Audi Snook

by Mark R in Automotive Gadgets, Conceptual Gadgets

Audi Snook

When I was in high school, I read this dark science fiction novel by Piers Anthony entitled The Ring. In this work, the author (who is most famous for his fantasy) presents us with a world full of gyrocars, one-passenger vehicles that somehow rode on just one wheel.

I don’t know if Tilmann Schootz, German designer of the Audi Snook, has ever read The Ring, but it certainly looks like his inspiration for his auto-stabilized monowheel concept car. Maybe the bright idea light bulb went off above his head, and he designed his car in the shape of it. Whatever the case, Schootz has won a Michelin Challenge Design Award at the 2008 Detroit Auto Show for his vision.

You may look at the Snook and think “that’s impossible” or “there’s no way that could stand” or “I’m not driving that”. However, I believe we were all thinking the same things when the Segway was revealed. The Snook achieves its one-wheel balance with “agility through instability, controlled by artificial intelligence”.

If this concept ever does become reality, then we really need to change the name. Just what is a Snook? That sounds like some creature on a Saturday Morning cartoon.

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6 Comments on “Audi Snook”

Fred Schechter Says:

April 16th, 2008 at 10:59 am

Mouse ball racing!!!

Evan Says:

April 16th, 2008 at 11:57 am

The only Snook I know of is a fish. Looks nothing like a fish!

Tom Says:

April 16th, 2008 at 12:29 pm

i wonder what the suspension will be like. also, how about lateral g’s? the software would have to account for all that (if built, that will be planned in i am sure)
and a plus on this? you only have to replace one wheel! ^_^

Friday Morning Gadget Gallery » Coolest Gadgets Says:

April 18th, 2008 at 12:58 am

[...] Audi Snook [...]

UnoCycle » Coolest Gadgets Says:

July 2nd, 2008 at 10:17 am

[...] same principles of the Segway. I’m guessing it also uses the same balancing principle that the Audi Snook [...]

Helsinki Says:

October 19th, 2008 at 11:30 am

Looks like the coolest thing, and definitely fun to drive. A few questions: how do I park it in the streets? How does it work on slippery surfaces? In the Nordic countries up to 4 months a year there is cold and snow. What about gravel and mud roads? And how fast does it emergency stop?

I guess corners are taken a bit like a motorbike.

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