Uses for Self-Driving E-Bikes
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Uses for Self-Driving E-Bikes
With all the talk about self-driving cars, shouldn't more consideration be given to the potential for applying self-driving technology to E-bikes? E-bikes are smaller and lighter than cars, so the risks of them driving autonomously are not as severe. What's more, many uses are possible that would aide car-free lifestyles. For example:
- an electric tadpole/tricycle with enough power to carry a 200lb rider could also carry 200lbs worth of cargo/groceries when driving autonomously.
- using autonomous e-bikes/trikes for grocery delivery would be more efficient at slow speeds given present advances in cooler technology.
- self-driving e-bikes could deliver themselves to people in need of a bike-share bike who otherwise wouldn't be able to make it to a bike-share dock in time for it to be convenient. If they can summon or plan for the bike to meet them where they need it when they need it, bike-sharing becomes that much more user-friendly.
- Long distance hiking/biking: some people are able to hike/bike tour without worrying about resupply as much as others. Having autonomous e-trikes to deliver supplies when hiking would make it easier to hike with less backpack weight.
Can you think of other uses for self-driving e-bikes/trikes? Do you think that it is possible to have a compact/light enough self-driving system to work with them? Do you think that people would utilize self-driving e-bikes/trikes like they would self-driving cars, i.e. as an auto-rickshaw? Do you think it's possible to design a self-driving system for two-wheeled e-bikes or would that require training-wheels or some other add-on that would defeat the efficiency of a two-wheeler to begin with?
Maybe not the most exciting example to illustrate this thread:
More promising, maybe, but no demonstration:
- an electric tadpole/tricycle with enough power to carry a 200lb rider could also carry 200lbs worth of cargo/groceries when driving autonomously.
- using autonomous e-bikes/trikes for grocery delivery would be more efficient at slow speeds given present advances in cooler technology.
- self-driving e-bikes could deliver themselves to people in need of a bike-share bike who otherwise wouldn't be able to make it to a bike-share dock in time for it to be convenient. If they can summon or plan for the bike to meet them where they need it when they need it, bike-sharing becomes that much more user-friendly.
- Long distance hiking/biking: some people are able to hike/bike tour without worrying about resupply as much as others. Having autonomous e-trikes to deliver supplies when hiking would make it easier to hike with less backpack weight.
Can you think of other uses for self-driving e-bikes/trikes? Do you think that it is possible to have a compact/light enough self-driving system to work with them? Do you think that people would utilize self-driving e-bikes/trikes like they would self-driving cars, i.e. as an auto-rickshaw? Do you think it's possible to design a self-driving system for two-wheeled e-bikes or would that require training-wheels or some other add-on that would defeat the efficiency of a two-wheeler to begin with?
Maybe not the most exciting example to illustrate this thread:
More promising, maybe, but no demonstration:
Last edited by tandempower; 03-27-18 at 05:05 PM.
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With all the talk about self-driving cars, shouldn't more consideration be given to the potential for applying self-driving technology to E-bikes?
Can you think of other uses for self-driving e-bikes/trikes? Do you think that it is possible to have a compact/light enough self-driving system to work with them? Do you think that people would utilize self-driving e-bikes/trikes like they would self-driving cars, i.e. as an auto-rickshaw? Do you think it's possible to design a self-driving system for two-wheeled e-bikes or would that require training-wheels or some other add-on that would defeat the efficiency of a two-wheeler to begin with?
Can you think of other uses for self-driving e-bikes/trikes? Do you think that it is possible to have a compact/light enough self-driving system to work with them? Do you think that people would utilize self-driving e-bikes/trikes like they would self-driving cars, i.e. as an auto-rickshaw? Do you think it's possible to design a self-driving system for two-wheeled e-bikes or would that require training-wheels or some other add-on that would defeat the efficiency of a two-wheeler to begin with?
No to all of the above.
#3
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Self driving bikes are not on the horizon, IMO. They would also be energy guzzlers, and there just is not enough energy to run all the sensors, motors, servos in the "affordable" batteries of today...
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Consumer resistance might be harder to overcome as passenger vehicles. I wouldn't think twice about riding in a self driving car, but there's no way I'd get on a self driving bike.
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They could make a followup to Christine or Maximum Overdrive?
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I actually think they're a good idea. They'd be very efficient for small load home delivery like a pizza, where sending a whole heavy car is overkill, However as mentioned, they would be burdened with a lot of weight in the navigational and detection systems so maybe they will only become feasible as a second generation AI vehicle once a lot of the stuff is refined and streamlined and miniaturized.
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I've mentioned a couple of times that I think we'll see quite a few road drones in the near future.
This may be using auto-driving vehicles. Send your car in drone mode to the grocery store to pick up your grocery order.
But, there are a lot of things that a car has for "comfort" that a drone would not need. Plus, all the crash safety stuff, not really needed. So, drones for errands could be extremely stripped down. 3 or 4 flat-free tires and a bit of cargo space, and they could be sent for quite a few errands.
I have no doubt that the grocery stores will rapidly embrace the drone technology. Perhaps also package services. Order from Amazon. Either get next day delivery service, or send your drone to the warehouse for same-day service at half the shipping cost.
