Dagne Videos (1) October 26, 2008 |
As promised, here is some video footage of the Dagne proof-of-concept prototype. We decided to share some of the early (unedited) videos we took of the prototype so you can get some perspective on our development process, and a clear sense of who we are and where we’re coming from.
Each of the videos is posted on YouTube. Be sure to click “watch in high quality” under the video image to get good resolution. Please come back HERE to our Blog to post your comments. We hope you enjoy watching these!
Video Clip #1 - Dagne’s First Test Drive: This is our first powered test drive out of Eric’s garage where we built the prototype. At this point, the steering and braking were still a bit twitchy, and we were controlling FWD/REV with a foot switch (ironically). The lean was mechanically locked upright, so turning caused Dagne to lean to the outside in a turn (not so comfortable). The top speed here was about 2.3 mph 
Watch clip #1 at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LfYLFdvAZNk
Video Clip #2 - Dagne’s Second Test Drive: Note: the traction battery didn’t actually die - we later realized that a disable feature in the motor controller had been inadvertently triggered.
Watch clip #2 at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CoDjvkrt3Dw&feature=related
Video Clip #3 - Dagne’s First Lean: This was the first time Dagne’s lean was actively controlled. At the low speeds we were limited to in Eric’s street however, the lean was pretty subtle. By this time the braking and steering were quite smooth due to some mechanical and software improvements we had made since the first test drives.
Watch clip #3 at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2NefhHLcGg4&feature=related
Video Clip #4 - Dagne Intro and Carving: This is our first “Hello World” video, with a little tour of the prototype by it’s creators and a short test drive with modest carving. We will need to build the next prototype (the alpha prototype) before we drive much faster than what you see here, due to some re-engineering we need to do to the lean/steer mechanism to make it more stable, as well as using a proper battery pack that can support higher speeeds.
Watch clip #4 at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g2VJDUnrMcM&feature=related
WOW! Thank you so much for the videos. It’s terrific to see how much improvement was made on even this 1st proof-of-concept prototype. You guys must be dying to get the Alpha prototype built! I, for one, am dying to see it :-).
Comment by RAN — October 26, 2008 @ 12:33 pm
Excellent! Great to see your faces and the Dagne. Is there any timeline on when the next prototype will be moving? One month? 6? A year? It’s wonderful to see the proof of concept,and see how the thing moves. Thanks for including us all in the process.
Comment by Necoras — October 26, 2008 @ 6:05 pm
Great work guy’s, thanks for showing the video in stages so we could see some of the challenges you have to over come to get this vehicle in proper working order. Can hardly wait to see the Alpha up and running. This is really fantastic!!!!
Comment by jmeineck — October 27, 2008 @ 6:48 am
Thanks for the video clips. It was great to see Dagne from all angles and to see that the rear seat accomodation is designed for a real person. I’m just a little suprized how small the battery / ICE area is. Do you have an idea where the center of gravity will be with two passengers? Above or below the wheel hubs?
Regards, Charles
Comment by Charles — October 27, 2008 @ 6:56 am
Thanks for the video.
I am looking forward to following your progress.
Comment by aal — October 27, 2008 @ 7:02 am
Ben,
One observation made by dwfwaco is that using a chase vehicle during filming might show the tilting perspective better when you get the new alpha running down the road at speed:-)
Comment by jmeineck — October 27, 2008 @ 11:41 am
Ben,
Has your team got this project to a point were you have an Idea of the standard list of equipment you will have on this vehicle?
Comment by jmeineck — October 27, 2008 @ 11:45 am
Good to see the progress and a working prototype. Hope you can find the funding in the current economy to get it into production in a hurry!
As for the Dagne itself, if you can meet the specifications you have stated, or even get close, I would want to get one. My only concern is the stick steering. Not everybody plays video games to be used to steering with a joystick. Plus there is nothing to brace against in a hard stop or collision, or just have a place to hang/support your hands/arms on a long drive. It would also be a trick to drive while eating or drinking a soda with a stick control. At least with a steering wheel you can easily switch or reposition your hands on the wheel while in motion, or steer with your knee! Same goes for foot pedals for acceleration and braking. The natural instinct to a sudden hazard is to step on the brake with your foot, not pull back on a stick. Even people sitting in the passenger seat of a car will try to step on an imaginary brake in an emergency!
Comment by dwfwaco — October 27, 2008 @ 11:45 am
Great to see the progress, you have a wonderful thing
on your hands and i can’t wait to buy one !
