Bikes on Mars? - Don't laugh!

kbd512 · 2020-09-16 14:18:44

tahanson43206,

Is this going to be above or below ground?

If you expend the effort to create traffic tunnels, then why not use sealed pods and compressed CO2 like the system that the bank uses to transport money and paperwork in the drive-thru?

tahanson43206 · 2020-09-16 17:20:58

For kbd512 re #151

Thanks for your question and your (to me very) interesting suggestion!

The below ground tunnels idea has been part of the My Hacienda concept since its beginning, but the idea itself may well go back far into the early years of the forum archive. That doesn't mean it will ever be implemented, of course, but it has precedent on Earth. Much of the infrastructure of older cities in Europe is built underground, and in the less ancient US, a city like New York has extensive underground infrastructure.

You are the first person I've seen suggest a "push" method of moving cars in underground tunnels. That is an interesting idea.

The usual (that I am familiar with) approach to that is to generate a vacuum to pull containers through a tunnel network.

Either method would work, of course, and I'd be quite interested in seeing an analysis of the pros and cons of each method.

The way you can tell you have a suction system is if you open the door to a port and it tries to pull you in << grin >>

We have digressed a bit from Bikes on Mars << grin >>

I was trying to stay on that lane with the follow on to your aerodynamic shaped passenger compartment.

(th)

SpaceNut · 2020-09-16 17:58:42

I am going to copy a few posts to the other topic which is geared more towards 4 wheel use versus just 2.
Quadricycle which covers the hybrid and other 3 or 4 wheeled motorized vehicles better suited for a mars tunnel use.

tahanson43206 · 2020-10-16 12:34:31

For SpaceNut ....

The link to these YouTube videos showed up in one of the newsfeeds today ... I thought it might be of interest as a demonstration of operation in rough terrain:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i4C0l8EXjto

The company that makes these appears to be in France.

(th)

Mars_B4_Moon · 2022-08-11 12:38:24

Safe?

Austin Stanley wrote:

Safety. Bike riding can be dangerous. Especially on rough unimproved terrain like on Mars. A fall or accident could damage the bike, potential stranding you. Or it could break a bone or damage your life support systems. All of these could be fatal. IMO the advantages of speed are more than outweighed by its dangers, slow and steady is the rule on Mars.

Back on Earth, the motorcyclist has less than two seconds to complete all safety measure all collision avoidance actions in an accident.

Fatality 5,579 per 8,317,363 registered motor cycles
https://www.iii.org/fact-statistic/fact … le-crashes

14% of road accident fatalities are motorcyclists
https://housegrail.com/motorcycle-vs-ca … tatistics/

Let's assume people riding bikes on the Moon and Mars will be going slower and moving safer.

Electric?

NASA has a plan for mini nuclear reactors on the moon which could one day power a lunar colony
https://uk.style.yahoo.com/nasa-plan-mi … 25584.html

This moon motorcycle concept by a Russian automotive designer is just wild
https://www.space.com/moon-motorcycle-concept-photos

Last edited by Mars_B4_Moon (2022-08-11 14:51:06)

SpaceNut · 2022-08-11 19:20:41

Not seeing much of a problem for mars tunnels since they could be pressurized such as to not need a space suit. Just wear a bicycle helmet and ride safely.

Important to remember is at some point we will go from pedaling to powered as resources are brought forward.

https://avt.inl.gov/sites/default/files … /power.pdf

How to GUIDE TO EV MOTOR CONTROLLER OPERATION & FEATURES
https://sterlinggtake.com/article/guide … es-part-1/
https://sterlinggtake.com/article/guide … es-part-2/

history of electric motors and how to control them
http://www.sunrise-ev.com/controllers.htm

https://cleantechnica.com/2019/11/02/motor-control-101/

Calliban · 2022-08-12 09:34:27

In his book 'how to live on Mars' Zubrin discussed the use of motor bikes for exploritory missions from a Mars base. The idea was to use a hydrogen filled balloon, which would be pushed along by westerly winds to get most on the way. The explorers would release just enough hydrogen to bring the balloon to the ground and would tether it to a rock. They would then use motor bikes to explore, returning to the balloon to sleep in a tent-like hab. When exploration was done, they would release a small amount of stored H2 into the balloon, restoring its bouyancy, and use the wind to carry them back around the planet, returning to base when they were close enough to use their bikes.

