Harley-Davidson patent: technology for self-balancing

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New Harley-Davidson patent application

Technology for independent balancing

A new patent application from Harley-Davidson suggests that the US manufacturer is working on a new technology to help prevent motorcycles from tipping over and to balance themselves.

Anyone who has ever tipped a motorcycle will probably remember how hard it is to get the bike upright. With particularly heavy motorcycles it is logically much more strenuous. Not a big secret: the models from Harley-Davidson are not necessarily the lightweights among motorized two-wheelers. It is therefore difficult to straighten a fallen Harley. The US manufacturer itself has recognized this problem and is apparently working on a new technology that should enable the motorcycle to balance itself independently and thus prevent it from tipping over.

Gyroscope ensures balance

A gyroscope will play the leading role in the development of the new technology. The gyroscope is positioned together with an electric motor and a heavy flywheel in the top case, which is supposed to increase the weight of the respective Harley noticeably. The rather high and difficult top box alone is supposed to help stabilize the bike at very slow speeds.

Harley-davidson.

Harley is working on a new technology to prevent motorcycles from tipping over.

When the bike comes to a standstill, the gyroscope, which should rotate at up to 20,000 rpm thanks to the electric motor, ensures that the bike does not tip over. In addition, sensors should detect early on when the bike is leaning and there is a risk of tipping over. Logically, Harley owners would then have to do without the storage space in the top case.

Honda and BMW with similar technologies

Harley-Davidson isn’t the only manufacturer that appears to be working on such a technology. Honda presented the Moto Riding Assist concept study almost three years ago. With the help of robot technology, the Japanese have shown a concept bike that independently maintains balance when stationary and while driving. Shortly beforehand, BMW had also shown a glimpse into the future with the concept study Vision Next 100 and presented a concept bike that can balance itself.

Conclusion

As is well known, a patent application does not necessarily mean that newly announced technologies will actually be implemented there. A technology that helps prevent motorcycles from tipping over should, however, represent real added value for many owners of heavy models. The fact that various manufacturers are working independently of one another on such a technology suggests that such systems could actually exist soon.

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