Starting from Scratch

Imagine starting a new project—it's like having a big puzzle with lots of pieces, and you're not sure where to begin. For us, the puzzle was making a bicycle that could stay balanced all on its own. We came up with all sorts of ideas, like making special wheels that could change shape, inspired by things like space antennas or soft robots (like Baymax from Big Hero 6).

After brainstorming and sketching, we found an idea we liked. For a bike to stay balanced, it needs at least three points touching the ground. That's why tricycles, with three wheels, are stable, but regular bicycles, with just two wheels, aren't. So, we came up with a cool idea: a bike with two rear wheels that could separate and act like a tricycle when the bike was driving itself. Then, they could come together to make a regular bike when someone wanted to ride it.

Engineering the Idea

With our idea in hand, we got to work on the engineering. We needed to figure out the right movements and design mechanisms to make it happen. Once our idea was more polished, we created a dynamic 3D model. This let us see and simulate the different mechanisms and movements.

Next, we built a small 3D-printed prototype to see if our design worked in real life—and it did! Having a prototype gave us a chance to show it to others and get feedback. Talking to people, from professors and colleagues, to friends and family, is always incredibly helpful.

From Small to Full Scale

After the success of the small prototype, we decided to go big and build a full-scale prototype. Even though the small version worked well, building a full-scale one was a whole new challenge. The size, materials, and intricate design details were different. We had to add important things like motors, mechanisms, and electronics to make the bike move and turn. And the big question was: would having two wheels together feel like riding with just one wheel?

The end result? The prototype you see right next to you! We're  thrilled about it, and you can watch a concept video of how it could work below.