Driverless cars are already in existence. Would riderless motorbikes be a possibility?
• Riderless motorbikes might be problematic. A motorbike is very stable travelling in a straight line at speed because of the gyroscopic effect of the rotating wheels. But to change direction, a rider has to lean into the bend to balance the force of turning. Initiating a turn involves briefly “countersteering”: steering in the opposite direction to achieve the lean. The rider will increase or decrease this countersteer to maintain the lean appropriate for the arc, the speed and road camber, while dealing with such things as potholes…