Comment by timo — October 27, 2008 @ 4:15 pm
Great work. Nice to see the progress between videos, and imagine how the Alpha will handle and look. Any direction or ideas (sketches) on what the front end will look like, and how the ’tilting’ body will interact with the front turning wheels? I know its a ways off yet, but I’m already trying to figure ways to make my ‘road legal’ 2010 Dagne ‘Kit Car’, more weatherproof.
Comment by Roger W. — October 29, 2008 @ 12:46 pm
Just saw Video 4 on You tube. Great to see you’re on the way. Have been following Venture One’s three wheeler and like the look of the 1f2r but without seeing your bodywork hard to make a valid comparison. Basically am in this for the fun and hopefully good mpg but fun first so all things being reasonably equal will buy yours before Venture One’s if you get it to market first. Enclosed tilter is my main concern and interest. Hopefully the lean will be 45 degrees side to side like the Carver. Anyway keep up the good work, am expecting good news in the new year. Chris in SoCal
Comment by kuri77 — October 29, 2008 @ 11:08 pm
I think the joystick’s time has come lets get away from the mechanical(19th century) and jump into the 21st century, most aircraft manufactured today are fly by wire! The pilot inputs his intentions and the computers figure out what control surfaces are the best to do the job. It works! We have the technology! Your price looks good too under $20,000 unfortunately most of the other manufacturershave already priced themselves out of the “Normal persons” market before going to production!
Keep it lean and mean and under $20,000 and try for a 2009 - 2010 release! You wont be able to build them fast enough! Just a thought, GM is looking for a product to bail them selves out, but you didn’t hear it from me. If you need a test driver in the ice and snow of the northeast, I’ll volunteer! Keep up the great work!
Comment by FLYBYWIRE08 — October 30, 2008 @ 9:57 am
Just a quick addition to my prior comments. Dont forget that in the northeast it gets cold and hot we can see -20 degree to 100 degree tempratures,with high winds slush, snow, and ice, HVAC is very important! Eliminate as many areas as possible for slush build up! One manufacturer obviously never ventured out of southern CA his design has wheel pants (pilots remove all aircraft wheel coverings about August and if they put them back on at all they wait till June! Wheel coverings last till the first snow (last week) and usually self destruct! Keep all the rest of the bells and whistles to a minimum, that’s what ran up the $ on the other manufacturers vehicles,
Comment by FLYBYWIRE08 — October 30, 2008 @ 10:39 am
OK! Definitely exciting watching the development in progress. Like everyone else, I am itching for the day we can buy one.
I also agree the fly-by-wire concept and joystick’s time has come. I believe a little training and a new owner will have no problem.
We northerners are just as eager as everyone else about getting our hands on one of these vehicles, and have a few suggestions about what would be useful and/or necessary for our climates. Summer time will be a blast, but who wants to drive it only part of the year? When you have the basic concept worked out, we will be ready to send realistic suggestions about a vehicle for the northern states.
Thank you, guys!
Comment by AKP23 — October 30, 2008 @ 2:24 pm
Thanks to byteware for finding this; bikers compare the Dagne and the Venture One: http://www.elmoto.net/showthread.php?t=381
Ben, if you and the crew can get the Dagne into production anywhere near the V-1’s release date, you may have to sandbag your showroom for your own protection :-{)]
Please let us know the second you can about getting the financing to build the next prototype. Wishing you all the best!
Comment by RAN — November 3, 2008 @ 7:57 am
Comment by Ben Werner — November 3, 2008 @ 2:13 pm
“I think the joystick’s time has come lets get away from the mechanical(19th century) and jump into the 21st century, most aircraft manufactured today are fly by wire!”
Fly by wire is not limited to a joystick… It can be used with an electronic steering wheel as well.
Comment by dwfwaco — November 5, 2008 @ 11:49 am
One thing that’s been bothering me about the joystick… I think it would be fine for city driving, but I don’t know how well it’s going to work on a cross-country trip; there are many ways you can change your grip on a steering wheel to relieve boredom and tension, but really only one way to hold a joystick. I hope you guys do some 500 mile testing to check that out.
–dwfwaco said: “Fly by wire is not limited to a joystick… It can be used with an electronic steering wheel as well.”
This might be the way to go (or at least viable to offer as an option), as an electronic steering wheel wouldn’t need the same rigid column mount that a mechanical setup would.
