Did you marvel at the impressive cornering and maneuverability of the Dyson Ball when it first raced around the floor in TV ads? If such a ball design can take a vacuum cleaner to places no others would dare to go, what could such a thing could do for a car? Graphic designer Santosh Chawla has incorporated a similar principle into his hydrogen powered Circulus concept car design.
Like the Phoenix Concept we looked at last week, Chawla's design is part of the 2009 Michelin Challenge Design, a project that encourages creative thinking and innovation in vehicle design and gives designers the chance to show the North American International Auto Show each January.
All-rounder
In addition to its incredibly small turning circle, the Concept would be made using recycled materials and feature a high visibility, panoramic windshield to give the occupants all-round visibility.
Power would be provided by hydrogen fuel cells.
Here's how Chawla puts it: "Versatility combined with the vehicle's overt cool factor and the ability to use it in different environments is this vehicle's strong points. Either as an explorer of sandy beaches, snowy backroads, winding mountain passes, or simply commuting in the city, the Circulus occupies an automotive niche like no other."
The key to both its name and my earlier reference to vacuum cleaners is revealed in the designer's choice of an omnidirectional sphere at the front which is controlled by an "intelligent system that recognizes and responds to every movement."
According to Chawla: "If the driver wants, it can turn 360º on a dime."
Stability and braking are taken care of by the two wheels at the rear which would also provide the drive. It's not quite clear how the steering mechanism from the front wheel would operate, but the designs (see gallery) show suspension arms connected to a hood over the top part of the sphere, with small intermediary ball bearings between the spherical tire and the hood. Would it work? Feel free to drop us a comment below.
Low rider
The design is sporty, eye-catching and looks like it would be fun to drive. The renderings show a low rider which puts me in mind of another (very) diminutive three-wheeler invented in the mid-1980s by Sir Clive Sinclair. The electric Sinclair C5 failed to live up to its promise of revolutionizing personal transport - it's driving position was so close to the ground it was relatively invisible to other drivers. And it hasn't been seen since. Let's hope the Circulus fairs better should it proceed to prototype and beyond.
Actually, the front windshield is the same size as your average car just turned sideways.. then you have the tiny joke of side windows and read window. There would be more light entering a vehicle such as a Geo Metro since they have more square footage of windows. Also, smaller the vehicle.. less energy it takes to cool.
As to ball shaped wheel.. did you even examine the pictures? It shows treads on the tire which completely nullifies your worry of too much friction, getting covered in dirt, and hydroplaning worries. As to the steering it will work considering its functioning how every other wheel functions.. just different shape. Where you change the angle in which the bearing assembly spins the vehicle begins changing straight path.
I can agree upon the subject of fuel cells being impractical due to cost of production, storage, distribution, and materials needed to catalyze hydrogen for energy.
Yet, in reality.. the energy storage and engine does not matter. It's not that hard to design, weld, and install any engine you'd desire. They've fit V-8 Engine in a Geo Metro and Classic Beetle's.
Regarding the concept-car, it would be quite difficult to provide steering to a completely freely-suspended ball, but if separate electric motors were provided at each rear wheel it would not be a great challenge to steer by varying the power to each wheel appropriately. The handling would no doubt be horrible, but since the Circulus is presumably intended only for city driving this would hardly be an issue.