BMW Forums
01-10-2008, 03:22 PM
Filed under: Etc. (http://www.autoblog.com/category/etc/), Safety (http://www.autoblog.com/category/safety/), BMW (http://www.autoblog.com/category/bmw/), Motorcycles (http://www.autoblog.com/category/motorcycles/)
http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2008/01/bmw_flex-bike-250-op.jpgBMW has been known to come up with some interesting motorcycle designs, such as the Telelever, Duolever and Paralever suspension configurations. The above image, taken from a recent patent application (http://www.motorcyclenews.com/MCN/News/newsresults/mcn/2008/January/january-7-13/jan0908uncrashablebmwgallery/?), proves that the fertile engineering minds at BMW haven't stopped trying to improve the basic two-wheels-and-an-engine ethos of the motorcycle. Using a flexi-frame which pivots and hinges at most any conceivable location, the computer controlled chassis would be able to right itself even when the rider or outside influences would dictate a crash.
We don't have any real specifics to report on, but we'd imagine that some accelerometers and gyros must be in use here... or maybe a Wiimote (http://wii.nintendo.com/controller.jsp) or two?
Gallery: Uncrashable BMW Motorcycle
http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2008/01/uncrashable_bmw_1_thumbnail.jpg (http://www.autoblog.com/photos/uncrashable-bmw-motorcycle/570854/)http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2008/01/uncrashable_bmw_2_thumbnail.jpg (http://www.autoblog.com/photos/uncrashable-bmw-motorcycle/570855/)http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2008/01/uncrashable_bmw_3_thumbnail.jpg (http://www.autoblog.com/photos/uncrashable-bmw-motorcycle/570856/)http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2008/01/uncrashable_bmw_4_thumbnail.jpg (http://www.autoblog.com/photos/uncrashable-bmw-motorcycle/570857/)http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2008/01/uncrashable_bmw_5_thumbnail.jpg (http://www.autoblog.com/photos/uncrashable-bmw-motorcycle/570858/)
[Source: Motorcycle News]
Read | Permalink (http://www.autoblog.com/2008/01/09/an-uncrashable-motorcycle-from-bmw/) | Email this (http://www.autoblog.com/forward/1082143/) | Comments (http://www.autoblog.com/2008/01/09/an-uncrashable-motorcycle-from-bmw/#comments)
Read more... (http://www.autoblog.com/2008/01/09/an-uncrashable-motorcycle-from-bmw/)
http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2008/01/bmw_flex-bike-250-op.jpgBMW has been known to come up with some interesting motorcycle designs, such as the Telelever, Duolever and Paralever suspension configurations. The above image, taken from a recent patent application (http://www.motorcyclenews.com/MCN/News/newsresults/mcn/2008/January/january-7-13/jan0908uncrashablebmwgallery/?), proves that the fertile engineering minds at BMW haven't stopped trying to improve the basic two-wheels-and-an-engine ethos of the motorcycle. Using a flexi-frame which pivots and hinges at most any conceivable location, the computer controlled chassis would be able to right itself even when the rider or outside influences would dictate a crash.
We don't have any real specifics to report on, but we'd imagine that some accelerometers and gyros must be in use here... or maybe a Wiimote (http://wii.nintendo.com/controller.jsp) or two?
Gallery: Uncrashable BMW Motorcycle
http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2008/01/uncrashable_bmw_1_thumbnail.jpg (http://www.autoblog.com/photos/uncrashable-bmw-motorcycle/570854/)http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2008/01/uncrashable_bmw_2_thumbnail.jpg (http://www.autoblog.com/photos/uncrashable-bmw-motorcycle/570855/)http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2008/01/uncrashable_bmw_3_thumbnail.jpg (http://www.autoblog.com/photos/uncrashable-bmw-motorcycle/570856/)http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2008/01/uncrashable_bmw_4_thumbnail.jpg (http://www.autoblog.com/photos/uncrashable-bmw-motorcycle/570857/)http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2008/01/uncrashable_bmw_5_thumbnail.jpg (http://www.autoblog.com/photos/uncrashable-bmw-motorcycle/570858/)
[Source: Motorcycle News]
Read | Permalink (http://www.autoblog.com/2008/01/09/an-uncrashable-motorcycle-from-bmw/) | Email this (http://www.autoblog.com/forward/1082143/) | Comments (http://www.autoblog.com/2008/01/09/an-uncrashable-motorcycle-from-bmw/#comments)
Read more... (http://www.autoblog.com/2008/01/09/an-uncrashable-motorcycle-from-bmw/)