{"meta":{"version":"2.1","_links":{"self":{"href":"https://api.vam.ac.uk/v2/object/O1357747"},"collection_page":{"href":"https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O1357747/"}},"images":{"_primary_thumbnail":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2021MW2050/full/!100,100/0/default.jpg","_iiif_image":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2021MW2050/","_alt_iiif_image":[],"imageResolution":"high","_images_meta":[{"assetRef":"2021MW2050","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false},{"assetRef":"2021MW2051","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false},{"assetRef":"2021MW2052","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false}]},"see_also":{"_iiif_pres":"https://iiif.vam.ac.uk/collections/O1357747/manifest.json","_alt_iiif_pres":[]}},"record":{"systemNumber":"O1357747","accessionNumber":"CD.8-2021","objectType":"Wheel","titles":[{"title":"Copenhagen Wheel and bicycle","type":"trade title"}],"summaryDescription":"The Copenhagen Wheel was designed to replace the back wheel of any ordinary bicycle, transforming it into a smart electric hybrid. Here, the wheel is attached to a ‘Skinny Jeans’ bicycle, one of the bike-wheel pairings built specifically for Superpedestrian by a popular US-based bicycle company. The wheel ‘learns’ how its user pedals and provides an extra boost of energy when required. It is also connected to an app, which allows riders to monitor their physical activity and gather information about their environment – data that can be shared with friends and other cyclists. In 2010, the product won the US heat of the James Dyson Award for best invention of the year. \r\n\r\n The wheel was originally developed by Carlo Ratti’s ‘Senseable City’ team at the MIT Media Lab in partnership with the City of Copenhagen. In 2012, Assaf Biderman, a co-inventor of the Wheel and Associate Director of the MIT Senseable City Lab, founded Superpedestrian Inc. with an exclusive license to commercialize the Wheel.  \r\n\r\nSuperpedestrian Inc. launched the Copenhagen Wheel in 2017 and has since developed other modes of small-scale transportation such as scooter- and bicycle-sharing systems from their office in Cambridge, Massachusetts. \r\n\r\nThe development of this electric bicycle wheel represents the ways design and technology have responded to the demands of urban living. Cycling is a healthier, more environmentally friendly, cheaper, and often quicker way of getting around the city. By providing users with information regarding pollution levels, traffic congestion, and road conditions in real-time, the Copenhagen Wheel app offers a contemporary solution to the demands and accompanying hazards of densely populated cities.","physicalDescription":"The design of the Copenhagen Wheel consists of a silver-rimmed black tire with spokes and a motorised magnesium red hub. The frisbee-shaped hub contains a custom brushless motor, sensors, control system, and a lithium-ion battery. The wheel is custom built to replace the rear wheel of any steel or aluminium bicycle frame.  \r\n\r\nThis wheel is attached to a bicycle called The Skinny Jeans. The design for the bicycle consist of a lightweight chromoly steel frame, an upright flat-bar, rubber seat and handles, gears, pedals, silver doublewall rims, silver spokes, and 28c tires. Marketed as ‘form, function,and a whole lot of style’, the black matte finish extending across the bicycle complemented by the sleek design of its steel frame creates a modern and stylish look. ","artistMakerPerson":[],"artistMakerOrganisations":[{"name":{"text":"Superpedestrian, Inc.","id":"AUTH342761"},"association":{"text":"manufacturer","id":"x33306"},"note":"The wheel and bike were manufactured for Superpedestrian."},{"name":{"text":"MIT Senseable City Lab","id":"AUTH373102"},"association":{"text":"designer","id":"x36960"},"note":""},{"name":{"text":"City of Copenhagen","id":"AUTH373103"},"association":{"text":"","id":""},"note":""}],"artistMakerPeople":[],"materials":[{"text":"magnesium","id":"AAT11024"},{"text":"electronic","id":"THES274431"},{"text":"rubber","id":"AAT12941"},{"text":"steel","id":"AAT133751"}],"techniques":[{"text":"welding","id":"AAT53958"},{"text":"assembling","id":"AAT53007"},{"text":"screwing","id":"AAT53020"},{"text":"cutting","id":"AAT54007"},{"text":"painting","id":"x30598"},{"text":"","id":""}],"materialsAndTechniques":"Brushless motor, sensors and lithium-ion battery, steel frame and rubber tyres ","categories":[{"text":"Transport","id":"THES48881"},{"text":"Product