The main problem I can see with bikes on Mars, is that much of the surface is covered by either loose regolith or rubble fields. Trying to bike over these would be tough.

Last edited by Calliban (2022-08-12 09:36:16)

Mars_B4_Moon · 2023-02-21 03:51:14

The mini motorcycle that almost made it to the moon: NASA images show the secret project developed in case the Apollo lunar rover wasn't ready in time
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech … -moon.html
NASA began testing Honda 90cc 'monkey bikes' in 1969

SpaceNut · 2023-03-11 13:33:42

I saw one of these designs being made use of by an employee at work that stated he has been using it pretty much all year when weather permits pedaling 4 mikes one-way each day. It has a small 20" tire hub generator that is 6V for the lighting needs.

I was a bit impressed too how far it was being used and wondered if the others were of similar mileage. We do have a few ebikes as well and I wonder if these were being used in a longer range or not.

Mars_B4_Moon · 2023-03-28 06:15:42

Bahamas a Unitary parliamentary constitutional monarchy.

The capital is Nassau on the island of New Providence.

People have trips, Big Money from tourist flights.

Tiny Island has Insane Traffic
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kdz6FeQLuHQ

Last edited by Mars_B4_Moon (2023-03-28 06:17:01)

SpaceNut · 2023-10-26 19:33:22

Have been looking at the wattage to motion for horse power required.
https://bikehike.org/ebike-how-many-cc-equal-w/

1000 watts/746 watts/hp = 1.34 hp. A typical fuel injected gas engine develops 1 hp per 22 cc. So 1.34 hp x 22 cc/hp = 29.5 cc. 1 hp = 746 watts

https://www.rapidtables.com/electric/watt.html

Calliban · 2023-10-27 07:18:52

A problem I can see with bikes on Mars is the ruggedness of the terrain. Most images of the surface look like rubble fields. Trying to traverse that kind of terrain on a bike will be tough. You hit a rock at the wrong angle and you will come off the bike. It has happened to me before as a teenager. It put me off of rough terrain biking and I havn't done it since. This is less of a problem if you can build dirt track roads that are cleared of rubble. But bikes probably won't do well on unimproved terrain.
******

Additional: Some amazing bikes, quad bikes and velomobiles.
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=8znCkm3BpPk

Some of these vehicles may indeed be nimble enough to handle the rugged terrain on Mars. Makes me wonder how far a man on Mars could go exploring with one of these lightweight electric quad bikes, with a inflatable tent and roll out solar array. Explorers could travel light.

Last edited by Calliban (2023-10-27 17:03:53)

SpaceNut · 2023-12-20 15:11:30

This amphibious e-bike camper turns into a boat for aquatic adventures

It has a range of 25km (15.5 miles) with two batteries and a top speed of 8kmph (5mph), though as always, real world performance will depend on factors like terrain, weather, and how much you've piled inside. It has a maximum load capacity of 260kg including batteries, which BeTriton suggests you could use to haul passengers, bikepacking gear, and even your pet.

AA1lO0Z2.img?w=768&h=432&m=6

Not much for mars but might be for earth use.

AA1lO5VK.img?w=800&h=415&q=60&m=2&f=jpg

The trailer version is a little more practical, letting you use your own e-bike and coming in a handy flat-pack kit that can be assembled with simple tools, much like Ikea furniture.
It's certainly not cheap, starting at €14,500 (about $16,000), but BeTriton also offers a rental service and will soon be opening its calendar for booking in 2024.

A bit of redesign we have a mobile home
AA1lOfkR.img?w=800&h=415&q=60&m=2&f=jpg

SpaceNut · 2024-06-19 14:57:28

Hydrogen bike gets refueled in secs, offers 37 miles of range

BB1okglQ.img?w=800&h=435&q=60&m=2&f=jpg

HydroRide Europe’s (see more here) foldable, sport and rental hydrogen bikes are equipped with a 180-watt fuel cell, which helps the bicycles to produce electric current that propel them. They also come with two riding modes, presumably manual pedaling and hydrogen-assist riding. These hydrogen fuel-cell bikes can have a maximum speed of 23 kilometers per hour which may make them ideal for everyday commute and occasional adventures. For the foldable model, the bike can collapse in three steps, making it portable enough to be brought anywhere even if it weighs around 19.5 kilos.