Comment by RAN — November 5, 2008 @ 12:10 pm
Just saw your video’s. Keep up the good work,you may beat VV to the punch. I really do like the joystick idea,but Ran did make some good points about using a steering wheel instead.
Comment by denisg — November 5, 2008 @ 1:52 pm
Good comments about the joystick. The joystick is mounted to an adjustable base that can be repositioned while driving, so you can change arm positions or switch hands easily. Also, the joystick will have active force feedback, so you will get a feeling of the road through the joystick, in a similar manner as a steering wheel.
Comment by Ben Werner — November 6, 2008 @ 10:43 am
I would like to know more about the motors you’re planning to use, and also whether you’ve heard of these: http://www.choruscars.com/index.shtml
The reason I brought these up (and also the zinc power cell that byteware included in an e-mail to you) is I figure in your position, you can get better info on how “real” (how close to production) they are.
I understand your need to go with technology that exists now (or *definitely will exist* in two years?). It’s just frustrating to see all this great new tech, and then find out it’s 5-10 years away from being available, if at all.
Of course, the same could be said of waiting for a vehicle like the Dagne…
Comment by RAN — November 10, 2008 @ 8:27 am
Thanks! Nice post.
Comment by ErvinTW — November 10, 2008 @ 7:17 pm
Nice site, thanks for information!
Comment by YahooBot — November 11, 2008 @ 2:55 pm
Not bad… Not bad.
Comment by HairyMan — November 11, 2008 @ 8:42 pm
Only just found out about the Dagne EV today and am very intrigued! I’ve been commuting via electric scooter for the past two years (& via conventional motorcycle for over 10 years before that) but am getting a little tired of arriving at work with helmet-hair! Been keenly following development of other alt-fuel vehicles like the Venture One, Aptera, Chevy Volt, MDI air car, and others (can’t afford a Fisker or Tesla), and am rather excited about the Dagne! If you can bring it to market with good range, attractive styling, and low cost, I’d be pretty eager to buy one. All the best as you continue development!
Comment by Sumanster — November 17, 2008 @ 3:48 pm
Commin up on a month… any new info forthcoming in the near future?
Comment by Ryan Brown — November 20, 2008 @ 3:27 pm
Progress is very limited until we secure further investment. Things will speed up substantially once we cross that milestone.
Comment by Ben Werner — November 21, 2008 @ 9:00 am
What portion of this vehicle tilts in the turns? Is it just the wheels? Is it the cabin? Hard to tell from the rollcage videos.
Comment by bnahlik — November 26, 2008 @ 5:10 pm
bnahlik, I think you’ll find that basically the whole thing tilts. This should give it a cornering advantage over the V-1 where only the body and front wheel tilt, and the rear wheels and power pod do not.
Also, I would imagine that the Dagne design allows for better weight distribution F-R than the V-1 (even though the Dagne may have a front weight bias as opposed to the V-1’s rear bias).
Comment by RAN — December 1, 2008 @ 10:01 am
How about a Christmas Video to keep the interest up. Perhaps one that shows the ‘joystick’ in action while moving/turning. Have a Merry Christmas, and best wishes for a PRODUCTIVE New Year!
Comment by Roger W. — December 13, 2008 @ 8:53 pm
I echo Roger’s request and his Holiday wishes for all of you at RM. I wish you all the best in 2009!
May you tilt your way through all of life’s curves…….
Comment by RAN — December 16, 2008 @ 7:24 am
I guess this economic down turn has slowed everyone down some what. I hope things get better in 2009!
Comment by Jeff — December 29, 2008 @ 3:57 pm
It appears that Venture Vehicles… now Persu Mobility is having serious problems with their vehicle development and has deferred direct customer interaction for the time being.
You guys are our only hope for getting this type of vehicle to market. Good luck!
Comment by byteware — December 30, 2008 @ 9:05 am
I agree with byteware, RM is our best hope for getting this type of vehicle to market. The Dagne is also IMHO the best design for driving in the Pacific NW climate.
Comment by jmeineck — January 5, 2009 @ 8:38 am
Hi Ben,
What’s been going on at the shop?
Comment by jmeineck — January 19, 2009 @ 8:45 am
We’re doing our best to raise funds so we can keep working at the shop (or more accurately, so we can really get started)!
