"Free to Caster (FTC) leaning reverse trike

[briogio]

will be checking out that footage when I get home from work. I grew up on the Bones Brigade.

wish I had one of those longboards... thats me at the start of the clip, carving down the footpath.

super stoked with the video... hope it sparks some interest to get me to the next level.

Does FTC mean that you lean it like a motorcycle?, (countersteering?), with no power assist?

I really like this concept for it's numerous advantages but especially because you can still lean it like a motorcycle, and a plane.

[sk8norcal]

FTC means no connection between the steering wheel/handlebar and the front wheels.
front wheels are free-to-caster.
power assist? i believe so... or maybe not...
and no countersteering.

I don't fully understand how it works,
The designers of FTC vehicles are quite vague describing about how it works,
probably to protect their design.

you can read more about it here,
http://tiltingvehicles.blogspot.com/201 ... james.html
http://tiltingvehicles.blogspot.com/2009/08/tbx3.html
http://tiltingvehicles.blogspot.com/201 ... oject.html
http://tiltingvehicles.blogspot.com/201 ... it-ev.html

[sk8norcal]

SPARC
operating in FTC mode?

[glump]

http://tiltingvehicles.blogspot.com/2010/10/veleance.html

Link is dead here is a new one from Véléance's channel:



and here you can see that Tri'Ode isn't FTC:


I work there so if you have questions, i'll be happy to answer.

[sk8norcal]

hi Glump,

basically I am interested in a video showing closeup view of the front linkages,
camera shot from the front with someone tilting the trike back and forth.









seems like 90% of the tilter I blogged dont want to show closeups, probably trying not to reveal too much of their design.

I like the TriOde, the front face is a bit funky aesthetic-wise, but I like the moped style design.
When are you guys bring it to market?
is this categorized like a moped in the states?

these specs correct?

weight = 375 lbs
range = 28 miles
top speed = 28 miles
specs says u guys are using SLA.

price?

btw, what do you think of the FTC idea?

[glump]

Hi, so Tri'Ode will be available on market for professionals only this summer (hopefully end of may) for 7500€ (taxes included) in France, then in Europe and one day in the US and the rest of the world. It is for professionals only for now.
The first production is small (50 units) the fallowing will be around 300 units.

as for specs it is:
165 kg -- 365 lbs for the sla version
45km -- 28 miles range for the sla version
top speed buy moped regulations in europe 45km/h -- 28miles/h (top speed rule for mopeds in the US ?)

Over versions are coming: moped/lithium (80-100 km range), faster/lithium (~80km/h/60km), 2 seaters etc ...

for the funkiness of the design, five main reasons :
1 st, i designed it (last version) and i'm a mechanical engineer, I've never designed anything else before, so I've done my best.
2 nd, the thermoforming Technic makes it very hard !
3 rd, we have to look different because we won't match "standard" automotive finish level with thermoforming.
4 th, the kinematic of the front axle make it very hard to "dress"
5 for the last version i had to look like the previous ones because we showed them in car shows etc... so the public now it is the same bike.

Concerning our design for the front axle. It is true that we don't like to show it too much. it took us years of fine development to get the performance we have know even if it looks simple, it isn't.
We are competing against big companies like piagio, quadro, peugeot .... etc ... they have many people working on this when we are 3 mechs on our side.
The performance we have in handling, comfort, braking etc.. is very good so yes we keep it a bit secret.

What you don't see on the image is that we have a patented system that can "lock" the system from tilting if needed automatically. you can see this very well on the videos. When I get off the scooter while roalling, the system makes shure it don't fall.
This system is our main difference it brings a lot of confort :
locks if you go backwards
locks when you stop
and security :
locks when you slip and don't let you fall like any over 2 wheeler (thats what we are competing against)
It allows us to have a slow speed non tilting mode too.

To be honest, and i don't want to be rude but for me the FTC idea is dangerous if applied to a full tilting vehicle (like ours)!
It is a serious miss understanding of the way tilting vehicles work.
On a tilting vehicle, leaning angle and steering AREN'T correlated !
FTC will work in one scenario or in an over but vehicle dynamics is a lot of scenarios and an infinity of combinations.
So for me FTC can exist as a prototype for a very specific use but never as a commercial/on the road vehicle because it won't be able to handle dangerous situations.

PS: Sorry for the English,feel free to correct me (so in can improve myself) !

[sk8norcal]

thx for the reply and input,

yes, i notice the anti-drop feature in the video, interesting...

i would like to see some vids of extreme maneuvers,
like sudden sharp turns on wet ground.

anyways, good luck on bringing it to market.

"scooter eating helmet"


btw, is the 4 wheeler still coming out also?

[glump]

anti-dropping ! that's the word i was looking for, thanks !

For the vids, i will do my best !

The four wheeler, Quat'Ode, will come out eventually when money comes .... to continue it's development (has been largely improved on CAD but needs more work ...).
I work on it when ever i have a little time. It is AWESOME to ride !! Two motors, a lot of torque, electronic differential etc.... and the noise it makes is very cool !



Thanks for the support, it is much harder than expected to go on market but we are finally getting there !