One of the key advantages of HydroRide’s HYRYD bikes is the incredibly fast refueling time. Swapping hydrogen canisters takes only 3-10 seconds, providing riders with up to 37 miles (60 km) of range per canister. This convenience could be a game-changer, especially for those who use e-bikes for deliveries or frequent short trips.

BB1oklgj.img?w=800&h=435&q=60&m=2&f=jpg

https://www.designboom.com/technology/f … 6-18-2024/

With 200mL of water, the machine may be able to generate 20 grams of ‘green hydrogen’. This byproduct is injected into the removable water tank, which has a design resembling a water bottle. It can only take 3 to 10 seconds to fill up the tank, and the single refuel can give riders a range of 50 to 60 kilometers. The company also plans to distribute solar-powered charging stations, so riders can swap their empty tanks in less than 10 seconds.

https://electrek.co/2024/06/08/i-tested … he-future/

Those little hydrogen tanks, around the size of a 500 mL water bottle, hold enough hydrogen for around 60 km or 36 miles of riding.
To be honest, I guess that’s the point. Hydrogen isn’t meant to be some revolutionary game changer for performance. At the end of the day, the motor is still a basic 250W e-bike hub motor. And thus, the ride feels like a basic 250W e-bike.

https://newatlas.com/bicycles/hydroride … ll-ebikes/

quasar777 · 2025-10-12 18:16:29

Hello Everyone

quasar777 · 2025-10-12 18:51:10

Still after many yrs. Trying to find a link to the standup torso suit quadracycle for the moon. I dunno why it's hard to find.

quasar777 · 2025-10-12 18:55:33

Found it maybe. I posted it in the first page here. Got ng back to 2002.

SpaceNut · 2025-10-13 06:49:16

Welcome back quasar777, long time....

I think you are talking about the chariot concepts.

AI Overview
NASA has funded the development of a concept for a "standing torso suit quadricycle for the moon" through a project called Chariot. Developed by a team at the Johnson Space Center, the Chariot is a multipurpose, modular lunar vehicle designed for astronauts to drive in a standing position, which gives it a "chariot-like" appearance.
Key features of the Chariot concept
Standing operation: The vehicle is specifically designed for astronauts to operate while standing, which allows them to explore more comfortably in their bulky spacesuits.
Modular design: The base mobility unit (chassis, wheels, batteries, and electronics) can be reconfigured with different attachments. These configurations allow it to serve multiple functions, such as transporting cargo, moving lunar soil (regolith), or carrying crew.
Hybrid operation: The Chariot is capable of multiple modes of control:
Onboard manual control: Direct operation by an astronaut on the vehicle.
Teleoperation: Remote control with small time delays from a lander or lunar habitation module.
Supervised autonomous control: Controlled from Earth with longer time delays.
Enhanced mobility: The standing position is intended to improve mobility for astronauts who are otherwise limited by the bulkiness of their spacesuits.
Broader lunar rover context
The standing torso suit quadricycle, or Chariot, is part of a larger effort to expand lunar mobility capabilities for the Artemis missions and beyond.
Replacing the original LRV: Like the Apollo-era Lunar Roving Vehicle (LRV), the Chariot is an unpressurized rover that will greatly expand astronauts' range and increase scientific productivity on the moon.
Supporting future exploration: In addition to crewed transportation, the Chariot is being developed to support cargo transport and other scientific objectives, including exploration of the lunar South Pole.
Complementing other vehicle designs: Other companies, such as Intuitive Machines and Lockheed Martin, are also developing unpressurized lunar terrain vehicles (LTVs). NASA has awarded contracts for the development and testing of several LTV concepts, ensuring a robust set of options for future lunar mission

SpaceNut · 2025-10-13 06:55:44

NASA's Chariot: Not Your Father's Lunar Rover

wow almost 2 decades ago.
94Bhv2uDjHsDKC8VTwTqA7-282-80.jpg.webp

The specifications for Chariot were set forth as follows:
Chariot Spec Earth Prototype Lunar System
Payload 1000 kg 3000-6000 kg
Vehicle Mass 2000 kg 1000 kg
Top Speed 20 kph 20 kph
Range 25 km 100 km
Slope Climbing 15 Degrees 25 Degrees

SpaceNut · 2025-10-13 07:12:58

You may find some infor in these as well.

