Ben Gulak (born 1989) is a Ukrainian Canadian inventor best known for creating the Uno, an eco-friendly,[1][2]electric-powered vehicle that bears a resemblance to a motorized unicycle.[3] The vehicle had its first public unveiling in 2008,[4] and was awarded a Top-10 prize on Popular Science's list of 2008 Invention Awards.[5] Gulak founded the Massachusetts-based company BPG Motors, which has also developed a design for the DTV (dual-tracked vehicle) Shredder, a portable all-terrain vehicle with the handlebars of a Segway and treads similar to those of a tank.[6]
Benjamin J. Poss Gulak[1][7] was born in 1989[8] in Milton, Ontario.[4] He is the only child of Ken and Sylvie Gulak. His father is in the food business, and his mother is a psychotherapist.[9] Gulak's grandfather was a design engineer,[10] and at a young age Gulak would help his grandfather tinker in his basement machine shop.[1] He spent much of his childhood making model trains, rockets, and other projects,[1] and was a fan of inventor Nikola Tesla.[11] His grandfather died in 2003, and Gulak inherited the machine shop.[8][10]
In ninth grade, he entered a school science fair with a "real simple magnetic car that shot around a track using accelerator coils."[1][10] He ended up being chosen to represent Canada on an International Level on Team Canada, which consists of 18 people competing against 54 other countries.[1] According to Gulak, his classes subsequently suffered as he frequently skipped school to work on further science fair projects.[11] In 2005, he entered in McMaster Engineering's summer L.E.A.P. program, where he was a team leader in the robotics program and helped the team win a robot-building competition.[12]
While a senior in highschool in 2006, Gulak began working on a design for the Uno following a trip to China with his father.[13] After witnessing major smogpollution caused by heavy use of small motor vehicles,[14] he decided he wanted to create an eco-friendly alternative to submit to a science fair.[1][2] According to Gulak, "I wanted it to be something small enough to store indoors: you could bring it up to your apartment to plug in and charge, and then you could ride it around on the road."[11] His first designs were on Google SketchUp.[15]
His initial design efforts consisted of an iron frame with wheelchair motors, batteries and gyroscopes.[2] He described his first test-ride as "absolutely terrifying" and resulting in a crash and a chipped kneecap.[2] Other early problems, including a series of electrical fires, arose. He was then joined by California-based Canadian robotics expert Trevor Blackwell,[2] and together they refined the Uno's gyro control system so the machine would properly balance and move smoothly.[2] Gulak then used the revised plans to develop a prototype vehicle with the help of various partners.[1][2][16][17] The Uno is an electric-powered vehicle that bears a resemblance to a motorized unicycle. Described in news reports as either a "one wheeled motorcycle" or "electric unicycle", it is more accurately a dicycle, created by placing two closely spaced wheels side by side at the centre-point of the vehicle.[3] He began building the prototype at a motorcycle shop outside Toronto.[5]
He entered his first Uno through Team Canada during the 2008 international science fair.[1] The vehicle had its first public unveiling at the Toronto Spring Motorcycle Show in 2008,[4] and was awarded a Top-10 prize on Popular Science's list of 2008 Invention Awards [5][18][19] In an episode of the CBC series Dragons' Den, Gulak obtained $1,250,000 of venture capital for a 20% share in further development of the Uno cycle.[6][20][21][22] At the time, it was the largest deal in the show's history.[23] He also appeared on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno to talk about the project.[9]
He put off attending MIT for a year to work on the project,[9] raising funds and moving to Boston to open a small office in Cambridge.[11] He started the company BPG Motors to develop the motorcycle.[17][24] He enrolled in MIT in fall of 2008.[8][25]
The Shredder
At age 22 while at MIT, Gulak partnered with Ryan Fairhead to create the DTV Shredder, an all-terrain vehicle. According to Gulak, "In a recession it doesn't make sense to have to buy an expensive snowmobile that you can ride for three months of the year and an all-terrain vehicle that you can ride for four months of the year. Ryan wanted to make something small enough that you could fit it in the back of any car. And He wanted it to be something you'd be able to ride all year, whether in snow, sand, or mud."[11] The small vehicle has Segway-like handlebars, wheels similar to tank treads, and can tow up to 400 pounds.[17]
The vehicle became popular with X Games fans.[6] In late 2010, Gulak posted some videos of a prototype online, which by the next day had accumulated 50,000 hits, and a million hits within a week. Some bloggers assumed it was a new military device, while Gulak claims it was also intended as an extreme sports vehicle.[11]
References
^ abcdefghi"It's Unique - but can it Pop a Wheelie?". Glenn Roberts. Motorcycle Mojo. May–June 2008. from the original on 17 December 2008. Retrieved 2 January 2009.
