This Self-Balancing Electric Bike Rolls on a Single Giant Ball and Moves in Any Direction - Yanko Design

"The One-Ball Bike has a roughly 2-foot red spherical ball that supports the entire machine and the rider above it. Around this sphere sit three omnidirectional wheels, arranged in an equilateral triangle under the bike's frame, each driven by a motor capable of pushing the ball forward, backward, or sideways."

"Balancing on a single contact point with the ground is a technical challenge that goes far beyond traditional bicycles or even Segway-style scooters, which correct in one axis. The One-Ball Bike must remain stable front-to-back and side-to-side simultaneously, and this is managed by a central control system built around a microcontroller like the Teensy 4.1 and an inertial measurement unit (IMU)."

"The bike's structure combines aluminum extrusion for strength with a range of custom-fabricated parts, many of which Bruton 3D-printed himself. This hybrid approach keeps the overall weight manageable while allowing rapid iteration during the build process."

James Bruton created an innovative one-ball electric bike featuring a 2-foot red spherical ball supporting the entire machine and rider. Three omnidirectional wheels arranged in an equilateral triangle beneath the frame drive the ball in any direction through individual motors. A microcontroller and inertial measurement unit continuously monitor the bike's orientation, with a PID controller adjusting motor speeds to maintain stability on both axes simultaneously. The structure combines aluminum extrusion with 3D-printed custom parts for strength and weight efficiency. Power comes from lithium polymer battery packs supplying approximately 50 volts to the drive motors. Rider control operates through twist grips rather than traditional handlebars.

Read at Yanko Design - Modern Industrial Design News