Why bicycles do not fall: Arend Schwab at TEDxDelft
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An assistant professor in theoretical and applied mechanics who is into bicyles : Meet TEDx Delft -- 2012 performer, Arend Schwab from Delft University of Technology, Department of Mechanical Engineering. Arend did his BSc Engineering at Dordrecht (1979) and MSc Engineering (1983) and PhD (2002) at Delft. He runs the bicycle mechanics lab and teaches mechanics. Whenever Arend comes up with an assignment for his students, the hallway of the faculty is crammed with all sorts of very strange objects that resemble bikes only slighlty. Considering bicyles constitute 40% of the Netherlands traffic making it the bicycle capital of the world, his work is very interesting not only for the dutch people but anyone who ever rode a bicycle. Amongst his fields of interest are: Multibody Dynamics, dynamics of flexible multibody system, finite element method, legged locomotion, speed skating, and bicycle dynamics. In particular the treatment of contact phenomena like in collisions and rolling (non-holonomic constraints) is his special interest. He has given academic talks related to his area of expertise in various universities all over the world. However, the concept of TED is relatively new to him and he is very excited to present his intriguing research at such a grand platform. In the spirit of ideas worth spreading, TEDx is a program of local, self-organized events that bring people together to share a TED-like experience. At a TEDx event, TEDTalks video and live speakers combine to spark deep discussion and connection in a small group. These local, self-organized events are branded TEDx, where x = independently organized TED event. The TED Conference provides general guidance for the TEDx program, but individual TEDx events are self-organized.* (*Subject to certain rules and regulations)
Comments
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Very interesting. But as a basic design for a stable two wheel vehicle the bicycle seems to have found its optimal configuration nearly 150 years ago. That's why the bicyle has stayed essentially the same despite great technical innovations in material science and computer design. So the conclusion should have been not innovation using non-passive steering methods "let's add some motors and a processing unit because we can", but "If it ain't broke don't fix it!"
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This guy is extremely boring... To think this was on Tedx - Pathetic!!!
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this man should not be a teacher. he has no understanding how to explain things clearly. and i say this even though i understand why bicycle dont fall. a second thing he said is that the trail isnt needed for balance. thats like saying eating bananas isnt needed to feel full. yes, but if i eat bananas every day then the bananas are whats keeping me full. in bicycles the trail DOES add balance, and it doesnt mean anything he built a bicycle without a trail
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However, good explanation.
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This guy has to pick up his pace. His mechanical way of speaking is distracting me from the subject matter.
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So really it's about the centre of mass and dynamically altering it so the bicycle falls into the turn?
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Superb piece, beautifully illustrated!
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pff next time use a broomstick , easier to balanse anyway and its bigger.
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it is same like walking and standing in one leg ....inretia is the answer , it minimize the fallen in one side
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Who edits these TED videos?
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Most times the videos cut to the presenter whilst he's talking about something on the screen behind, so we miss what he's talking about!
Happens on a lot of Ted videos nowadays -
This isnt right, keith code figured it, watch twist of the wrist 2. they are stable because the forward inertia pushes the bicycle forward while any instability moves the contact patch under the falling weight, the inertia from the forward motion then pushes against the high side of the bike turning it the other way. the bigger the movement in the contact patch the more turning force is exerted which is why on a motorcycle pushing forward on the right handle bar turns the bike right even though the wheel is trying to turn left, the wider contact patch creates more friction, tipping the front over. once the front is falling the forward interia againt the high side of the bike turns the wheel the opposite way. i'm not a physicist but ive ridden a motorcycle on a pennys worth of contact patch and from a practical standpoint, the bars always track to the most stable point. with cruise control you can place a bike into full lean with a penny sized contact patch between both tires and the bike will be stable without any rider input; or rider if youve seen the motorcycles winning races without riders on them in the motogp. furthermore that same bike at full lean with no rider input is stable to essentially any disruptions, from sand to poor road conditions, the only thing that will make it fall over is an input on the bars that prevents the contact patch from tracking to the center of mass
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What about motorbikes? I was told it was the centrifugal force of the wheels that keep it upright around corners
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his gyroscope test failed.
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If you let drive a bicycle exactly straight, and then you steer to the left (with a remote control), it will fall to the right. Correct?
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This is the only guy that I have actually understood. Good job for explaining it so clearly!
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He explained nothing. All he did was disprove some popular theories.
Clearly there is a negative mechanical feedback loop at work in conventional bicycles. It has nothing to do with the rider because conventional bicycles are inherently stable without them.
The fact is, the negative feedback mechanism which keeps a moving bicycle upright is still a mystery. Amazing, but true. -
trail and gyro are not needed for stability, I built one !
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Motorcyclists care a LOT about this. It's life & death to us. Very interested in where this goes.
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Nicely explained ! Thank you !
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