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Flat-Pack Wall Furniture Folds into its Own Isometric Projection

02 Jun

[ By WebUrbanist in Design & Furniture & Decor. ]

3d wall flat pack

This furniture series not only folks up to pack flat for shipping or storage, but also hangs on the wall, each piece in the shape of a two-dimensional isometric drawing of itself.

De-Dimension by Jongha Choi uses a set of hinges and locking pins to fold out and lock into position, providing support when the pieces are used as seats and tables. Like other flat-pack furniture designs, this set boasts reduced weight and space requirements, though arguably at the expense of long-term durability and stability (depending in part on hidden bracing and the quality of components used).

3d furniture designs

The set is in part a commentary on representation versus reality, two-dimensional forms versus three-dimensional figures. From the designer: “Even the advent of 3D printing skills shake our fundamental notion of the image. Unlike the past, we are not only seeing the image as a means of reproducing objects, but also giving essential identity to the image itself. In other words, though the image still shows its visual effect on a flat plane, it is not just an expression of representation, but a making real an experience.

3d wall furniture

“In our current situation, in which modern society experiences the image, in relation to advertising, image circulation and the internet, why do we not question an images’ confinement to a flat surface. Why don’t we try to get more stereoscopic and attempt for direct experience with the image. My question started with this point and I tried several experiments in order to realize this idea from a personal point of view.”

[ By WebUrbanist in Design & Furniture & Decor. ]

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Lightweight & Portable Egg-Shaped Drone Folds Up Into Shell

28 Feb

[ By WebUrbanist in Gadgets & Geekery & Technology. ]

poweregg drone

Boasting practical portability with an eye to aesthetics, the new PowerEgg stands out against its more ungainly competitors, able to fold up into a smooth oval when not in use.

powervision egg drone

PowerVision “wanted to create a beautiful yet functional design for the poweregg,” explains CEO Wally Zheng. “The oval shape is not only clean and pure but also has the structural and functional benefits. This simple yet vital design means that this is more than a flying robot but a work of art.”

poweregg size

The device features a 360-degree panoramic HD camera able to relay long-range video, advanced optical flow sensors for indoor navigation and an easy-to-use remote control.

powervision detail

Developed over a year and a half, a great deal of work went into structural engineering, particularly making the moving parts work as it transforms to active from passive modes and back again.

poweregg deployed

“We want flying a drone to be child’s play, something even a five-year-old can do,’ continued Zheng. “With this next generation of drones, much like the internet expanded access to information in the virtual world, drones 2.0 led by innovations like the PowerEgg can expand access to the physical world and bring together humans and machines in this journey.”

[ By WebUrbanist in Gadgets & Geekery & Technology. ]

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Fast-Flipping Flybike Folds for Easy Transport in Seconds

06 Oct

[ By Steph in Technology & Vehicles & Mods. ]

flybike 3

Pull up on the center of this electric bicycle’s frame and the whole thing instantly folds in half, making it easy to tote the smart-phone-connected bike virtually anywhere in the city. The Gi ‘FlyBike’ aims to revolutionize urban commuting with ultimate portability, zero maintenance requirements and an electric system that helps riders ascend tough hills. It’s crafted from ultra-lightweight aircraft grade aluminum, weighing in at just 37 pounds.

flybike 2

The three speed assistance propelling motor gets 64 kilometers (39.7 miles) per charge and can sync with both Androids and iPhones, offering up a GPS tracking system, hands-free navigation system and smart-lock anti-theft system. It’s got full-size 26” wheels, anti-puncture tires that still provide a comfortable ride, and a “trousers-friendly” non-grease belt drive.

flybike 4

flybike 5

You can charge your phone while you’re riding, and smart lights come on automatically after dark when the bike is in use. The FlyBike achieves a top speed of 15mph on the highest level of electric assistance, but you can go faster by pedaling if you’re not in a heavily-trafficked urban area. It takes about four hours to fully charge the battery using an ordinary power outlet.

flybike 6

flybike 7

A mobile app lets you control the lights, lock the bike automatically, loan it to a friend and keep tabs on its location. You can program it to lock automatically when it detects that your phone is 10 feet away from the folded bike.The Gi FlyBike is currently raising funds for production on Kickstarter, and the rewards that’ll get you one of your own start at $ 1,990.

[ By Steph in Technology & Vehicles & Mods. ]

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Bike in a Backpack Folds Up Tiny & Weighs Just 11 Pounds

15 Nov

[ By Steph in Technology & Vehicles & Mods. ]

bike in a backpack 1

Dubbed ‘Impossible’ for its ability to pull off the seemingly unreachable goal of folding down so tiny it can fit inside a backpack, this electric bicycle can be carried virtually anywhere. The design is based around circles instead of a single horizontal girder to spread weight equally across the frame. While there are plenty of folding bike designs, few of them are quite as small and lightweight as the Impossible, which weighs in at less than 11 pounds.

bike in a backpack 2

The seat and handlebars are set at similar heights so the front and rear wheels do equal work to bear the weight of the rider. Nearly the entire bike is made of carbon fiber to keep the weight as low as it can be, with a steel connecting box in the center of the frame ensuring that it’s strong enough to withstand everyday use and carry a rider weighing up to 180 pounds.

bike in a backpack 4

bike in a backpack 5

bike in a backpack 3

bike in a backpack 6

The riding saddle doubles as the carrying case, keeping the electric charger clean, dry and ready for use. The bike will ultimately be up to 60% customizable with options like colored removable covers. Folding and unfolding the Impossible is achieved in four simple steps. The bike features ten 3.6V batteries and a DC motor enabling it to travel up to 12.4 mph for 45 minutes, or at normal speed for up to 15.6 miles per charge. No pedaling necessary – the bike does all the work.

bike in a backpack 7

Beijing-based Impossible Technology is currently raising funds for the project on Kickstarter, with backers pledging $ 430 CAD or more receiving an all-white Impossible bike from the first production run. Additional designs and accessories will be available in the future.

