The Monowheel: What happened to "world's craziest invention"?
The scene looks like something off the screens of a Charlie Chaplain work and it is just funny seeing that invention being tested in real life.
Or a hamster wheel where the gerbil runs around in endless circle.
Source.
Dubbed the "world's craziest invention", the Monowheel is a one-wheeled single-track vehicle similar to a unicycle. Instead of sitting above the wheel as in a unicycle, the rider sits either within the wheel or next to it.
The monowheel is designed in a ring form that is usually driven by smaller wheels pressing against its inner rim. It is funny looking at it because from just looking at it, it looks like a crazy invention that will be so disastrous and impossible to use.
It is also no wonder why it didn't make it to this time as one of the most sort after inventions given the push for adoption it had in the 1930s.
The monowheel was supposed to be an improvement on the bicycle but I guess it never was meant to be.
The monowheel is a one wheeled ride that comes with pedals and also motorized and it was the motorized version that you can see in the video as it is being tested to the admiration of the crowd.
Issues with the monowheel and why it is not user friendly.
The failure of the one wheel wonder is evident in its design that presents it as a disaster waiting to happen if eventually adopted for daily usage.
- Visibility issues. Being a wheel in the real sense of the word, the monowheel is designed in such a way that the rider is always facing the inner rim of the wheel, and this already is an obstruction to the view of oncoming hazards from all angles.
- Lack of stability. A single wheel has no support except it is quite wide or built with some active type of stabilization. With the design as can be seen in the video and picture, it lacks horizontal stability. It will be a common sight to see the rider always putting his legs down to gain support
- Limited capacity. The monowheel is not designed ti carry more than one person like the bicycle and motorbike. It also will have a struggle with luggage handling as the inside cannot be fitted to carry luggage like the bicycle will. It is just like a juggling wheel that should allow Charlie play silly.
- Risk of "gerbiling". The monowheel can turn into a hamster wheel if the driver accelerates or brakes too hard.
The build up of the monowheel which keeps the rider at the bottom of the wheel will be outplayed by gravity when force is applied.- Source.
I think with the various issues that bothers on safety that this invention has, the monowheel is an invention designed for 1930s Hollywood or something that can still be used today in one of those spy movies or some silly kind of cartoon pictures.
This is 2020 and with no monowheel being used on our roads and not even seeming like a tech that will make a difference, it is clear the "world's craziest invention" is not here to stay.
What other crazy invention has you seen that didn't live to see the big market adopting it?
I think the mono wheel failed as a result of lack of optimization. If consistent efforts were made to see how to make it better to serve greater purpose perhaps it would’ve survived the test of time
It wasn't meant to get off the ground because the design from the get go is not just something that will be good for the roads.
I think it was more of a play thing or something designed for the movies.
Stay Awesome!