^ abcdefg. James F. Quinn. Chicago Tribune. June 29, 2008. Archived from the original on September 13, 2008. Retrieved 2 January 2009.
^ ab"Gyro Technology". from the original on December 27, 2010. Retrieved 3 March 2011.
^ abcsupershowevents.com 2009-01-16 at the Wayback Machine, Toronto Spring Motorcycle Show, accessed 01-02-2009
^ abc"2008 Invention Awards". Popular Science. from the original on 6 January 2009. Retrieved 2008-12-31.
^ abc"Teen's electric unicycle a sensation". Trish Crawford. Toronto Star. June 3, 2008. Retrieved 2 January 2009.
^ abc"Inventor's dream of electric bike brought to life". Josh Max. New York Daily News. June 30, 2008. Retrieved 2 January 2009.
^ abcdef"Fellows Friday with Ben Gulak". Ted Blog. January 21, 2011. Retrieved 2012-01-12.
^. McMaster University. June 4, 2008. Archived from the original on 5 April 2010. Retrieved 2 January 2009.
^"Electric Uno has two wheels but it's not a motorbike". Motoring. June 29, 2008. Retrieved 2 January 2009.
^. Matt Embrey. Green Upgrader website. May 8, 2008. Archived from the original on 2009-01-07. Retrieved 2 January 2009.
^"Uno: a Unicycle-Motorbike-Segway Hybrid". Kit Eaton. Gizmodo. April 25, 2008. from the original on 30 January 2009. Retrieved 2 January 2009.
^. Sean Rushton. Innovation Canada. July 24, 2007. Archived from the original on 2008-12-24. Retrieved 31 December 2008.
^ abc"Uno motorcycle reconfigures itself on the fly". Retrieved 3 December 2011.
^"YSF Alumnus, Ben Gulak's "Uno" featured on cover of June 2008 Popular Science". Youth Science Foundation Canada. May 13, 2008. Retrieved 2 January 2009.[permanent dead link]
^"The Zero-Emissions One-Wheeled Motorcycle". Bjorn Carey. Popular Science. May 13, 2008. from the original on 5 January 2009. Retrieved 2 January 2009.
^. Financial Post. November 14, 2008. Archived from the original on 2008-12-16. Retrieved 2 January 2009.
^. Motorcycle Mojo. Motorcycle Mojo website. Archived from the original on 27 December 2008. Retrieved 3 January 2009.
^"Teen Designed Motorcycles". Mary Teresa Bitti. Trendhunter Magazine. from the original on 18 January 2009. Retrieved 2 January 2009.
^"Ben Gulak, Uno Inventor, Chisholm Academy Alumnus". ourkids.net. Retrieved 22 May 2019.