design","id":"THES49025"}],"styles":[],"collectionCode":{"text":"DAD","id":"THES260586"},"images":["2021MW2050","2021MW2051","2021MW2052"],"imageResolution":"high","galleryLocations":[{"current":{"text":"74","id":"THES49720"},"free":"","case":"CA005","shelf":"","box":""},{"current":{"text":"74","id":"THES49720"},"free":"","case":"CA005","shelf":"","box":""}],"partTypes":[[{"text":"wheels","id":"AAT24976"}],[{"text":"stands","id":"AAT39767"}]],"contentWarnings":[{"apprise":"","note":""}],"placesOfOrigin":[{"place":{"text":"","id":""},"association":{"text":"","id":""},"note":""}],"productionDates":[{"date":{"text":"2017","earliest":"2017-01-01","latest":"2017-12-31"},"association":{"text":"manufactured","id":"x29350"},"note":""},{"date":{"text":"2009","earliest":"2009-01-01","latest":"2009-12-31"},"association":{"text":"designed","id":"x29338"},"note":""}],"associatedObjects":[],"creditLine":"Donated by Superpedestrian","dimensions":[{"dimension":"Length","value":"147","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"whole bike","note":""},{"dimension":"Width","value":"55","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"whole bike","note":""},{"dimension":"Height","value":"78","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"whole bike","note":""},{"dimension":"Width","value":"70","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"Copenhagen wheel only","note":""},{"dimension":"Depth","value":"70","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"Copenhagen wheel only","note":""},{"dimension":"Width","value":"10","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"Copenhagen wheel only","note":""}],"dimensionsNote":"","marksAndInscriptions":[{"content":"Superpedestrian Inc. logo (hub)","inscriber":{"name":{"text":"","id":""},"association":{"text":"","id":""}},"date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"description":"","interpretation":"","language":"","medium":"","method":"","position":"","script":"","translation":"","transliteration":"","type":"","note":"The Superpedestrian logo is printed in white on the red hub of the Copenhagen Wheel. The logo’s design is formed of two curved lines evoking the letter ‘S’ as well as a winding road. The words ‘superpedestrian’ sit to the right of this icon in lowercase letters.  "}],"objectHistory":"The object was new when first loaned to the museum by Superpedestrian in 2018, as part of The Future Starts Here exhibition at the V&A in South Kensington. The exhibition focused on emerging technologies, the ways in which they will affect our lives in the near future, and what choices we have, as citizens, to influence their development. It was then gifted to the Museum.","historicalContext":"","briefDescription":"Rear bike wheel with electric hub, Copenhagen Wheel, designed by the MIT Senseable City Lab with the city of Copenhagen, 2009, manufactured for Superpedestrian, USA, 2017, brushless motor, sensors and lithium-ion battery, steel frame and rubber tyres.","bibliographicReferences":[],"production":"Designed by the MIT Senseable City Lab with the city of Copenhagen and manufactured for Superpedestrian, USA ","productionType":{"text":"Mass produced","id":"THES48863"},"contentDescription":"","contentPlaces":[{"text":"Copenhagen","id":"x32462"}],"associatedPlaces":[],"contentPerson":[],"associatedPerson":[],"contentOrganisations":[],"associatedOrganisations":[],"contentPeople":[],"associatedPeople":[],"contentEvents":[],"associatedEvents":[],"contentOthers":[],"contentConcepts":[],"contentLiteraryRefs":[],"galleryLabels":[{"text":"Wheel of power\n\nCycling has become a popular way of getting around the city, with on-street bike and e-bike rentals increasingly common. The Copenhagen Wheel, designed by the Massachusetts Institute of Technology’s Senseable City Lab with the city of Copenhagen, makes it easy to convert any bicycle into an e-bike. The rear wheel, with its distinct red central hub, can be fitted to an existing bike to give the cyclist a power boost.\n\nRear bike wheel with electric hub \nCopenhagen Wheel, 2009 (manufactured 2017)\nDesigned by the MIT Senseable City Lab with the city of Copenhagen \nManufactured for Superpedestrian, USA \nBrushless motor, sensors and lithium-ion battery, steel frame and rubber tyres \nDonated by Superpedestrian \nMuseum no. CD.8:1, 2-2021\n\nThe object sits in the 'Housing and Living' section of the Design 1900-Now gallery opened in June 2021.","date":{"text":"2021","earliest":"2021-01-01","latest":"2021-12-31"}}],"partNumbers":["CD.8:1-2021","CD.8:2-2021"],"accessionNumberNum":"8","accessionNumberPrefix":"CD","accessionYear":2021,"otherNumbers":[],"copyNumber":"","aspects":["WHOLE"],"assets":[],"recordModificationDate":"2026-05-13","recordCreationDate":"2016-06-03","availableToBook":false}}