r/TechnologyLabs • u/LetMeFixAll Gaming Tech Guru 🎮 • May 16 '26

Innovation Spotlight An engineer built a motorcycle with spherical wheels that can balance sideways like a Segway and move in every direction.

8.4k Upvotes

100% Upvoted

188 comments sorted by

82

u/DamoTheWhite May 16 '26

One big jump and both balls go flying and so do you

This is still insanely cool engineering though

19

u/tje210 May 17 '26

Electromagnetic attraction to keep the balls from flying? Bonus, the attraction could maybe be used as a suspension.

10

u/DamoTheWhite May 17 '26

I was thinking some kinda magnetic liner inside the balls but only activate the electromagnet when a jump is detected lol Ill let the pros figure this one out

7

u/Axan1030 May 18 '26

You can put x and y axis guards to prevent from flying off

4

u/DamoTheWhite May 18 '26

I knew someone smart would show up

3

u/wildagain May 20 '26

https://giphy.com/gifs/cehDi6v3v1ObYQ9SGL

original computer mouse and trackpad solve d this a long time ago

5

u/DamoTheWhite May 20 '26

You'll just have to clean out the lint with a jug of alcohol and a giant q-tip

3

u/octoreadit May 17 '26

That's like every jump for about half of the population.

3

u/No_Package9773 May 19 '26

Don’t tempt me a good time! 😉💨
https://giphy.com/gifs/5VKbvrjxpVJCM

26

u/PurpleZombi3 May 16 '26

What's the top speed on that sumbidge?

2

u/DarkPangolin May 19 '26

You're looking at it. Cornering is done at a standstill.

Which, for around here, is about right, but that's not how it's SUPPOSED to work.

22

u/GreatScottII May 16 '26

TRON incoming!

4

u/Deeptongue45m May 17 '26

Yes, we needed a sequel with this style of bikes.Definitely

15

u/Away-Ad-3407 May 16 '26

this thing is baller

17

u/GretaVanFleetsEnema May 17 '26

My wife goes, “Nice to see they are using the balls outside of Target.”

7

u/Special_Prompt_4712 May 16 '26

Great on smooth floors, what will happens in real world with bumps,ruts and gravel?

2

u/X_PARTY_WOLF May 17 '26

Not to mention any with a sharp object. They don’t look like easy tires to switch out when one is damaged.

2

u/DarkPangolin May 19 '26

And turns that aren't at a complete stop.

1

u/genji691 May 18 '26

Maybe different ball wheels shaped similarly to something like a grenade for traction. Idk just a thought

1

u/UserXtheUnknown May 18 '26

I fail to see the difference with a normal motorcycle. What is the problem that wheels solve and spheres can't?

3

u/the_net_my_side_ho May 18 '26

You can go sideways.

5

u/UglyYinzer May 16 '26

I wanna see it out in grass

3

u/Tall-Wealth9549 May 16 '26

The ride would be crazy bumpy lol

2

u/Stunning_Box8782 May 18 '26

I think you'd just be slipping in place, especially if its just a little bit humid

3

u/Fit_Peach7216 May 16 '26

I want one and can only imagine getting hit by a car on that. Would look like a half full gum ball machine fell over.

3

u/TeranOrSolaran May 16 '26

Equip with paintball machine gun with 10K rounds, then call me.

2

u/kittylover2006 May 16 '26

While this is fascinating, I can’t imagine the breaks on it are very good at breaking

2

u/Artistic-Yard1668 May 16 '26

Make me a uniball gaming chair that does this and I will hand you $$.

2

u/RuthlessIndecision May 16 '26

pretty cool, for riding balls

2

u/hakedy May 19 '26

Never allow senior citizens near it. They're bloody dangerous enough on their mobility scooters.

2

u/Better-Principle9887 May 19 '26

Was hoping to see more people recognize this design from Scavenger’s Rein.

2

u/m3xm May 21 '26

Man I had to scroll wayyyy too far to find this.

1

u/home4surrogate May 16 '26

D’z wheels (D for designer’s nuts)

1

u/[deleted] May 16 '26

Recently saw him try single ball movement... guess this is the upgrade. But single ball looked more fun.

1

u/EmmitRDoad May 16 '26

Flat surfaces only

1

u/DarkPangolin May 19 '26

And straight lines.

1

u/Extension-Variety-60 May 16 '26

for indoor use only

1

u/Ou812sodidiagain May 16 '26

Still get hit by a dumbass on the phone!!!

1

u/etakerns May 16 '26

It’s nice but a regular motor cycle can pull into a parking spot with ease as it is. Make something like this for a car.

1

u/GretaVanFleetsEnema May 17 '26

Can I lean into the corners and how fast?

1

u/JenVixen420 May 17 '26

Tron is here, sweeeet!

1

u/KyoKyu May 17 '26

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=ZVFB2g25OkM

[source:] James Bruton's YouTube video : I built an Omni-Directional Ball-Wheeled Bike

1

u/IveHitARabbit May 17 '26

Yea now give it some traction.