gulak, born, 1989, ukrainian, canadian, inventor, best, known, creating, friendly, electric, powered, vehicle, that, bears, resemblance, motorized, unicycle, vehicle, first, public, unveiling, 2008, awarded, prize, popular, science, list, 2008, invention, awar. Ben Gulak born 1989 is a Ukrainian Canadian inventor best known for creating the Uno an eco friendly 1 2 electric powered vehicle that bears a resemblance to a motorized unicycle 3 The vehicle had its first public unveiling in 2008 4 and was awarded a Top 10 prize on Popular Science s list of 2008 Invention Awards 5 Gulak founded the Massachusetts based company BPG Motors which has also developed a design for the DTV dual tracked vehicle Shredder a portable all terrain vehicle with the handlebars of a Segway and treads similar to those of a tank 6 Ben GulakInterview photo taken at Edison AwardsBorn1989 age 33 34 Milton Ontario CanadaNationalityCanadianEducationMassachusetts Institute of TechnologyKnown forInventor of The Uno DTV ShredderAwardsCanada s Top 20 Under 20 Gold Edison Award Popular Science Magazine Invention of The Year 2008Websitebpgulak wbr com Contents 1 Early life 2 BPG Motors 2 1 The Uno 2 2 The Shredder 3 References 4 External links 5 Further readingEarly life EditBenjamin J Poss Gulak 1 7 was born in 1989 8 in Milton Ontario 4 He is the only child of Ken and Sylvie Gulak His father is in the food business and his mother is a psychotherapist 9 Gulak s grandfather was a design engineer 10 and at a young age Gulak would help his grandfather tinker in his basement machine shop 1 He spent much of his childhood making model trains rockets and other projects 1 and was a fan of inventor Nikola Tesla 11 His grandfather died in 2003 and Gulak inherited the machine shop 8 10 In ninth grade he entered a school science fair with a real simple magnetic car that shot around a track using accelerator coils 1 10 He ended up being chosen to represent Canada on an International Level on Team Canada which consists of 18 people competing against 54 other countries 1 According to Gulak his classes subsequently suffered as he frequently skipped school to work on further science fair projects 11 In 2005 he entered in McMaster Engineering s summer L E A P program where he was a team leader in the robotics program and helped the team win a robot building competition 12 BPG Motors EditThe Uno Edit Main article Uno dicycle While a senior in highschool in 2006 Gulak began working on a design for the Uno following a trip to China with his father 13 After witnessing major smog pollution caused by heavy use of small motor vehicles 14 he decided he wanted to create an eco friendly alternative to submit to a science fair 1 2 According to Gulak I wanted it to be something small enough to store indoors you could bring it up to your apartment to plug in and charge and then you could ride it around on the road 11 His first designs were on Google SketchUp 15 His initial design efforts consisted of an iron frame with wheelchair motors batteries and gyroscopes 2 He described his first test ride as absolutely terrifying and resulting in a crash and a chipped kneecap 2 Other early problems including a series of electrical fires arose He was then joined by California based Canadian robotics expert Trevor Blackwell 2 and together they refined the Uno s gyro control system so the machine would properly balance and move smoothly 2 Gulak then used the revised plans to develop a prototype vehicle with the help of various partners 1 2 16 17 The Uno is an electric powered vehicle that bears a resemblance to a motorized unicycle Described in news reports as either a one wheeled motorcycle or electric unicycle it is more accurately a dicycle created by placing two closely spaced wheels side by side at the centre point of the vehicle 3 He began building the prototype at a motorcycle shop outside Toronto 5 He entered his first Uno through Team Canada during the 2008 international science fair 1 The vehicle had its first public unveiling at the Toronto Spring Motorcycle Show in 2008 4 and was awarded a Top 10 prize on Popular Science s list of 2008 Invention Awards 5 18 19 In an episode of the CBC series Dragons Den Gulak obtained 1 250 000 of venture capital for a 20 share in further development of the Uno cycle 6 20 21 22 At the time it was the largest deal in the show s history 23 He also appeared on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno to talk about the project 9 He put off attending MIT for a year to work on the project 9 raising funds and moving to Boston to open a small office in Cambridge 