Quadracycles

All-Terrain Hex-Legged Extra-Terrestrial Explorer (ATHLETE)

Topics that we had in that era are gone due to great crash.

kbd512 · 2025-10-13 20:54:28

quasar777,

I think this is the basic concept, but this type of vehicle could be ridden while wearing a space suit:

kbd512 · 2025-10-13 21:35:33

quasar777,

Perhaps you're thinking of the "Deus Ex Machina" concept created by Loniak Design for Yamaha Racing:
New Atlas - The Deus Ex Machina Wheeled Exoskeleton - new horizons in personal mobility - June 13th, 2008

Edit (a pic of the device without its rider / wearer):

This was the "techno-futurism" gadgetry that was supposed to power the above device:
Nano-phosphate batteries / ultra-capacitors for 15 minute recharge times (still a highly experimental tech)
Top Speed: 75mph; 0-60mph: 3 seconds (should be good for killing yourself quickly on the moon)
36 pneumatic "muscles" (presumably for steering of this "wearable vehicle")
2 linear actuators (presumably for adjusting ride height / angle)
Artificial "spine" with 7 "vertebrae" (presumably for weight shifting)

There's enough cool-sounding buzz-words strung together to satisfy the most discriminating keyboard motorcyclist. All of the above listed techno gadgets are technically real, at least as lab-ready concepts, and some do work to one degree or another, but not as part of a singular integrated vehicle design with exhaustive testing behind it, which would be a hard requirement for this "wearable" off-road ATV-like device to be used on the lunar surface for personal off-road transport.

Do I think it could work?

It probably could, but why not just design a proper dirt bike or ATV and call it a day? What significant benefits does this over-sophisticated device provide to its wearer, apart from a "flying / gliding sensation"? Is there any mass / volume benefit? I think the origami folding feature might save some space. However, looking cool and functioning reliably are two very different things. It's undeniably cool, but what would razor-sharp grains of lunar regolith do to all of its flexible parts? We should probably test that here on Earth, first.

Last edited by kbd512 (2025-10-13 21:46:03)

kbd512 · 2025-10-13 21:47:35

quasar777,

How about a true "iron horse"?:
view-horse-with-mechanical-robotic-parts-futuristic-style_23-2151626080.jpg

kbd512 · 2025-10-13 21:51:32

Does anyone remember this wild-looking thing NASA created?:

New Mars Forums

Announcement

#151 2020-09-16 14:18:44

Re: Bikes on Mars? - Don't laugh!

#152 2020-09-16 17:20:58

Re: Bikes on Mars? - Don't laugh!

#153 2020-09-16 17:58:42

Re: Bikes on Mars? - Don't laugh!

#154 2020-10-16 12:34:31

Re: Bikes on Mars? - Don't laugh!

#155 2022-08-11 12:38:24

Re: Bikes on Mars? - Don't laugh!

#156 2022-08-11 19:20:41

Re: Bikes on Mars? - Don't laugh!

#157 2022-08-12 09:34:27

Re: Bikes on Mars? - Don't laugh!

#158 2023-02-21 03:51:14

Re: Bikes on Mars? - Don't laugh!

#159 2023-03-11 13:33:42

Re: Bikes on Mars? - Don't laugh!

#160 2023-03-28 06:15:42

Re: Bikes on Mars? - Don't laugh!

#161 2023-10-26 19:33:22

Re: Bikes on Mars? - Don't laugh!

#162 2023-10-27 07:18:52

Re: Bikes on Mars? - Don't laugh!

#163 2023-12-20 15:11:30

Re: Bikes on Mars? - Don't laugh!

#164 2024-06-19 14:57:28

Re: Bikes on Mars? - Don't laugh!

#165 2025-10-12 18:16:29

Re: Bikes on Mars? - Don't laugh!

#166 2025-10-12 18:51:10

Re: Bikes on Mars? - Don't laugh!

#167 2025-10-12 18:55:33

Re: Bikes on Mars? - Don't laugh!

#168 2025-10-13 06:49:16

Re: Bikes on Mars? - Don't laugh!

#169 2025-10-13 06:55:44

Re: Bikes on Mars? - Don't laugh!

#170 2025-10-13 07:12:58

Re: Bikes on Mars? - Don't laugh!

#171 2025-10-13 20:54:28

Re: Bikes on Mars? - Don't laugh!

#172 2025-10-13 21:35:33

Re: Bikes on Mars? - Don't laugh!

#173 2025-10-13 21:47:35

Re: Bikes on Mars? - Don't laugh!

#174 2025-10-13 21:51:32

Re: Bikes on Mars? - Don't laugh!

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