterhackers.com?aff=7500 Music for your YouTube videos: http://share.epidemicsound.com/xrobots *************************** Other socials: *************************** Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/xrobotsuk Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/xrobotsuk/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/xrobotsuk *************************** CAD and Code for my projects: https://github.com/XRobots Huge thanks to my Patrons, without whom my standard of living would drastically decline. Like, inside out-Farm Foods bag decline. Plus a very special shoutout to Lulzbot, Inc who keep me in LulzBot 3D printers and support me via Patreon. HARDWARE/SOFTWARE Below you can also find a lot of the typical tools, equipment and supplies used in my projects: Filament from: https://www.3dfuel.com/ Lulzbot 3D Printers: http://bit.ly/2Sj6nil Bearings from: https://simplybearings.co.uk/ Lincoln Electric Welder: https://bit.ly/2Rqhqos CNC Router: https://bit.ly/2QdsNjt Ryobi Tools: http://bit.ly/2RhArcD Axminster Micro Lathe: http://bit.ly/2Sj6eeN 3D Printer Filament: http://bit.ly/2PdcdUu Soldering Iron: http://bit.ly/2DrNWDR Vectric CNC Software: http://bit.ly/2zxpZqv Why not join my community, who are mostly made up of actual geniuses. There’s a Facebook group and everything: https://www.facebook.com/groups/287089964833488/ XROBOTS Former toy designer, current YouTube maker and general robotics, electrical and mechanical engineer, I’m a fan of doing it yourself and innovation by trial and error. My channel is where I share some of my useful and not-so-useful inventions, designs and maker advice. Iron Man is my go-to cosplay, and 3D printing can solve most issues - broken bolts, missing parts, world hunger, you name it. XRobots is the community around my content where you can get in touch, share tips and advice, and more build FAQs, schematics and designs are also available.

Comments

Anonymous

I wonder if it might have been a more comfortable riding experience if the rear wheel steering only moved at half the rate of the front wheel - which is actually similar to how rear steered vehicles operate. But looks like you had fun with this one. Time to get a pillar drill though perhaps?

XRobots

I guess I could have tried varying amounts of rear wheel steering, although when both wheels rotate in the same direction this would cause it to turn - that might actually make it useful I suppose though ;-)

Michael Bigby

Fun video. The magic here will be in the control schemes. Push button drift? Maybe two analog thumb throttles “voting” on the direction of rear wheel? L - R = rear wheel direction. Then you could feather the “drift” or “circle” in. Super cool work whatever you do. This one merits another video imo.

Steve Coleman-Williams

Looks like there was some lag between the front wheel turning and the rear when actively turned. Was that the case or just perception on video?

XRobots

It'll only go as fast as the motor can turn it so it may 'catch up' at certain points depending on what I'm doing.

Scott Cress

Looks like the rear tire is flat.

Thomas Brannan

looks like you are getting a lot better with your TIG welding due to all the practice! Congrats!

Anonymous

Do you have a link for those hoverpad wheels?