video on Youtube:
[ame]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OeVyvSDdd3Q[/ame]
Peugeot Solaris
New sphere of automotive technology.
I introduce you to the new concept of Peugeot Solaris. When designing this town car, I was inspired by a basic geometric shape – the sphere. While this is an unusual shapre for a car, it hides several interesting possibilities. Because the Solaris has only two wheels, it is capable to rotate about its center; in combination with its measurements, 1815x1360x2120 mm, there should be no problems with parking in a crowded town.
Some cities have already started building “eco-zone” areas, where entry with combustion cars is prohibited. Here the Solaris has a green light. Its drive system, which is situated low and in-line with its two wheels, consists of straight-line electric motors placed in a T-profile with each wheel. A similar system of straight-line motors has already been successfully implemented in roller coasters. I modified the system by connecting the two ends of the T-profile, thus creating the Solaris wheel. Each wheel includes two electric motors attached with a spring-loaded shock absorber and a sound-proofing muffler to the undercarriage of the vehicle.
For charging the battery I designed a system of four adjustable receivers installed on the solar panels. These receivers are capable to move due to the spherical shape of the Solaris. But what are these receivers, and what are they good for?
When the Solaris is parked, the solar receivers spread to charge the batteries. When ready to drive the car, the driver needs only to press a button to retract the receivers, leaving only free space where the receivers once were. If necessary, the driver can open the first receiver by pressing the corresponding button to open it into receiving position. If the sunlight is too strong, the second shield can be opened and moved as needed to act as a shade. The third and fourth receivers are identical in shape and size, and are the longest receivers on the car.
The Solaris uses a two-battery system: while the first is in use, the second is charging. When the battery in use loses power, the circuit automatically switches to the charged battery and previous battery begins charging. After being outside in direct sunlight, the Solaris does not need to be plugged in to an electric outlet to charge its batteries, so it neither directly nor indirectly produces emissions and is environmentally friendly.
The Peugeot Solaris does not have a classic steering wheel, nor does it have pedals. Instead, the driver manipulates a sphere, which is based on the same principles as a joystick, with a ball-and-socket joint in the middle of the sphere. This sphere is placed on an ergonomically-shaped armrest which houses the ball-and-socket joint and is connected to the ergonomically-shaped driver’s seat. All other controls for the car are located in a circular keypad on the driver’s left armrest. For persons taller than 180 cm the driver’s seat may be shifted backward and also the headroom is more than standard. The Solaris is designed with the driver in mind, placing the driver in the middle of the vehicle to make the driver more integrated with the car. Manipulation through the sphere is intuitive. When the sphere is rotated forward, the Solaris accelerates forward. Adjusting the speed of rotation with affect the acceleration of the car: when the sphere is rotated forward quickly the car accelerates quickly, and vice versa. When the sphere is rotated toward the left, the Solaris does not turn but rotates to the left, making this feature useful for parking. The Solaris also includes cruise control, which maintains a constant speed and allows the driver to move his hand from accelerating position without affecting the car’s movement.
The Solaris features two means of braking. If the manipulative sphere is moved backward from neutral position to the first braking position, electric motors change polarization, and begin moving the vehicle in reverse. The force with which the sphere is moved in reverse affects how the car moves in reverse, much as it does when accelerating forward. In the event of an emergency, the sphere can be moved through the first braking position to the second. With this action a pneumatic braking system, which is installed in each wheel between the electric motors, halts movement of the car. This mechanism can also be used as a traditional parking brake. However, constant sudden braking and accelerating actions hold the possibility of causing unpleasant swinging motions, or of rolling the car completely. To limit this possibility, I suggested the implementation of stabilizing spheres, one in front and another in the rear. They are attached to the undercarriage via a small cylindrical shock absorber and one longer shock absorber, where the length of the latter is adjustable. The free ends of both shock absorbers are attached to a ball-and-socket joint that houses the stabilizing sphere. With the help of these spheres, it is possible to create an active undercarriage.
The Solaris is capable to carry two passengers, who sit on both sides behind the driver and can enjoy considerable legroom. Between the rear seats is a place for a child’s seat, so capacity of the Solaris thus increases for 3+1. If the seat is unnecessary, it can be removed and replaced with a center console. An additional purpose of the rear stabilizing sphere is to maintain the Solaris’s vertical angle while carrying the weight of additional passengers.
Therefore, passengers would not have to experience unpleasant pitch while riding in the Solaris. The apparatus for determining the actual position would be placed in the middle of the Solaris’s undercarriage, and it would work on the principle of position tranductors attached to the ends of a thin ventral hemispherical cylinder. Should the Solaris come out of its vertical alignment, the position tranductors would work in accordance with the rear stabilizing sphere to return the vehicle to its original state. The front stabilizing sphere is not in direct contact with the road, but is placed approximately 10 cm above it, so sudden stops provide stabilization for the Solaris. The half-exposed pneumatics in the wheels can also serve the function of so-called “pillows” in the event of impact with another vehicle, as they can undergo elastic deformation.
But you might not want to drive too fast when turning around corners etc because it looks rather narrow and thus prone to falling over sideways. Also, I am concerned that when suddenly braking in a downhill setting, the tiny sphere in the front will not prevent the entire vehicle from rolling down.
That aside, you have a very creative style in the design of the car. In addition, you have a unique way of presenting... the modern and funky font gives the car an interesting personality. I like how in the last picture the person is holding the paws of the Peugeot lion.
Originally Posted by BeeJou