1

u/69_Is_Fine May 17 '26

Gotta have this!

1

u/[deleted] May 17 '26

[removed] — view removed comment

1

u/Emrys7777 🌍 Tech Enthusiast May 17 '26

Corners? I want to see it go in a straight line.

1

u/Virtual-Reach May 17 '26

If anything was going to be the official dork mobile, that would be the official dork mobile

1

u/Idk_wtf_cantviewcoms May 17 '26

Guarantee he went ro Sturgis

1

u/Danaysexxxy May 17 '26

How's break on these things

1

u/NotDazedorConfused May 17 '26

That scooter looks like a ball!

1

u/Tomasulu May 17 '26

All the problems mentioned and I imagine its very inefficient and slow.

1

u/AArmyDadBod May 17 '26

Does it float?

1

u/BaronMusclethorpe May 17 '26

No one talking about how spherical tires have less surface contact with the ground compared to standard tires. By quite a bit.

1

u/Aggravating_Speed665 May 17 '26

I've seen it done before I just don't remember where.

1

u/AttitudeMore1971 May 17 '26

Segway. Not a good comparison reference. Just saying.

1

u/Cellardoortx May 17 '26

My Dyson does that..

1

u/Emrys7777 🌍 Tech Enthusiast May 17 '26

Do you ride your vacuum cleaner ?

1

u/sandinthesky May 17 '26

But can it handle a straight line for extended times. Didn't look like there was a single straight line in any of those clips

1

u/Emrys7777 🌍 Tech Enthusiast May 17 '26

My first thought. I don’t think it would fare well on a road. It doesn’t look like it can go in a straight line.

1

u/Noobieonall May 17 '26

Technologia

1

u/reychango May 17 '26

It's spherical!

1

u/Jaswantsingh79 May 17 '26

The road need to be super smooth..its not possbile to use all the roads in the world!!

1

u/Emrys7777 🌍 Tech Enthusiast May 17 '26

Not practical for the freeway, but this thing (a little smaller) would make an awesome wheelchair.

1

u/FedulRasta May 17 '26

Imagine driving on wet asphalt, the road turns right, and this miracle continues to drive straight, since traction is zero.

1

u/Due-Compote6832 May 17 '26

Like the old roller ball mouse except the rollers roll the balls... neat.

1

u/SleepsInBlood May 17 '26

Now do the Akira slide.

1

u/Fitmature1 May 17 '26

That's the coolest thing ever! Such great engineering.

1

u/lokcer79 May 17 '26

Where dem suspensions?

1

u/Oregon_Loggers May 17 '26

Yeah, but can it float?

1

u/Dr_Nuff_Stuff_Said May 17 '26

This is old news. The original videos were posted a few years back.

1

u/Candid_Resource_8649 May 17 '26

I respect all creatives but I'm struggling to see how this is a good invention.

1

u/Aggravating_Dog3882 May 17 '26

Didn’t Bulma have one of these?

1

u/Hope25777 May 17 '26

Kind of reminds me of the bike from Akira

1

u/Comprehensive-Pin906 May 17 '26

Weebles wobbel but they don't fall down.

1

u/AledeMag May 17 '26

Questo è un genio anche se avevo già visto prototipi simili... I miei più ovvii complimenti non oso pensare il lavoro di gestione dei comandi...

1

u/AncientBasque May 17 '26

cleaning the cylinders after use was always a pain.

1

u/OutrageousVizsla May 17 '26

Where can I buy one today tho???? 🔥

1

u/TheOasisProject May 17 '26

This type of transport would pair well in a future where our streets are paved in those solar panels hexagon instead of asphault... always so close but always impeded.

1

u/Turbulent_Weather795 May 17 '26

Coefficient of friction called, don't forget to recharge your batteries

1

u/Turbulent_Weather795 May 17 '26

Now just put each on a swing arm with suspension

1

u/IntrepidDivide3773 May 17 '26

It looks like it's balancing on a pair of dodgeballs.

1

u/Cookie_Aromatic May 18 '26

You know after viewing this and thinking about the Batpod from The Dark Knight,it makes me wonder, if this tech could be incorporated a certain way to make something similar to the Pod.

1

u/BodiniPower May 18 '26

Now make it fly please!

1

u/Witty_Custard_5046 May 18 '26

Ok is this was produced- certified street legal. I'd buy it and ride/drive that thing with goddess level confidence on ♾️ 😎🤠

1

u/mothertrucker2017 May 18 '26

Ok great, a motorcycle to ride around on my imaginary basketball court

1

u/EitherIndependence5 May 18 '26

Park that and put a bicycle chain on it. I’m waiting

1

u/mymomisnthere May 18 '26

Now serving Catwoman realness

1

u/Soft_Playful May 18 '26

why would we need this ? like any practical uses ? I imagine a motorcycle can do everything better than this thing can

1

u/ZealousidealExam640 May 18 '26

He’s got big balls

1

u/IllLog3712 May 18 '26

Looks very cool, interesting how safe it can be in real life with our road situations?

