This New Self-Balancing Omnidirectional Motorcycle Can Spin, Slides And Glides

With a design that will leave you scratching your head and beaming from ear to ear, YouTuber James Bruton is back. Fasten your helmets (or grab your barf bags, depending on your tolerance for the unusual). This time, it’s not a gravity-defying bicycle or a self-balancing robot; instead, it’s the Screw Bike, an electric motorcycle that eschews traditional motorcycle design in favor of sheer, unadulterated enjoyment.

Bruton is no stranger to the world of self-balancing machines. He’s already built a self-balancing bicycle that utilizes a sideways-mounted omni-wheel, and his channel boasts a collection of fascinating self-stabilizing robots. But the Screw Bike takes things a step further, building upon his previous attempt at an omnidirectional motorcycle. While that iteration could turn and move sideways like a confused crab, it lacked the ability to propel itself forward or backward.

Step inside the Mecanum wheel. The Mecanum wheel features rollers positioned at diagonal angles, in contrast to its omni-wheeled relative, whose rollers are mounted perpendicular to the direction of travel. By adjusting the speed and direction of each wheel, this seemingly straightforward adjustment opens up a world of options and allows the car to go in any direction, forward, backward, diagonally, you name it. Bruton, believing that commercially available Mecanum wheels were too small for his vision, decided to embrace the spirit of the backyard inventor and 3D-printed a pair of his own 14.2-inch monstrosities.

But these wheels aren’t just for fancy footwork. Mounted sideways on the Screw Bike, their primary function is to keep the whole contraption balanced, just like a Segway. Each wheel connects to an electric motor via a toothed rubber belt, transforming them from balancing act participants to propulsion providers when needed. The finishing touches – a set of handlebars, a comfy bench seat, and a charmingly dorky headlight – complete this wacky masterpiece.

So, how does one ride this mechanical marvel? Just like a Segway, riders control the Screw Bike by leaning in the direction they want to go. A twist throttle provides forward motion without jeopardizing the self-balancing magic. Need to reverse? A flick of a switch does the trick. And for those who truly want to embrace the absurdity, separate controls allow the rider to spin the bike in place like a mechanical dervish.

Bruton’s initial test rides are a testament to the Screw Bike’s odd brilliance. While it may not be built for blistering speeds or conquering treacherous mountain roads, it’s a functional embodiment of Bruton’s ingenuity. The Screw Bike might not be practical for mass production, but it’s a whole lot of fun and a shining example of what backyard inventors can achieve with a dash of creativity and a whole lot of 3D filament.