What will bikes be like in ten years’ time? It’s a preferred query, and it’s arduous to see how the perfect street bikes could possibly be any extra superior than they’re now.
The inventors and engineers who can visualise and design tomorrow’s expertise might have already got an thought of how issues will look. A lately revealed patent by Classified for a ‘Self-powered system for a bicycle’ outlines plans for harnessing the solar’s energy to cost bicycle elements and even electronically powered brakes.
An define of the concept behind the invention is printed within the patent:
‘The disclosure pertains to a system for a bicycle, whereby the system contains a number of digital sensors, and/or a number of digital actuators, and an vitality harvesting unit configured for harvesting vitality and supplying the harvested vitality to the a number of digital actuators and/or the a number of digital actuators.’
Classic patent jargon, did you anticipate something much less? To lower by way of all that, it appears Classified is methods to seize vitality whether or not that be kinetic, photo voltaic or thermal and use it to energy digital actuators on a bicycle, this could possibly be used for something from derailleurs to dropper posts, and crucially if issues are photo voltaic powered, they will not want plugging in and recharging. The patent additionally touches on electronically operated brakes, an concept that’s positive to gentle up the feedback sections.
Classified CTO Dr Roëll van Druten is listed as one of many inventors on the patent utility which lists an goal to ‘present a user-friendly system for powering the assorted digital sensors and actuators of a bicycle.’
Modern bikes are already technological marvels, and charging an digital groupset is hardly a chore, speak about a first-world downside. However, a photo voltaic charging groupset that eradicated the necessity to plug in and cost could be an extra refinement.
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The way forward for bicycle groupsets?
Patents are mental property (IP) utilized by inventors and types to guard and handle using their innovations. We lately delved deep into the world of biking patents and learnt loads. Patent legalese can usually be a bit obscure, as patents are sometimes intentionally broad.
There’s loads to work by way of within the patent, (No: WO2023118607A2) and we have tried to stipulate the final gist however among the eye-catching factors appear to stipulate an general system with a lot of digital actuation, the place all the things could possibly be taken care of; cadence sensors, pace sensor, brake sensor, even a ‘place sensor’.
These sensors could possibly be powered by ‘photovaltic’ or photo voltaic cells mounted to the entrance chain wheel, the outer face of the hub meeting, the entrance fender, the body and even on the outer face of a manually operable shifter. This aligns with an SRAM patent we coated again in 2022, might there be a secret arms race behind the scenes between producers to patent and shield photo voltaic tech for the years forward?
Finally, these digital brakes. The patent outlines a self-powered brake system; ‘a manually operable brake lever having an digital brake sensor configured for sensing a person actuation thereof and transmitting an digital brake sign to command a braking motion.’ So you pull the brake lever, and the digital system takes care of the braking for you. This sounds prefer it could possibly be alongside the identical traces as digital handbrakes in automobiles, which have been round for some years.
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What is subsequent for Classified?
Classified might haven’t any quick plans to develop the expertise outlined on this patent. The model might merely be pondering forward, and even wish to block rival producers from utilizing the tech.
Patents are territorial, and it seems that Classified has filed this patent in a couple of territory which might counsel extra monetary outlay and a higher diploma of intent for this expertise.
Classified burst onto the scene a couple of years in the past with its ‘rear derailleur killer’ Powershift Hub, which basically positioned a two-speed transmission inside a proprietary rear hub which labored alongside the rear derailleur to imitate a double chainset. The expertise drew a whole lot of consideration, was adopted by a spread of manufacturers and was raced on by Victor Campenaerts at Opening Weekend in 2023.
The expertise hasn’t been totally embraced on the high degree but. Most riders are inclined to run a double chainset for flatter phases and a single ring for the mountains if their sponsor’s gear permits it. We have additionally seen the tech utilized in disc wheels for time trials the place riders largely run a single massive 1x chainring and for gravel by the Classified gravel race group. Classified claims there is not an enormous added weight penalty, which makes us surprise if current sponsor agreements with groupset producers create a barrier for Classified in professional street biking?
Classified presents city, street and gravel gear, and this patent for a extra built-in general system maybe factors to a transfer away from tech for the sharp finish of racing and right into a forward-thinking possibility for cyclists usually throughout a spread of disciplines.
Cyclingnews has contacted Classified for remark.