Holistica is a project created by
Eric Miller, a Transportation Design graduate from the Art Center College of Design.
It was started as a personal research and resulted into the founding of an alternative personal mobility company that also promotes health and fitness.
The range of concepts include four different vehicles: YOGO, an advanced skateboard; ZGO, an innovative motorcycle with external airbags driven by the concept of splitting lanes; WeGO, a tandem-like vehicle based on the concept of lane-surfing; XGO, a four-wheel vehicle similar to a futuristic dune buggy and powered by a vector-thrusting system.
All the concepts use a futuristic design language that leaves many mechanical parts exposed, which results into a complex, hi-tech look.
During the two years of development, Eric also collaborated with Dassault Systemes on an advanced spacesuit called SpaceWare, a preliminary design of suit optimized for greater flexibility on a space tour.
“The idea of HOLISTICA™ was born from the desire to deliver a new driving experience,” says Eric Miller.
“These vehicles are the culmination of advances in personal and industrial robotics, sensor systems, and aerospace. They also take cues from surf, skate, and snow culture as part of a larger strategy to encourage an alternative to driving cars– ergo the holistic approach.”
The Holistica project is currently on display at Honda’s Advanced Design Studio gallery in Oldtown Pasadena.
The exhibition features life-size prints of four personal mobility vehicles as well as the spacesuit.
“The exhibit is the culmination of over 2 years worth of my own personal research and development (most of it not completed for my degree) at ArtCenter. “
YOGO Concept
YOGO is best described as an advanced skateboard. It has two omni-wheels that provide a drive experience that feels like skim boarding, and possesses gesture recognition that enables the rider to drive in a variety of postures, from standing to laying.
YOGO is envisioned as a fun and efficient alternative to driving to do local errands.
ZGO Concept
ZGO is a new kind of motorcycle driven by the concept of splitting lanes.
ZGO is engineered to be safer than a motorcycle through external airbags, the same impact attenuation system used by NASA.
In addition, it is designed to be more fun than a Segway, as the driver can switch from forward to sideways drive via rotary modules.
In this sense, driving sideways would feel like riding a snowboard.
The upper assembly is assisted by servo-motors so as to not overburden the rider with excessive weight, while an actuating helmet can retract to prevent injury to the rider’s head.
WeGO Concept
WeGO is a new kind of tandem vehicle driven by the concept of lane-surfing.
The forward driver, while seated like on a jet ski, controls acceleration and steering.
Meanwhile, the experience of the rear passenger is similar to a wakeboarder catching air.
An articulating boom physically lifts the rear passenger off the ground, where they would control pitch and yaw of the rear.
WeGO is also capable of entering the water where the rear passenger can eject the forward driver from the vehicle.
This would be provided through a jettison system, similar to those used in NASA spacecraft.
XGO Concept
XGO is classified as a lane-hopper. Engineered to avoid collisions through a high performance vector-thrusting system, XGO would feel similar to hopping sand dunes. It can be driven in multiple positions: seated like on a quad, standing during aerials, and reclined.
To address issues of excessive stress on the driver, its vectoring system would also provide an inversion mode, decompressing the driver’s spine through hanging upside-down.
SpaceWare Advanced Spacesuit
“With NASA now subsidizing orbital operations and private suborbital touring coming into fruition, it is very likely space activity will eventually be made available for the common (albeit at first highly affluent) Earth-dwelling citizen.”
This is the approach to HOLISTICA™ SpaceWare, a preliminary design of an optimized space suit engineered for greater flexibility on a space tour.
The targeted operational environment, outside of a spacecraft in the exosphere, innately restricts man’s range of motion inside a conventional spacesuit.
The solution is to adopt the principles of exoskeletons, utilizing strength-augmenting, pneumatic actuators to overcome the rigidity of prior spacesuits.
SpaceWare features a re-packaged version of NASA’s legacy Manned Maneuvering Unit, a nitrogen-propelled backpack capable of providing hours of activity outside of a spacecraft.
The modularity of the various suit assemblies permits much opportunity for personalization: there are a Lifeguard version, a Punk version for rockers and a Glam & Faux version for women.
The fit and range of motion of SpaceWare was verified using Dassault Systemes’ new virtual ergonomic software.
About the Designer
Eric Miller is the founder and designer of HOLISTICA.
He has already begun working with several automotive companies who seek to diversify their business with alternative mobility solutions.
He plans to pitch HOLISTICA to Silicon Valley venture capitalists and space agencies to produce prototypes and ultimately establish a start-up operation.
More information is available at www.holistica.us.com.
(Image Courtesy: Eric Miller)
