New electric scooter made using 'robotic origami'

“Our ambition was to create the world’s most attractive, most sustainable electric scooters. By using industrial robotic origami we can fold structures from a flat sheet of metal in completely new ways and create shapes true to the material’s characteristics and geometric nature,” says Tue Beijer, industrial designer at Semcon and one of the founders of STILRIDE.

It all began as a Vinnova-funded research project, looking at how a new way of shaping steel could pave the way for new design and business opportunities. One result of this project is the new STILRIDE SUS1 electric scooter.

“The environmental footprint of the production process for this product is minimal. Our LIGHT.FOLD production technology makes for flexible manufacture. Stainless steel can be recycled, too, and it has a long service life,” says Beijer.

Semcon’s responsibilities in the project have involved CAD, mechanical design and engineering project management. The unique production method devised by the project will now be examined further by the business community and academia, working closely together.

https://semcon.com/