A group of researchers of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) in United States have designed a bicycle that is able to move itself by using the excess of kinetic energy from its own wheel. This modern bike was unveiled this month at the COP15 Copenhagen Conference.

This creation was named by its designers as “The Copenhagen Wheel”. It is equipped with Bluetooth connection and it is possible to connect it to an iPhone in order to see a lot of information through an app: Speed, fitness information, traffic data, distances, and pollution warnings, among others. Some people have also called this creation “Bike 2.0″; definitely, it is a very appropriate name from a cybernetic point of view, especially because it could be considered as an “online” bike and even you can share some data with your friends via social networks.

“The Wheel uses a technology similar to the KERS (Kinetic Energy Recovery System), which has radically changed Formula One racing over the past couple of years. When you brake, your kinetic energy is recuperated by an electric motor and then stored by batteries within the wheel, so that you can have it back to you when you need it,” says Carlo Ratti, director of the MIT SENSEable City Laboratory.

I think this is a great way to promote cycling, especially in cities. A great gadget/invention that I hope is explained to the public, so they can see how amazing it is.