[ By Steph in Technology & Vehicles & Mods. ]

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Pop-Up Portfolio: Mobile Furniture Folds Flat Between Pages

12 May

[ By WebUrbanist in Design & Furniture & Decor. ]

flat pack furniture set

It is not unusual to see art and design students walking around with portfolios under their arms, but few open up to reveal such creative results as these.

flat pack chair closed

flat pack green chair

Inspired by campus folder cases, origami and pop-up books, Japanese designer Mariko Tsujimoto created this series of unfolding furnishings that deploy into surprisingly solid (if small) functional objects.

flat pack table open

flat pack table closed

Set in vivid colors to distinguish their functionality, the set includes a chair, table, desk and bookshelf, each of which refolds automatically when the end pages are closed.

flat pack shelf closed

flat pack book shelf

flat pack in motion

These quite literal portfolio pieces are just plastic prototypes for now, but rendered in a more solid material they could provide the conceptual groundwork for a full-fledged furnishing set.

[ By WebUrbanist in Design & Furniture & Decor. ]

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Micro-Cycle: Hubless Bike Folds Down & Fits into Backpack

09 May

[ By WebUrbanist in Technology & Vintage & Retro. ]

folding bicycle prototype design

Few folding bikes can boast such compact proportions (even when fully collapsed) as this umbrella-sized wonder you can sling at your side or slide into your shoulder bag.

portable umbrella sized bike

The Sada Bike bends the basic assumptions of bicycle design, but not in the same fashion as small-bike solutions. Instead of reducing the size of essential elements, which creates an awkward riding experience, Sada trades a rigid chassis and support-providing spokes for a jointed lightweight frame and reinforced rims that require less material.

portable folding urban bike

Experienced engineers will note their solution is not without its own unsolved questions, including the impact of putting weight along the edges of empty (even if rigid) wheel frames.

portable compact backpack bicycloe

Still, it is a start – while their may be balance and durability issues yet to address, the concept calls into question the premises behind existing standard, miniature and foldable bikes and pushes the potential limits of urban portability.

folding bike subway shot

In critique of other existing approaches, Sada’s creators note: “They have a small frame and wheels at the expense of stability, for the sake of compactness and portability during transport. The minimum size of the frame, in fact, penalizes the rider position while driving and the small size of the wheels significantly are affected by variations in terrain. On the other hand, the traditional bicycles, avoid these problems, but the rigid chassis makes them inflexible during transport on public transport.”

[ By WebUrbanist in Technology & Vintage & Retro. ]

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Origami Kayak: Packs Flat, Folds Up to Form its Own Case

25 Apr

[ By WebUrbanist in Technology & Vehicles & Mods. ]

kayak flat pack

Portaging in the wild is one thing, but try walking your canoe or kayak down the street (let alone through an airport) and you may smack someone right in the head – hence this city-friendly creation (25 pounds, 25 inches wide, and 12 feet long when deployed!).

kayak portable folding design

Compact, portable and light-weight, the Oru kayak folds in on itself to form a shoulder-ready carrying case containing, well, itself. It then unfolds and assembles in just five minutes – perfect for those living in crowded urban environments with little storage space.

kayak mobile folding form

From its creators: “Stash it in a trunk. Check it on a plane. Stow it on a sailboat. Hike it in to remote waters. No garage, SUV or roof racks necessary. The Oru Kayak makes boating simple, easy, and accessible— so you can spend more time on the water.”

kayak beach water deployed

But it is not just about mobility and transit – how the Oru works as a water vehicle matters as well: “The Oru Kayak is fast, stable, and handles incredibly well. Its light weight makes it fast and easy to paddle. The hard chines offer excellent tracking. And the 25″ width makes balancing easy, even for beginners. Check our blog for upcoming demos near you!” The catch? You may need to find the perfect flat-pack paddle to match!

[ By WebUrbanist in Technology & Vehicles & Mods. ]

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Boat to Go: Portable Flat-Pack Vessel Folds Up Like a Tent

16 Oct

[ By Delana in Technology & Vehicles & Mods. ]

This folding boat from design student Thibault Penven is a surprisingly effective way to keep a water conveyance with you at all times. It is surprising, of course, because one would not expect a boat to fold up and still be water-worthy – but this one does it spectacularly and without much trouble.

The project is called Ar Vag, and it quickly goes from a folded up, easily transportable waterproof skin to a one-person rowboat. The yellow waterproof skin is reinforced with rigid boards sewn inside. After unfolding, poles are inserted into pockets in the rim of the boat – kind of like tent poles – to hold the boat open.

Finally, a board holds the sides apart under tension and acts as a seat. The unfolded boat is surprisingly watertight and looks much like a normal boat – with one difference: when you’re done paddling around for the day, this one fits in the hatchback of a compact car.

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