Ride-Baori Research
Transformable mobility vehicle for wildlife-defense: electric motorcycle, protector, walking assist and standing scooter in one
A 2025 research project on wearable robotics and transformable mobility. Ride-Baori is a vehicle that can take four forms - electric motorcycle, upper-body protector, walking-assistance device and standing scooter - and transform between them by human power without the rider getting off. The work was co-authored with Akita Prefectural University and TU Berlin and presented at the JSME Conference on Robotics and Mechatronics.
Overview
Hunters and rangers guarding against bears and wild boars need both mobility and protection. Ride-Baori addresses this by combining an electric motorcycle with a wearable protector, a walking-assistance mode and a standing scooter in a single transformable vehicle.
The key idea is that the rider can switch between forms while remaining on the vehicle. This removes the risky moment of dismounting when a wild animal is nearby, and it lets the same device serve as transport, armor and mobility aid.
A working prototype was built from aluminum framing, two 500 W brushless hub motors, motor controllers, a drone-style Li-ion battery pack and an Arduino-based control board. With a total mass of roughly 22 kg, the prototype demonstrated that each form and the main transformation steps are mechanically feasible.
Architecture
Mechanical frame + hub-motor drivetrain → Arduino control → human-powered transformation → four operating forms
Tech stack
MVP features
The vehicle transforms between an electric motorcycle, an upper-body protector, a walking-assistance device and a standing scooter, all using the same core frame and drivetrain.
Form changes are driven by the rider's own body movements, similar to operating a bicycle. This avoids extra transformation motors and lets the rider abort a transform instantly if something feels unsafe.
The rider stays on the vehicle during form changes, removing the vulnerable moment of stepping off when a wild animal may be nearby.
Mounting rails on the wheel frames and main frame let the front/rear wheel positions and handle height be tuned to the rider's body size.
Both wheels are independently driven by 500 W brushless hub motors, enabling tight turns and pivoting in intermediate forms.
The first prototype weighs approximately 22 kg including battery, frame, motors and controllers - light enough to be worn as a protector.
Front and rear suspensions absorb shocks in motorcycle form and become part of the load-bearing structure in protector form.
The work was presented at the 2025 JSME Conference on Robotics and Mechatronics and is available on ResearchGate with full paper, diagrams and prototype photos.
Workflows
Motorcycle to protector
- 1
The rider slows the vehicle and begins the transformation while still seated.
- 2
The front and rear wheel frames fold inward along the central disc until the wheels overlap.
- 3
The saddle tilts forward and the main frame arcs around the rider's upper body.
- 4
The vehicle locks into a rigid protector that shields the rider's torso while leaving arms and legs free.
Protector to walking assist
- 1
From the protector form, the rider unlocks the hip joint and shifts weight onto the ground.
- 2
The frame redistributes its mass around the hips and lower back to act as a load-bearing exoskeleton.
- 3
The rider can walk with reduced load on the legs while the device provides stability.
Prototype build
- 1
The mechanical frame was designed in CAD with adjustable rails and dual-sided supports.
- 2
Aluminum extrusion frames, hub motors, controllers and battery were assembled into the first prototype.
- 3
An Arduino-based control board handled throttle, brake and motor synchronization.
- 4
Each form and the main transformation sequences were tested with a human rider to confirm feasibility.