This may be using auto-driving vehicles. Send your car in drone mode to the grocery store to pick up your grocery order.
But, there are a lot of things that a car has for "comfort" that a drone would not need. Plus, all the crash safety stuff, not really needed. So, drones for errands could be extremely stripped down. 3 or 4 flat-free tires and a bit of cargo space, and they could be sent for quite a few errands.
I have no doubt that the grocery stores will rapidly embrace the drone technology. Perhaps also package services. Order from Amazon. Either get next day delivery service, or send your drone to the warehouse for same-day service at half the shipping cost.
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Not road, but sidewalk drones
https://www.azcentral.com/story/mone...law/315541002/
https://www.azcentral.com/story/mone...law/315541002/
Small robots could deliver groceries, take-out meals and other small items under regulations being considered by the Arizona Legislature.
The robots could travel on sidewalks and crosswalks like pedestrians. They would have to weigh less than 100 pounds without cargo and travel slower than 10 miles per hour, according to the proposal.
The robots could travel on sidewalks and crosswalks like pedestrians. They would have to weigh less than 100 pounds without cargo and travel slower than 10 miles per hour, according to the proposal.
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Not road, but sidewalk drones
https://www.azcentral.com/story/mone...law/315541002/
https://www.azcentral.com/story/mone...law/315541002/
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I actually think they're a good idea. They'd be very efficient for small load home delivery like a pizza, where sending a whole heavy car is overkill, However as mentioned, they would be burdened with a lot of weight in the navigational and detection systems so maybe they will only become feasible as a second generation AI vehicle once a lot of the stuff is refined and streamlined and miniaturized.
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I think with cameras and GPS thieves would have a challenge vs reward for robbing something with unknown content.
Yeah one could sneak up on it and cover it with a RF shielding blanket then get a couple guys to lift it into the back of a truck. Then get it home, keep it shielded then crack it open and find it contains a three pack of athletic socks.
Yeah one could sneak up on it and cover it with a RF shielding blanket then get a couple guys to lift it into the back of a truck. Then get it home, keep it shielded then crack it open and find it contains a three pack of athletic socks.
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#16
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I think with cameras and GPS thieves would have a challenge vs reward for robbing something with unknown content.
Yeah one could sneak up on it and cover it with a RF shielding blanket then get a couple guys to lift it into the back of a truck. Then get it home, keep it shielded then crack it open and find it contains a three pack of athletic socks.
Yeah one could sneak up on it and cover it with a RF shielding blanket then get a couple guys to lift it into the back of a truck. Then get it home, keep it shielded then crack it open and find it contains a three pack of athletic socks.
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While you do have a point, thieves work on averages... LETS SAY 10 WALLETS STOLLEN... 1 has 5.00$, 1 has 10.00$, 1 has 20.00$, and so on... 1 will/could probably have a 1,000$ worth of stuff in it, or when you add it all together it could still work out to $1,000, Not bad for an evenings worth or "work"... Multiply that by 365 days, if the perp is motivated... $$$$...
#18
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Yes, there is a downside to stealing other peoples stuff... Unfortunately, people who steal will always think they will/can get away with it.
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[QUOTE=noisebeam;20252759]Not road, but sidewalk drones
https://www.azcentral.com/story/mone...law/315541002/
We have these here in Milton Keynes. It's normal to see these little robots driving about.
They're slow and hesitant, it's hard to see how they don't take all day to deliver lunch. Or whatever it is they do.
https://www.azcentral.com/story/mone...law/315541002/
We have these here in Milton Keynes. It's normal to see these little robots driving about.
They're slow and hesitant, it's hard to see how they don't take all day to deliver lunch. Or whatever it is they do.
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Well now, you've got's to start somewhere... I can remember some of the things that work basically "flawlessly" today and are everywhere, seemed to have been bound for failure right from the start...
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Just how hard is it for even people that wouldn't steal from a neighbors porch think it would be to slam a big pole into a moving Coleman cooler and disable it? We are talking people that do come up on porches with video equipment and walk off with boxes from UPS. And a RF locating chip in every product? You buy a pair of Columbia Boots for Hiking and even if they aren't stolen they would send your location to the company? Can you see a data base like Google has with that information? Customer 2913 living in a wooden framed older home not far from Tampa Bay. That customer is now moving on a trail going north towards St. Petersburg Lot -82.64 Lat 27.7730.
I wonder if people are ready to have a transmitter in their purchased goods just yet? And if it is turned off by removing it from the box a 16 volt saws all should do the trick.
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If they can be made very small, which they probably could at this point, then they could be hidden anywhere in the product so there would be no point stealing it because you'd have to destroy it to find the bug. As for whether people are 'ready' for it, why would it bother them if it gets disabled once you receive the shipment?
#24
Prefers Cicero
Not road, but sidewalk drones
https://www.azcentral.com/story/mone...law/315541002/
We have these here in Milton Keynes. It's normal to see these little robots driving about.
They're slow and hesitant, it's hard to see how they don't take all day to deliver lunch. Or whatever it is they do.
https://www.azcentral.com/story/mone...law/315541002/
We have these here in Milton Keynes. It's normal to see these little robots driving about.
They're slow and hesitant, it's hard to see how they don't take all day to deliver lunch. Or whatever it is they do.
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