Bicycles reacting to speed for stable cycling

A Dutch consortium including the University of Twente developed an electrical bicycle that prevents elderly people from falling. The smart assistive bicycle, called SOFIE, increases stability by via drive-off assistance and by automatically lowering the saddle at low speeds. The UT, Indes and Roessingh Research and Development (RRD) worked together on this science-based bike development. The scientific work of Vera Bulsink, Ph.D. student at the UT, co-developed the design and increased the stability of the prototype. She improved computer simulations and did laboratory testing on bicycling stability. She defended her Ph.D. project on 7 December 2017.