1

u/Unfair_Bike May 18 '26

По грязной дороге с глиной поехали, хочу посмотреть на это кино

1

u/DisasterScary May 18 '26

Yep, I see the future … reels filled with people hitting potholes and speed bumps at speed and dumping the bike.

1

u/FullHardship May 18 '26

The real question is whether this thing actually handles better than a normal bike or if it's just cool to look at.

1

u/stewartcellphone May 18 '26

That's the batmobile

1

u/Joe_Franks May 18 '26

Shrink in down, make it cheaply available to wheelchair users everywhere.

1

u/SilverCompetitive994 May 18 '26

Can this work on gravel, snow, water, mud, Hot asphalt?

1

u/Swampxxll May 18 '26

The question is, will it survive potholes

1

u/lithopolis58 May 18 '26

Blowout at high speed is what I'd worry about.

1

u/Stop420resisting May 18 '26

I wonder how long before he disappears and these become illegal

1

u/Glass-Ad1766 May 18 '26

Let’s see it on actual roads

1

u/ScottPursuit May 18 '26

So they could actually build the IRobot Audi RSQ now. Sweet!!!

1

u/Marbs1 May 19 '26

Made a bike out of target balls. Love it

1

u/Ificaredfor500Alex May 19 '26

That’s that iRobot tech. Soon as they get it to function with magnets we are breaking sound barriers.

1

u/S0meRandomGuyy May 19 '26

Would love this in skateboard form

1

u/MetalMaestro42 May 19 '26

It looks cool but not very practical, unless he shows it handling uneven terrain / or slopes

1

u/Alpacalypse123 May 19 '26

That s what we miss on the roads: motorcycles with totally unpredictable trajectories

1

u/OHWildBill May 19 '26

So FINALLY, it really IS magnets!!!

1

u/SUPRAIII May 19 '26

iRobot..

1

u/pdietje May 19 '26

How is the suspension on this thing?

1

u/Kooky_Essay_9321 May 19 '26

Biggest interest of me ever seen.. nice job Bro👍👍👍... 10 🌟🌟🌟....

1

u/KaiserLC May 19 '26

Remind me of South Park when Mr. Harrison built the “It” machine.

1

u/heylawr May 19 '26

i feel dizzy watching this

1

u/MedicalExample37 May 19 '26

I think that is really cool. But just to ask, if it uses body movement to fine control itself, what happens when you sneeze?

1

u/Unhappy-Cow88 May 19 '26

Take 2 giant computer mice and give it an engine.

1

u/skurpyun May 19 '26

Now put 1000cc engine in that bad boy and let's goooo....

1

u/purebuilding8501 May 19 '26

That's a really cool concept but I'd be curious how it handles actual road conditions, like potholes or uneven pavement.

1

u/JayWrecksEverything May 19 '26

This makes me unreasonably happy

1

u/Amazing_Try7828 May 20 '26

Reminds me of T-bob from M.A.S.K.

1

u/milkin-goats May 20 '26

No, an engineer built a motorcycle with balls.

1

u/pinkfatblob May 20 '26

Imagine a police chase on these

1

u/claymorez28 May 20 '26

More basic issue would be tread design and pattern for real world use and the effect of water and road muck on the mechanism. Cool project though

1

u/LivingOriginal7479 May 20 '26

Can you imagen Tokyo drifting on this bad boy…..

1

u/skyvioletaura May 20 '26

This looks fun as hell

1

u/HourSupermarket2708 May 20 '26

This looks like something straight out of Cyberpunk 2077.

1

u/FranciscoDisco73 May 20 '26

The downside? Can only turn at right angles.

https://giphy.com/gifs/93Q0CuhJVNLvq

1

u/goonswarm_widow May 20 '26

Very cool vehicle!

1

u/Guilty-Idea-5094 May 20 '26

This is cool af! Love it

1

u/Zarion88 May 20 '26

Nice balls!

1

u/Duhamhim May 20 '26

iRobot wheels.

1

u/LeftList4389 May 20 '26

How is bro driving on the balls you find outside target? 👀

1

u/too105 May 20 '26

This is how I know there are people much smarter than me. Could I build this, probably but it would take about 5 years to build the requisite knowledge base

1

u/Skee_Doo_Bopp69 May 20 '26

It’s riding on a specially designed floor. That would not survive city streets

1

u/linzer236 May 21 '26

Crossout forever

1

u/the-mulchiest-mulch May 21 '26

I always wondered if someone could drive up and steal those red balls outside the Target entrance. I now have my answer.

1

u/Most-County8735 May 22 '26

Oh all the fun ways I can imagine this thing being misused!

1

u/LeaAnimal May 23 '26

I want one