Tag: Personal Transportation

Some bicycle wheels are truly otherworldly. Now a Stuttgart-based startup is focusing on personalised saddles, taking their cue from cyclists’ behinds. Using an A4 form at home cyclists record the distance between their two seat bones, and photograph it on their smartphones. Together with information on bicycle model, road performance and sitting posture, this data is fed into an...

A remotely operated life-buoy can help avert maritime disasters. Now, a Hong Kong-based startup is focusing on those who want to travel lighter. Its smart wagon, complete with electric hub motors, is remotely operated, has a range of 10 km and can move uphill and downhill at speeds of 2-7 km/h. Thanks to an integrated pocket lamp, it can...

Some devices improve hiking stamina. Now, a US startup has developed special shoes for pedestrians who want to cover ground faster. The water-resistant robot shoes are strapped on and their 8 wheels powered by miniature electric motors. Artificial intelligence captures walkers’ natural speed and stride length and adapts the electric support. The wheels only turn when users are in...

Trains offer sustainable transportation, especially when they remove CO2. Buses, too, at least compared with private cars. But the average usage rate of public transportation is only 15% in Europe. The electric ‘collective’ taxis developed by an Italian startup could soon change all that, because on shared routes, their modules combine together to make buses. Depending on the desired...

Anomalies in network traffic can be detected aurally. The amount of electronics in cars, however, is making them more and more exposed to hacking or theft. But, thanks to a US research team, there could soon be an easy solution. Drivers would simply plug the team’s device into the car’s auxiliary power outlet, which is directly connected to the...

Rail journeys should be more comfortable in future. People with limited mobility, however, don’t just need help at train stations. Which is why a British consortium has developed a new concept to improve accessibility at airports. The consortium’s electric one-seater vehicle is self-balancing and comes with luggage space at the rear. Its design means users can dine or shop like other airport...

When we’re short on energy, sometimes all we need is the touch of a hand. The same is now true for e-bikes. Working with the Technical University in Delft, a Dutch company has developed a new system which allows bikes to be charged wirelessly. When cyclists park their bikes, they place a special, two-legged kickstand on an ‘in-pavement’ charging...

The so-called ‘draisine’ has enjoyed great popularity since its invention in 1817. In the city filters help improve the air quality for those pedalling. When bikes are tied up outside the office or train station they should be safely secured. Time for a Chilean startup to get involved. The best thing about their bicycle is that parts of it...