Urban Transport

A closer look at the Swiss Butterfly Micro Scooter

A closer look at the Swiss Butterfly Micro Scooter
The Butterfly Micro Scooter - finalist in this year's James Dyson Award competition
The Butterfly Micro Scooter - finalist in this year's James Dyson Award competition
View 13 Images
A shot of the folded up KNIRPI scooter prototype
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A shot of the folded up KNIRPI scooter prototype
The KNIRPI scooter ready to ride
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The KNIRPI scooter ready to ride
Is is an umbrella or a scooter? The KNIRPI is a bit of both!
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Is is an umbrella or a scooter? The KNIRPI is a bit of both!
Graphic to show the size of the Butterfly compared to a bottle of beer
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Graphic to show the size of the Butterfly compared to a bottle of beer
Drive to the nearest car park and Butterfly the rest of the way
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Drive to the nearest car park and Butterfly the rest of the way
The Butterfly prototype's front wheel slides smoothly in-between the two rear wheels when the scooter is closed
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The Butterfly prototype's front wheel slides smoothly in-between the two rear wheels when the scooter is closed
The internal mechanism is based on two identical parallelogram constructions
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The internal mechanism is based on two identical parallelogram constructions
The Butterfly prototype, with Mini badge
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The Butterfly prototype, with Mini badge
It only takes a second to flip open the mechanism to reveal the scooter inside, where the Butterfly is in its natural position and ready to ride
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It only takes a second to flip open the mechanism to reveal the scooter inside, where the Butterfly is in its natural position and ready to ride
The internal structure of the Butterfly micro scooter prototype
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The internal structure of the Butterfly micro scooter prototype
An early mock up of the mechanism
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An early mock up of the mechanism
The Butterfly Micro Scooter - finalist in this year's James Dyson Award competition
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The Butterfly Micro Scooter - finalist in this year's James Dyson Award competition
Just like the real thing, the Butterfly transforms from a portable, flat pack into a scooter
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Just like the real thing, the Butterfly transforms from a portable, flat pack into a scooter
View gallery - 13 images

The winner of the James Dyson Award 2010 will be announced next week and there's just time for a closer look at one of the finalists, the Butterfly micro scooter. Taking inspiration from a collapsible umbrella, adding some street durability and clever engineering - and a touch of Mini styling - and the human-powered, portable urban transport solution is ready to ride. When folded, the scooter is small enough to fit inside a backpack or carried by hand but at the press of a button, flips open and extends out to a nifty three-wheeler.

I have to admit that when pawing my way through the finalists' pages on the Dyson Awards site, it was the video that accompanied the project details for the Butterfly which grabbed my attention. Designers Martin Ruegg and Simon Koenig told Gizmag that "it all began with a collapsible mini-umbrella, manufactured by a company called KNIRPS. We were very impressed by this unique parallelogram-mechanism.The umbrella's spring-loaded opening system is released by a push-button. Therefore the object is open and ready to use instantly."

Is is an umbrella or a scooter? The KNIRPI is a bit of both!
Is is an umbrella or a scooter? The KNIRPI is a bit of both!

In fact, the very first prototype was built using the inner workings of the umbrella and although not particularly effective as a road-worthy scooter – as you can see from the following video–- it succeeded in propelling the duo into Butterfly territory.

Knirpi in motion

The designers took the basic elements of the KNIRPS umbrella design and transferred them to a stronger, working 12.2-inch (31cm) long prototype that is strong enough to ride on. Ruegg explained that the internal mechanism is based on "two identical parallelogram constructions. Each functions through 5 pivot points with bush bearings. The allowance for clearance is reduced to a minimum due to the parallel guidance. The main connection on the steering tube is a smooth running, ball-bearing fitting."

Just like the real thing, the Butterfly transforms from a portable, flat pack into a scooter
Just like the real thing, the Butterfly transforms from a portable, flat pack into a scooter

The outer shell protects the mechanical core and is made from carbon fiber in order keep weight to a minimum without making any unnecessary concessions on strength and durability. The final production version will have a non-slip surface underfoot, much like that used on skateboards and the cosmetic Mini-type detail seen in the computer models. Steel was used in the construction of the internal mechanism and is put together so the multiple pivot points and shell all snuggle against each other and snap into place to provide a solid framework that is currently capable of carrying around 176 pounds (80kg) – with a final production model aiming for 220 pounds (100kg).

"There are two wheels in the back, one in the front, said Ruegg. "Thus the single wheel in the front will smoothly slide in-between the two wheels in the back when Butterfly is closed. Everything but the laminated shell is shop-bought. We were students and had no financial support. We reduced the width of the wheels by machining them, so they would fit next to each other."

The internal mechanism is based on two identical parallelogram constructions
The internal mechanism is based on two identical parallelogram constructions

It only takes a second to flip open the mechanism to reveal the scooter inside, where the Butterfly is in its natural position and ready to ride.

"When closed, the spring is on tension. Accordingly there is no risk of a sudden collapse of Butterfly. Even though, there is a ball catch to provide the folding performance with a certain quality."

At the moment the Butterfly opens and closes with the aid of springs but the designers would prefer to use hydraulics for future incarnations.

The designers see only light maintenance being necessary to keep the Butterfly in tip-top condition, Ruegg confirming that "the maintenance depends on the quality of the bearings. If they are loose, a simple hexagon socket screw key should do to tighten them."

Graphic to show the size of the Butterfly compared to a bottle of beer
Graphic to show the size of the Butterfly compared to a bottle of beer

The Butterfly micro scooter was developed in cooperation with BMW – although it was produced without either financial or technical support – and has recently been presented to the company at its Munich headquarters, where it was received well.

View gallery - 13 images
2 comments
2 comments
PeetEngineer
This would be great for airports, providing you\'re careful and don\'t knock anyone down.
Michael Crumpton
I like the idea, although ideally it would enclose the wheels completely when it is folded so that the dirt on the wheels does not get in your bag or on your desk when you are done riding.
I wonder if rather than a conventional handlebar, the steering column could be designed to cradle your knee so you could stabilize and steer it by leaning your knee and you would not need to crouch down to reach the handle bars.