The Geek Scooter – Part I: Overview
![ScooterTeaser12[1]](http://www.thoughtlab.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2009/07/ScooterTeaser121.jpg "ScooterTeaser12[1]")
We Begin
A year ago we had the opportunity to produce a promotional product for one of our clients using a new Vino scooter and some geek know-how. The end result was a rolling system capable of long distance war driving, GPS navigation, Skype calls on the road and the ability to record TV programs so you don’t miss Lost because you are lost. This is just an overview of the project. It covers a lot, but we will be producing full parts lists and how to articles so check back soon!
![ScooterTeaser9[1]](http://www.thoughtlab.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2009/07/ScooterTeaser91.jpg "ScooterTeaser9[1]")
Bench Testing the Computer
The ITX form factor is a great platform to work with because it is small, compact, feature-rich, and consumes little power. Due to the low wattage consumption, we were able to pack a 1 GHZ system into this scooter easily without worrying about the heat output from the VIA CPU.
![ScooterTeaser8[1]](http://www.thoughtlab.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2009/07/ScooterTeaser81.jpg "ScooterTeaser8[1]")
Custom Acrylic Work
This acrylic frame was created for the “Brain Frame” to hold all of the system components. Working with acrylic is very easy with the right tools. It is important to have tools and blades that are specifically made for plastics or acrylic to avoid cracking the material.
![ScooterTeaser11[1]](http://www.thoughtlab.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2009/07/ScooterTeaser111.jpg "ScooterTeaser11[1]")
The Assembled Brain Frame
Using this vertical form factor we were able to put a ton of equipment into a small space. Building a lot of servers and systems in house, we always have a plethora of screws and mounting posts left over. Using a 1/8th drill bit, we marked and drilled holes for all the parts and simply screwed a motherboard post into the acrylic. We were able to get the motherboard, power supply, power distribution, access point, FM tuner, WIFI Card, blue tooth, USB hub, USB Camera, electric guitar interface, GPS, LCD readout and PVR TV tuner all in this small space without any trouble.
![ScooterTeaser10[1]](http://www.thoughtlab.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2009/07/ScooterTeaser101.jpg "ScooterTeaser10[1]")
The Strip
The first major step in assembling this project is the tear down. We literally stripped this scooter down to the frame. Almost every major body part had some custom work done to it to facilitate all the gadgets in this project.
![ScooterTeaser1[1]](http://www.thoughtlab.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2009/07/ScooterTeaser11.jpg "ScooterTeaser1[1]")
Rear of the Bike
On the rear of the bike we set up the extended wireless access point antennas, the jack for FM antennas, the Garmin GPS antenna and the 30DB gain war driving antenna.
![ScooterTeaser7[1]](http://www.thoughtlab.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2009/07/ScooterTeaser71.jpg "ScooterTeaser7[1]")
Jared and Kevin Burning the Midnight Oil
This project required two very full days of construction on top of a few other normal daily tasks. Admittedly, it was a very fun and rewarding project despite the long hours.
![ScooterTeaser4[1]](http://www.thoughtlab.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2009/07/ScooterTeaser41.jpg "ScooterTeaser4[1]")
USB Front Camera
The USB Camera points out of the front of the scooter where the horn would normally be located. We simply changed the angle of the horns mounting arm to give us ample room for the Camera.
![ScooterTeaser6[1]](http://www.thoughtlab.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2009/07/ScooterTeaser61.jpg "ScooterTeaser6[1]")
The Main Install
With the modularity of the brain frame, we were able to just drop this into the scooter and start connecting power along with all the accessories and antennas.
![ScooterTeaser5[1]](http://www.thoughtlab.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2009/07/ScooterTeaser51.jpg "ScooterTeaser5[1]")
Putting the Power to the Test
This is where we always get nervous… It worked on the bench, but will it work now that it’s installed? The Bios on this motherboard has an unusual pause on the post but otherwise everything works flawlessly. Take a deep breath.
![ScooterTeaser3[1]](http://www.thoughtlab.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2009/07/ScooterTeaser31.jpg "ScooterTeaser3[1]")
Almost Done
At 1:00AM we finished the project. The furry of drilling, cutting, soldering, heat shrinking and rummaging through a mountain of components more or less left the area a wreck.
![ScooterTeaser2[1]](http://www.thoughtlab.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2009/07/ScooterTeaser21.jpg "ScooterTeaser2[1]")
Glamour Shot
We had a lot of fun with this building the scooter and getting this teaser blog ready. If you are interested in tackling this on your own, you are in luck as we will be posting a full parts list along with a full how to article here on the ThoughtLab blog!
A flyer with all the details of this project. Just click the above image to view larger.
