Joules the Robot: An electric tandem bicycle partner

Joules exists because designing and making things is fun. Joules came from a challenge to build an electric tandem bicycle powered by actually pushing the pedals like a person. Fun kinetic design was part of the intent, practicality was not.

Riding with Joules is a reminder that engineering and craftsmanship can be joyful pursuits. Engineering and art need not be separate. I hope that Joules can remind kids that creating real things is great way to spend time, and perhaps a career.

Joules the Robot (thanks, Byron!).

• [Anonymous]

  “Engineering and art…”
  You mean Industrial Design?

  • [airshowfan]

    If it’s impractical enough, it’s not “industrial design”. Maybe “product design”, but again, arguably not if it’s not meant for production.

    But what are you saying? That if you make a sculpture, it’s art, but if you make a sculpture that does something, you’re “just” an engineer?

    Not that it really matters what you call it. It looks like a fun project.

• [kerowhack]

  This is a great project, but at the same time this strikes me as an incredible statement about the alienation and loneliness of modern life combined with the ingenuity and manufacturing faculties inherent in the American mythos. Or maybe I’ve been viewing to much modern art.

• [a_user]

  pretty cool

• [jetfx]

  Joules even has a theme song.

  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sQz-CZvkY8k

• [peterbruells]

  But does it wear a helmet?

• [Anonymous]

  Take that Japan!! While you were busy trying to design the the first sex robot, this guy made a cycling robot.

• [HeatherB]

  Daisy. Daisy. Give me your answer do.

• [Itsumishi]

  Does he slack off whenever it gets too hot. As well as complain about not being able to see and about banging his knees on the handlebars that are too close to the pedals?

  If not I don’t think this is really a tandem bike riding robot.