The Bicycle Riding Robot

Created by engineerMasahiko Yamaguchi, this awesome little fellow rides around on a bicycle:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=mT3vfSQePcs

Yamaguchi built the simple single-speed bicycle himself, and the robot is actually a commercially available one that he programmed. It incorporates a control unit with the same type of solid-state gyroscopes that your smartphone uses to sense tilt, and the robot then turns the handlebars just enough to straighten back up.

The basic pedaling action and maintenance of balance is automated, and the operator controls its starting, stopping, and turning with a conventional radio control unit. Yamaguchi says this is the first step toward building a fully autonomous cyclist.

Follow me on Twitter