Industrial design company uses NX to set new standards of performance and consumer appeal in rideable technology

Cool and convenient commuting

Subtle weight transfer may be the key to gliding casually through the urban environment on an electric unicycle, but thoughtful design is the key to comfort and performance. It was an industrial design ethos that prompted Uniwheel to set about transforming a generic unicycle design into one that is both ergonomic and reliable.

“We were aware that most of the electric unicycles on the market followed a rather simple design: internal electronics inside a clamshell with square pedals sticking out,” explained Steve Milton, company director and chief executive of the London-based company. “User feedback revealed that the rather boxy shape hurt the legs. We, therefore, set out to provide a comfortable, safe and enjoyable user experience.”

Uniwheel’s aim was to be the first to market with a design that was thoroughly thought through. That target was met at the end of 2015 when the company launched its first consumer product, just seven months from the first concept. The use of NX™ software from product lifecycle management (PLM) specialist Siemens Digital Industries Software was fundamental to the success and speed of the entire development project.

Balancing form and function on one wheel

From first concept, the design team began using NX to create basic 3D models of elements such as the external styling of the plastic case, which has integrated lighting; the metal for the pedals and motor; and fine details such as the grip on the surface of the pedals. The main challenge was to package the sophisticated electronics and software, the removable battery packs, the motor and the wheel housing. Allocating appropriate spaces for the wiring looms was critical. With an emphasis clearly on the ergonomics of the main casing, 3D curves had a big role to play. “NX styling is great; the surfacing capabilities are really comprehensive,” comments Carson Brown, designer.

With safety a key focus throughout the design process, a range of sensors had to be incorporated into various parts such as the pedals and the handle. The sensors allow the motor to respond automatically when a foot is put on or taken off a pedal, or when the device is lifted off the ground. There is also a cut-off point to prevent the motor being taken to its limit.

Much thought went into designing the wheel and the tire, then refining tire pressure in order to create more surface contact with the ground to provide stability and assist with battery life. In addition the team used NX to design a specific tread pattern that would allow water to run off quickly for better grip.

Nearly 400 different components and 25 pieces of tooling were created and assessed within NX to ensure that there were no interference or clash problems. In some cases 3D printing was used to create rapid prototypes, particularly for the bi-directional lights, which alter according to the orientation of the machine, adjust to levels of daylight and grow brighter when the rider is slowing down.

Tritan™ copolyester, a tough, collision-resistant plastic, was chosen for the case, and this was overmolded with silicone rubber to absorb impact. Engineers devised a test rig for conducting physical wear-and-tear testing to replicate the process of the unicycle being knocked about in daily use. “The main case is very complex, yet the only issues we found in testing were cosmetic, and we could easily see and adjust the fine detail of the surfaces,” says Steve Godden, a Uniwheel designer. “With NX we get superb clarity and precision.”

Predictability alleviates pressure

With several international suppliers lined up to do tooling, it was imperative that Uniwheel’s designers could convey the design intent. The use of NX and the direct transfer of computer-aided design (CAD) files enabled clear and constructive discussion about the tooling and manufacturing process. Only one tooling trial was conducted, as part of the process of refining the lights. “NX gave us confidence right from the start,” reports Milton. “We knew that if we checked everything in NX we would not get too many questions from our suppliers.”

Using NX to optimize the way in which all the design elements come together, the Uniwheel team was able to reduce overall weight by more than two pounds, taking the device to less than 24 pounds, an achievement that led to the casing for the motor being patented. The team was also able to hide screw holes in the main case while ensuring complete ease of assembly. It takes just one hour to put together a finished product in Uniwheel’s London research and development unit. Right on time, the first fully finished electric unicycles were launched in December 2015, only seven months from the original idea.

For Uniwheel’s team of designers, the reliability and stability of NX was critical. “From past experience I knew that NX is robust and utterly predictable, and with our ambitious timescales that is exactly what we needed,” observes Mark Kennell, designer.

“I have used other software that crashes twice a day and this can have a severe impact on productivity, especially when there are tight timescales,” says Brown. “With NX, we had no problems.”

“NX is an industry-standard product and we are a startup company, but I now know that we could not have managed without it,” adds Eryk Sokolowski, designer.

The first U.K. electric wheel

With a 16-inch wheel and a 1,500-watt motor that stops automatically when the user steps off, the Uniwheel has the flexibility to deal with bumps and curves on the ground, but being at ease on a single wheel still takes a little practice. “The hardest thing is to ride at less than seven or eight miles per hour, when you can’t rely on momentum for side-to-side balance,” says Steve Milton, director and chief executive of Uniwheel. “However, we see the learning curve as cool and intrinsic to the appeal for potential customers.”

Designed and assembled in the U.K., the Uniwheel is streamlined to fit the lower leg and delivers up to 90 minutes of ride time. It can reach speeds of 12 miles per hour and has a range up to nine miles, yet it takes just one hour to charge fully. The controls are easy to negotiate and customization is enabled through the colorful bumpers, which can be replaced if they get scratched from regular use. The pedals can be exchanged as well.

Tapping into growing demand for assisted personal transportation, Uniwheel is already considering future developments. “As performance-to-weight is of critical concern to us, we are planning to expand our capability using NX for CAE,” says Milton.

Milton reflects on the company’s first year: “It is vital to us that NX is so reliable. This was a startup, with an ambitious target and a young team of designers who had not taken a product from design to manufacture before, yet I knew that NX would take us from visualizing on a piece of paper to the finished product.”