Dyson Ball Car?
Do you love the amazing maneuverability of the Dyson Ball vacuum cleaner? Would that ball design work for a car? Graphic designer Santosh Chawla has incorporated just such a principle into his hydrogen powered Circulus concept car design.
This concept car is all about the 360º spin. With an omni-directional front this car can spin around in a wide variety of terrains. The omnidirectional sphere at the front is controlled by an engine connected to an intelligent system that recognizes and responds to every movement of the driver’s steering.
Chawla describes 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. If the driver wants, it can turn 360º on a dime.”
In addition to its incredibly small turning circle, the Concept would be made using recycled materials, its side body panels are made of recycled plastic and polyurethane covers the seats, and it features a high visibility, panoramic windshield to give the occupants all-round visibility. Power would be provided by hydrogen fuel cells, which means it has zero emissions.
Stability and braking are taken care of by the two wheels at the rear which would also provide the drive. I’m not quite clear on how the steering mechanism from the front wheel would operate, but the designs 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.
The design is sporty, eye-catching and looks like it would be fun to drive. Let’s hope the Circulus proceeds to prototype and beyond.
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