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Easy riding with the robot biker dude

Castrol, a maker of motorbike engine oils, is leaning on a robot rider to test its products' performance. And he's pretty studly.

Leslie_Katz.jpg
Leslie_Katz.jpg
Leslie Katz Former Culture Editor
Leslie Katz led a team that explored the intersection of tech and culture, plus all manner of awe-inspiring science, from space to AI and archaeology. When she's not smithing words, she's probably playing online word games, tending to her garden or referring to herself in the third person.
Credentials
  • Third place film critic, 2021 LA Press Club National Arts & Entertainment Journalism Awards
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Leslie Katz
Flossie
Meet Flossie the headless motorcycle-riding robot. Judging by the name, we would have thought the bot was a she, but Castrol refers to Flossie as a he. Castrol

Flossie is one tough biker dude. He can ride in extreme temperatures. He doesn't get tired or saddle sore, and he is totally unflapped by the bike's searing noise as its engine screams away at speeds up to 16,000rpm. Yep, Flossie could pretty much leave any motorcycle gang in the dust.

Castrol, a maker of motorbike engine oils, is leaning on this headless robot rider to test its products' performance under conditions like increased power or acceleration. Flossie can be fitted onto any bike or scooter and comes equipped with a self-learning mode that lets him know the vehicle's gear change pattern, clutch feel, and throttle response.

Castrol promises Flossie is a safe rider. Still, we wouldn't feel too safe putting him next to our favorite unicycle-riding girlbot. And we're glad Flossie is currently doing all his riding at the company's facilities in Pangbourne, England, and not roaring around on a highway near us. Watch the video below to see Flossie in action.

(Via Engadget)