How would you go about parking this, or going into a store and leaving it outside?
jahh- what you been smokin? it -obviously- comes with a blue tooth enabled forcefield.
Holy crap this is awesome! How is this thing powered? by the scooter battery? is that enough to run a computer?
Been thinking of doing something similar w/ my scooter.
That is the first scooter that is acceptable for us geeks. WTG.
WTF is a Pingback? Doesn’t make for nice comment reading, that’s for sure.
Where is the power required for all the electronics coming from?
The “brain” assembly doesn’t look very robust given the vibration it can expect to encounter. Electronics on vehicles tie down all loose wires to minimize stress on the connectors and use potting compounds on circuit boards to hold the discrete components in place.
What, no alarm system?
Nice work!
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Let me know how riding in the raid works out
Great!
Want. Total cost?
Full how to article coming soon with parts and costs.
Please dear , please tell me it doesn’t run windows!
I can’t wait for the how to article. I am DYING to know how you connected it all up to the scooter’s power/battery.
Great job!
hey guys!
1. you’re fantastic!
2. it’s great!
3. what about if…. it rains?????
4. what about the software side? I mean, it’ll be 4 sure running linux, but which packages did u choose? how is the whole thing assembled? touch monitor or portable keyboard with, say, trackpoint? and the net functionality of course is when you’re still, but what about nextcoming wimax???
THX!
You can get large headwinds on a scooter and that monitor doesn’t look very wind resistant. Won’t that snap off? It kinda looks sad. Poor scooter, I bet my girlfriend would have liked it too.
Solve the wind problem — modify a strong windshield to provide a ‘heads up’ display? Aim to handle winds up to 80mph (assuming stiff headwind, and sheer from semi-trailer trucks passing opposite direction, and the forward motion of scooter).
Put the sort of mouse used with projection displays in the helmet?
If stolen, maybe spraying the driver with the purple dye banks use to mark money, along with a sprinkling of small RFID ‘tags’?
Holy crap!
Does mom know you want to park this in her garage, or can you get into you room in the basement!
Not a chick magnet
In addition to what’s been said about vibration, I didn’t see any heat shielding in the underseat compartment. It gets awfully warm under there, especially on long rides.
Also, how removable is the “brain frame”? I ask because it may get in the way of a mechanic accessing the carburetor.
It doesn’t need an alarm, if it moves it just calls you and the police and provides them with driving directions to recover it. DUH!
Researching this kind of thing for Adventure Touring the American Southwest, and Technomadism and Transhuman Hacks of Metavlogging Phrashion have been decorating my plate as of late. via Make:….
Where do put your helmet?
What’s the brand/model of the panel used for the “System Status Monitor”? It looks pretty cool.
We will have a full part list and breakdown next week as part one of the full how to.
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And then one day you are driving around and it starts raining.
Regarding the question as to where to put the helmet…It’s called a brainbucket for a reason.
Grasp helmet with both hands, place helmet on bump between shoulders, go for a ride.
Now that’s something great!!
It’s cool indeed…a lot of creativity and effort must have gone into to create such a unique and splendid creation…a great appreciation to you all..
@Everyone concerned with wind, vibrations, etc. etc. What the hell do you think? That the people that built this did not consider those problems? Do you really think they were a bunch of morons? Shut the hell up already.
What I wanted to say is, instead of going “OMG that’s gonna break, dudez! PWND!!!”, someone should ask “How did you guy solved X problem?” thus implying that they have thought of it and tried to solve it. Always thinking that others are less geniuses that you are shows you have a small e-Pen.
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Helmet? We don’t need no stinking helmets.
This is a bike for geeks, not nerds.
Some scooters (eg; Vespa PX range) have glove boxes that would fit a small touch/flatscreen. If you could also tie it up with some engine diagnostics as well that would be great.
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What/who’s antenna are they using? 20db gain in an omni is unbelievable! (Note: The .jpg shows it as 30db which is even more unbelievable…)
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freakin awesome idea!!
parking is problem..lol
What a mess of rolling scooter disaster! Not to mention being a distracting menace of a hazard to the other motorists, as well as the rider him-, or herself.
It’s one thing to celebrate the triumph of human ingenuity and technology; and then there is this basket-full of excess and “I really wanna stay-in-touch-with-it-all-ness”!
Someone did it with an otherwise beautiful red Vespa and walked away with a “Best Modern” at the Amerivespa 2007 in Seattle. It caused a scandal then. Hated it. This current version–hate it, too.
Let’s stick it to riding; not pimping.
–Lorenzo
Haha totally nerdy, but I kinda want one!
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Use visual display unit while driving/riding, no no
and no blue tooth helmet headset?
i thought the alternator on these things wouldnt be enough to run a inverter big enough to power all these items?