In the magical world of electric micromobility, scooters, quadricycles and bicycles are now almost a standard. If you ask me to imagine a vehicle that could make an impression in the near future, however, I imagine (or rather dream) a sort of ecological tricycle. For this reason, when I see concepts around like this Echo my ears prick up. It is a three-wheeled vehicle with a rather radical design: more agile than a four-wheeler and safer than a two-wheeler, it is the perfect balance for the means of transport of the future. There's just one very small problem: it's not for humans, it does everything by itself. It is autonomous.
Echo, a different autonomous vehicle for a different world
Take a step forward and imagine an autonomous tricycle, ready for the world of the 30s. It seems very close to us, but on certain aspects (let's also include those related to transport) it could also be radically different. This Echo looks like it came out of a science fiction movie in a dystopian world. Designed by designers and artists Roman Dolzhenko (an “old acquaintance” of this site) e Dmitry Voronezhtsev, this tricycle (I would call it “Trike”, but the Italian purists then criticize me) is an example of what will be possible with level 5 autonomous driving. Many of the burdensome activities (and perhaps even sometimes dangerous activities: at S .Francisco their ears will ring) will be entrusted to “robot vehicles” powered by artificial intelligence and self-driving, which will roam the cities. They will be able to deliver food, patrol risk areas, collect groceries, and more. Maybe with a more reassuring design than this.
Don't you find it beautiful?
The autonomous ECHO concept has three hubless wheels, with the front two reinforced by suspension systems to deal with any bumps on the road. The absence of a seat for the pilot says it all: all that's missing is seeing him around surrounded by some robot from Boston Dynamics (Do you want dogs? Spot. Do you want humanoids? Atlas). Robocop, get out of the way.
This tricycle, to summarize, is clearly designed with an urban future dominated by electric vehicles in mind (or maybe hydrogen) self-driving. What are you saying? Maybe even less, huh? In the end, though, it might not even be that far-fetched ten years from now.
