Meet SBU, the Electric Self-Balancing Unicycle

With more and more crowded cities and with the economic crisis forcing people to purchase low-cost cars with lower fuel consumption, innovative vehicles such as Segaways are a must have. However, today you'll meet even a more practical tool that could help you a lot when stuck in traffic at rush hours. The self-balancing unicycle, formerly known as SBU, is an electric contraption based on accelerometers and gyroscopes, requiring you to lean forwards or backward to control its movement.

The SBU looks pretty weird, similar to those tiny unicycles used by clowns during circus shows but is entirely based on an electric motor which could produce a maximum speed of about 8 mph.

Theoretically, all you have to do is to lean forward in order to accelerate. Practically, you may smash your face to the road but according to the manufacturer, a two-hour practice session should be enough to get a decent ride. However, in case you lean too much than SBU can support, the vehicle will automatically produce a warning sound, informing you that it would be a good idea to back off.

“If the capabilities are exceeded, the SBU might fall out from under the rider. The rider can then just put his/her feet down and stand (or run depending on the speed). It's a unique blend of machine and human balance,” Focus Designs briefly explained.

With a total weight of about 11 kg, SBU can cover a maximum distance of 12 miles, the equivalent of 1.5 hours, with a single charge. And because it's time to talk about the price, the SBU can be purchased for as much as $1,500, but note that sales will begin in November as a limited edition consisting of ten units.