Bicycles

PXP bicycle to enable thought-controlled gear shifting

PXP bicycle to enable thought-controlled gear shifting
The PXP bicycle concept aims to integrate brain-controlled gear shifting
The PXP bicycle concept aims to integrate brain-controlled gear shifting
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The PXP bicycle features a full carbon fiber frame
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The PXP bicycle features a full carbon fiber frame
Design sketch of the PXP bicycle
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Design sketch of the PXP bicycle
The PXP bicycle will feature brain-controlled gear shifting
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The PXP bicycle will feature brain-controlled gear shifting
The PXP bicycle in the wind-tunnel
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The PXP bicycle in the wind-tunnel
The system would use neurotransmitters in the helmet to measure brainwaves
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The system would use neurotransmitters in the helmet to measure brainwaves
The PXP bicycle concept aims to integrate brain-controlled gear shifting
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The PXP bicycle concept aims to integrate brain-controlled gear shifting
The PXP prototype
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The PXP prototype
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Boston-based Parlee Cycles is working on a concept bicycle which will reportedly feature brain-controlled gear shifting. Under development as part of the Toyota Prius Projects, the PXP as it's officially known, sits somewhere between a time-trial bicycle and a road bike in terms of geometry and the design uses carbon fiber to minimize the weight and maintain its rigidity.

The PXP project began in April 2011 when early sketches were first unveiled by Parlee Cycles. The bike has recently been put through wind tunnel testing and the think-to-shift technology is being developed by Deeplocal studio. This system would use neurotransmitters in the helmet to measure brainwaves and, via a wireless transmitter attached to the seat post, use them to operate an electronic gear shift.

At this stage the system is being controlled by a smartphone, but using thought-control isn't as far-fetched as it sounds (Toyota has already worked on brain-controlled wheelchair) and strikes us as a useful application of increasingly accessible ECG technology.

The system would use neurotransmitters in the helmet to measure brainwaves
The system would use neurotransmitters in the helmet to measure brainwaves

The progress of the PXP project is being followed in weekly updates from US-based cycling blogger John Watson of ProllyisnotProbably.com.

View gallery - 7 images
4 comments
4 comments
Mr Stiffy
And what happens when you see a hot chic in a short dress?
So much for thought controlled gear shifts.
Cephas
You don\'t really know how thought control works huh?
PeetEngineer
To change gears on my bicycle, I use my thought-controlled fingers and thumbs, which by pressing a button, change the gears for me.

Maybe a better deployment of this technology would be on wheelchairs for quadriplegics....?

For bicycles, I think a better technology would be a CVT type transmission, which selects the optimal torque delivery for the rider based on the instantaneous cadence and force applied on the pedal.
Harpal Sahota
Not a good idea if you have a case of ADHT ... hhhhmmmmm? Yep, a computerised CVT Transmission system, based on the force applied to the pedals would definitely be a better option. Get chipping with the gearing guys!