Electrobite | Form & Reform

Electrobite

Electrobite: Sarriugarteis (Olenoides) trilobite. The hand-tooled exoskeleton is mounted on the drive mechanism of an old electric wheelchair. At night, undermounted blue lights and luminescent eyes give it an otherworldly glow. Electrobite story from Boing Boing

Mythos

When Kyrsten was 12 she walked along the tidal pools in Puerto Rico and turned over a large flat rock. Underneath, were the hard symmetrical shells of an amazing prehistoric creature; but then they started to move. These were not trilobites, but chitons. These impressed upon Kyrsten their primitive and unearthly beauty, and made her wonder about primitive animals and the variety of arthropods: horseshoe crabs and the ancient trilobites.

Take a heavy duty outdoor electric wheelchair platform make it into a giant ride-on trilobite. It is metal sculpted and segmented into organic shapes and patinaed to age. Trilobites have breathtaking variety; from simple symmetrical medallions to ones with distinct hammer heads and tails, from rhino horns to long trailing side pieces that look straight out of HR Giger’s mind. Biomechanical indeed.

Past Shows

2016-07Les Machines 10th Anniversary - Nantes, France

2015-05Maker Faire San Mateo

2015-01Oakland Mayor Libby Schaaf Inauguration

2014-09IDF14 Intel

2014-05Maker Faire San Mateo

2013-09Starlight Gala Chabot Space and Science Center

2013-12Lucas Films Holiday Party

2013-08Burning Man Honorarium

2013-05Maker Faire San Mateo

2013-05Google I/O

2013-05Google X

2013-04Exploratorium Gala

2013-04California Academy of Sciences

2013-03Exploratorium Parade

2012-08Burning Man Honorarium

2012-05Maker Faire San Mateo

2011-08Burning Man Honorarium

Specifications

Performance
Speed:
5 mph | 8 km/h
Range:
20 miles | 32 km
Passengers:
1
Dimensions
Weight:
400lbs | 182kg
Length:
48in
Width:
36in
Height:
24in
Chassis
Frame Construction:
Wheel Chair Base
Powertrain Type:
Electric
Power:
110V 50/60Hz (charger)
Drive
Battery Type:
1x 6V 217A/hr (lead acid) Trojan T105Plus
:
1x 12V U-1
System Voltage:
24V
Charger:
Built-In
Brakes:
Electric
Steering:
Thumbstick
Tires:
Rear: Pneumatic
:
Front: Pneumatic
Instrumentation
:
Battery discharge indicator
:
Max speed toggle
:
Electric horn
Lighting
:
Undermounted Lights
:
Eye Lighting
Note

:

Vehicle specifications subject to change without notice