11 He started the company BPG Motors to develop the motorcycle 17 24 He enrolled in MIT in fall of 2008 8 25 The Shredder Edit At age 22 while at MIT Gulak partnered with Ryan Fairhead to create the DTV Shredder an all terrain vehicle According to Gulak In a recession it doesn t make sense to have to buy an expensive snowmobile that you can ride for three months of the year and an all terrain vehicle that you can ride for four months of the year Ryan wanted to make something small enough that you could fit it in the back of any car And He wanted it to be something you d be able to ride all year whether in snow sand or mud 11 The small vehicle has Segway like handlebars wheels similar to tank treads and can tow up to 400 pounds 17 The vehicle became popular with X Games fans 6 In late 2010 Gulak posted some videos of a prototype online which by the next day had accumulated 50 000 hits and a million hits within a week Some bloggers assumed it was a new military device while Gulak claims it was also intended as an extreme sports vehicle 11 References Edit a b c d e f g h i It s Unique but can it Pop a Wheelie Glenn Roberts Motorcycle Mojo May June 2008 Archived from the original on 17 December 2008 Retrieved 2 January 2009 a b c d e f g Uno and only James F Quinn Chicago Tribune June 29 2008 Archived from the original on September 13 2008 Retrieved 2 January 2009 a b Gyro Technology Archived from the original on December 27 2010 Retrieved 3 March 2011 a b c supershowevents com Archived 2009 01 16 at the Wayback Machine Toronto Spring Motorcycle Show accessed 01 02 2009 a b c 2008 Invention Awards Popular Science Archived from the original on 6 January 2009 Retrieved 2008 12 31 a b c Erdely Sabrina Rubin October 28 2011 How Inventor Ben Gulak Went From Science Fair Nerd to the Playboy Mansion Rolling Stone Archived from the original on October 29 2011 Retrieved 2012 01 12 BPG Uno III Transforming Scooter Unveiled Retrieved 3 December 2011 a b c Inventor of the week Ben Gulak Massachusetts Institute of Technology August 2008 Archived from the original on 1 December 2008 Retrieved 2 January 2009 a b c Teen s electric unicycle a sensation Trish Crawford Toronto Star June 3 2008 Retrieved 2 January 2009 a b c Inventor s dream of electric bike brought to life Josh Max New York Daily News June 30 2008 Retrieved 2 January 2009 a b c d e f Fellows Friday with Ben Gulak Ted Blog January 21 2011 Retrieved 2012 01 12 Inventor of electric unicycle a L E A P graduate McMaster University June 4 2008 Archived from the original on 5 April 2010 Retrieved 2 January 2009 Electric Uno has two wheels but it s not a motorbike Motoring June 29 2008 Retrieved 2 January 2009 The Uno Electric Motorcycle or MotorUnicycle Matt Embrey Green Upgrader website May 8 2008 Archived from the original on 2009 01 07 Retrieved 2 January 2009 Uno a Unicycle Motorbike Segway Hybrid Kit Eaton Gizmodo April 25 2008 Archived from the original on 30 January 2009 Retrieved 2 January 2009 Uno You Want It MIT hopeful Ben Gulak creates an eco friendly bike chock full of power and cool Sean Rushton Innovation Canada July 24 2007 Archived from the original on 2008 12 24 Retrieved 31 December 2008 a b c Uno motorcycle reconfigures itself on the fly Retrieved 3 December 2011 YSF Alumnus Ben Gulak s Uno featured on cover of June 2008 Popular Science Youth Science Foundation Canada May 13 2008 Retrieved 2 January 2009 permanent dead link The Zero Emissions One Wheeled Motorcycle Bjorn Carey Popular Science May 13 2008 Archived from the original on 5 January 2009 Retrieved 2 January 2009 Episode 6 All Dragons want part of Uno deal Financial Post November 14 2008 Archived from the original on 2008 12 16 Retrieved 2 January 2009 Motorcycle Mojo presents footage of Ben Gulak on the CBC show Dragons Den Motorcycle Mojo Motorcycle Mojo website Archived from the original on 27 December 2008 Retrieved 3 January 2009 Teen Designed Motorcycles Mary Teresa Bitti Trendhunter Magazine Archived from the original on 18 January 2009 Retrieved 2 January 2009 Ben Gulak Uno Inventor Chisholm Academy Alumnus ourkids net Retrieved 22 May 2019 BPG Motors UNO Retrieved 3 December 2011 Who Is Ben Gulak James S Robbins National Review August 13 2008 Archived from the original on 30 August 2008 Retrieved 2 January 2009 External links EditOfficial websiteFurther reading EditRolling Stone How Inventor Ben Gulak Went From Science Fair Nerd to the Playboy Mansion October 2011 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Ben Gulak amp oldid 1047110937, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
