Bikeon, "cassette drive" torque sensing motor

[Gruesome]

Sadly, I have to report that I decided to return the BikeOn kit, and Aram has agreed to refund me. On the last ride the belt broke, most likely as I was climbing a hill standing on the pedals.
Aram has put and is still putting a lot of effort into making this motor suitable for all kinds of riders, but unfortunately as of right now it doesn't seem to be for me. I'm sure there was also some plain bad luck involved.

 

[Chalo]

Well I hope it finds its most suitable applications. It's a clever system.

 

[maiz]

Sadly, I have to report that I decided to return the BikeOn kit, and Aram has agreed to refund me. On the last ride the belt broke, most likely as I was climbing a hill standing on the pedals.
Aram has put and is still putting a lot of effort into making this motor suitable for all kinds of riders, but unfortunately as of right now it doesn't seem to be for me. I'm sure there was also some plain bad luck involved.

Would a higher spec belt require a redesign I wonder?

 

[spaceman]

Hi everyone,

First, I want to thank everyone for the valuable feedback and productive discussion.

We chose to use a timing belt for its superior properties: it’s highly resistant to mud, water, and contamination, offers longevity, and delivers a smoother ride.
Once I learnt that the belt broke, I arranged a meeting with engineers from the belt manufacturing company.
After a very productive meeting on Thursday, we identified the root cause of the belt breakage. The issue isn’t with the belt itself, but with the overly rigid belt support system, which doesn’t allow for minor misalignment during intense rides. To resolve this, we’ll be adding some flexibility to the support system. We expect this fix to be fully implemented within the next 1.5 to 2 weeks.

We’re committed to working with every user. If there’s an upgrade, we ensure all existing units are updated at our expense. Any issues, including belt breakage, are fully covered under our standard warranty.

As I’ve mentioned before, our goal is to make sure every BikeOn user is completely satisfied-no exception. I appreciate the patience and support of each BikeOn user as we work to refine the product. Most issues have been addressed, and I am confident that within a short time, we’ll have a fully mature and reliable product.

Please let me know if there are any questions or concerns.

 

[spaceman]

Would a higher spec belt require a redesign I wonder?

The belt spec is not the issue.

 

[maiz]

The belt spec is not the issue.

Unrelated @spaceman you mentioned the manner that you addressed resistance while pedaling without assist as similar to the "walk" feature of some kits; powering the motor a few watts to overcome system resistance. I wonder if it might be possible to implement a "limp home" feature in case of chain breakage. Maybe a steady 8-10mph to get home or a bike shop?

 

[neptronix]

How's this drive going? any innovations or business news this year?

 

[AnthonyC]

BikeOn

BikeOn is a device that transforms your bicycle into a smart e-bike in seconds. No special skills, tools or bicycle modification required. The integrated IMU technology that gives you unprecedented insights into your riding dynamics and terrain interactions is coming soon. We started this...

www.youtube.com

They're developing a full function power meter as a replacement for the drive's torque sensor. It's selling stand-alone too and the chart comparing readings with another meter is impressive. Unlike other chain sensors it's an ingenious design that takes chain-relative measurements - gotta love that - and as usual Aram explains it fully with a Q&A.

 

[Zambam]

Did I miss something? Video does not mention how their power meter is powered and data is transmitted.
I've never used a power meter on a bicycle before. I'd like to try one at some point. What's the projected cost of the CycleClick?

 

[AnthonyC]

USB rechargeable, US $174 early bird, bluetooth. I don't recall if they've setlled on the protocol/s yet but take a look around.

 

[spaceman]

How's this drive going? any innovations or business news this year?

Hi! Yes, the drive has been going well - we’ve been shipping consistently.

We’ve also been developing a new product: a power meter (or smart sensor, depending on how we decide to position it). It’s designed to be tool-free, easy to install, and simple to swap between bikes.

Although we officially kicked off development in January, I’ve been exploring the idea of torque measurement for quite some time - modeling and testing various components over the past few years. That background allowed us to move quickly, and we're now preparing to ship the first units to beta testers this or next week.
You can see the power meter here . The photos there show the first prototype, but it has since been completely rebuilt and now made of metal mostly:

 

[spaceman]

They're developing a full function power meter as a replacement for the drive's torque sensor.

Absolutely correct. However, the meter can also be used as a standalone product, and we’re planning a crowdfunding campaign in the next couple of months. We rely entirely on user support and product sales, so a successful campaign would allow us to move faster. This meter is just one piece of a larger, interconnected system I’ve been thinking about and exploring for many years.

 

[spaceman]

Did I miss something? Video does not mention how their power meter is powered and data is transmitted.
I've never used a power meter on a bicycle before. I'd like to try one at some point. What's the projected cost of the CycleClick?

We hope the low price and ease of use will make this product appealing to a wide range of cyclists. Despite its affordability, it’s a precise instrument. As we move forward, we’ll continue expanding its capabilities through over-the-air updates—just like we’ve done with our electric drive system.
The power meter can connect to most cycling computers that support BLE sensors, as well as to our own app. We're still considering ANT+ connectivity; it may be offered later via an optional dongle.
As @AnthonyC mentioned, the device is battery-powered (with approximately 30 hours of operation per charge), can connect to our e-drive system, and is intended to eventually replace the current torque-sensing roller.

 

[spaceman]

I'm happy to answer any questions. Developing the new product has tripled the workload for our small team, but I’ll do my best to check emails as frequently as possible.
I truly appreciate any feedback you may have. As I mentioned, we rely entirely on the support and input of our users - and of forum members like you. Your feedback means a lot to us.

 

[neptronix]

That's a pretty cool device!
Any goings on with the drive unit other than this sensor?

I'm still interested in one of these drive units. I just don't think it pairs well with my bike's design.

I'd be willing to do some fabrication to make it work. Maybe i could make a fake seatstay? ( there are some nice mounting points near my dropouts, i could add a little triangle ).

 

[Zambam]

We hope the low price and ease of use will make this product appealing to a wide range of cyclists. Despite its affordability, it’s a precise instrument. As we move forward, we’ll continue expanding its capabilities through over-the-air updates—just like we’ve done with our electric drive system.
The power meter can connect to most cycling computers that support BLE sensors, as well as to our own app. We're still considering ANT+ connectivity; it may be offered later via an optional dongle.
As @AnthonyC mentioned, the device is battery-powered (with approximately 30 hours of operation per charge), can connect to our e-drive system, and is intended to eventually replace the current torque-sensing roller.

Very clever! So the CycleClick operates wirelessly as a torque sensor to your e-drive system and as a standalone power meter! What's the latency/ propagation delay of the torque/ speed signals (if any) compared to if it was designed as a hardwired system?

 

[AnthonyC]

For comparison around 100mS is your own latency as a rider

 

[Zambam]

For comparison around 100mS is your own latency as a rider

You mean rider latency from a stimulus? That does not answer my original question.

 

[spaceman]

I'd be willing to do some fabrication to make it work. Maybe i could make a fake seatstay? ( there are some nice mounting points near my dropouts, i could add a little triangle ).

This is a somewhat unusual case. Let me give it some thought...