Comment by Ben Werner — January 20, 2009 @ 7:20 pm
Hi Ben and RM gang! I’m sure this silence isn’t a case where no news = good news. I just wanted to let you know that many of us haven’t forgotten about you. I know times are tough, but I still think you have a winning concept, and sooner or later the right investor will think so too.
Hang in there!
Comment by RAN — February 25, 2009 @ 1:58 pm
Thanks RAN - we value your support, and appreciate the encouragement. When we secure funding and start moving on the next chapter of development, it will be very clear on this Blog. There have been more funding possibilities opening up since the new year, but all good things take time.
Stay tuned…
Comment by Ben Werner — February 25, 2009 @ 3:34 pm
This is great - you guys actually have a working prototype…that is more than I can say for Persu/Venture Vehicle. What make you decide to go with the joystick over the conventional steering wheel? Is this strictly battery operated or is it a hybrid? I know this is early but do you have a picture of the overall shell design? NICE WORK overall!!!
Comment by Cuong — March 27, 2009 @ 6:51 pm
I’m sorry…did I say I want one! I went through your website and got more information on Dagne and I am very impress with the progress and by having a working prototype is AWSOME!
Comment by doncuong — March 28, 2009 @ 10:38 am
Hi Ben. I was just wondering if you’re planning to keep this blogsite running as well. Not everyone is willing to put up with the wild mood swings that occur on the FTRC site
Comment by RAN — July 29, 2009 @ 5:37 pm
Hi RAN, we’ll start putting material in this Blog once engineering and development start up at full pace again. So far the FTRC has been a good place to engage since that’s where the eyes are right now. We appreciate that everyone has been so polite on our Blog, but it’s also good to have a place like FTRC where people can let loose
Comment by Ben Werner — July 29, 2009 @ 8:03 pm
Ben, how about another video of the Dagne prototype in action (no extra ‘funding’ required) to keep the interest going. Perhaps a video from the backseat perspective, or some footage with the camera filming the hand/joystick action (while pointing forward) to capture how the joystick actually works with the resulting vehicle response being filmed. Or maybe an ‘overhead’ (camera on the rollcage) shooting down and forward filming the driver and the road ahead? It would also give you guys an ‘excuse’ to get out and drive the Dagne a bit, while waiting for funding. Any word on THAT yet?
Comment by Roger W. — August 27, 2009 @ 12:20 pm
Hi Roger - no solution to funding yet, although we’re trying all the time. We’ll consider the video project, although we beat the prototype up enough that she requires some repairs before take her out again
Comment by Ben Werner — August 27, 2009 @ 2:34 pm
Ben, any progress on getting the DAGNE ‘prototype’ running again? It must be difficult getting investors interested (and keeping fans enthused and energized) if you can’t keep the vehicle ‘road worthy’. I would think that making ‘repairs’, getting parts and keeping the DAGNE (proof of concept prototype),’rolling’ would be ‘JOB ONE’, if you are serious about keeping the project alive.
Another video would do wonders to calm fears that DAGNE is just ‘collecting dust, or ‘rusting away’ in a state of neglect. Hope additional ‘funding’ appears soon. If we can help, let us know. Is a ‘DAGNE Kit’ still an option in getting this unique ’tilting’ vehicle out to at least some enthusiasts.
Comment by Roger W. — November 19, 2009 @ 11:32 am
Hi Roger - yes, the proof-of-concept prototype may have gathered a little dust but rest assured, Revolution Motors is moving forward. We are focusing our efforts on fundraising and designing the Dagne pre-production prototype. There is a possibility that we may win some prototype development money from the California Energy Commission in early 2010. This would be a significant step towards getting Dagnes on the road - keep your fingers crossed.
Kits remain a possibility, but not until a safe, reliable production-ready design has been completed.
Comment by Ben Werner — November 19, 2009 @ 5:33 pm
So can we all assume this project is dead now?
Comment by Ryan Brown — July 30, 2010 @ 3:18 pm
Far from it. It’s been a long hard road raising funds, and our focus has not been on PR (we’ll ask your forgiveness for that) but there are funds entering the company at the moment that will support the next critical development steps. Expect more videos in a couple months - we will get back on track with sharing our progress as it resumes, and we will provide an updated estimate of production release in due course.
Comment by Ben Werner — July 30, 2010 @ 5:05 pm
Great NEWS, Ben!!! We’ve been wondering…and hoping.
Comment by Roger W. — July 30, 2010 @ 6:52 pm