User:C62eu19/BEHEMOTH - Big Electronic Human Energized Machine, Only Too Heavy

BEHEMOTH, short for "Big Electronic Human Energized Machine, Only Too Heavy," (1989-1992) was a 580 pound, 105-speed bike that was the brainchild of a self-taught computer hobbyist named Steve Roberts. [3]

The BEHEMOTH was a 3.5 year project consisting of over 45 volunteer engineers, machinists, bike gurus, and chip-makers working in labs across Palo Alto, Milpitas, Santa Cruz, Soquel, Scotts Valley, and Mountain View involving technologies such as fiberglassing, sheet-metal fabrication, machining, FORTH software, system architectures, harsh-environment packaging, networking, bike tech, power management, embedded systems, audio processing, haptic interfaces, antenna design, and more. According to Roberts, the BEHEMOTH was to be a "collection of all the geeky tools that he could imagine, integrated into a limited user interface available while pedaling a bicycle". [2] He envisioned a project where "computer and communication tools rendered physical location irrelevant." [1]

The BEHEMOTH had antennas that were used to communicate over various amateur and public radio networks, several networked computers, including an Apple Macintosh and an Intel 386-based laptop, a keypad on each bicycle handle to allow typing, and a security system that would alert police if the vehicle were disturbed. The helmet on the BEHEMOTH consisted of a heads-up display, motion sensors for cursor control, lights, fluid heat exchanger to keep the head cool, and an audio system. [1]

The BEHEMOTH had crosspoint networks of line-level audio and serial data that allowed basically anything to talk to anything with a simple command. There were many logic-level power switches in all three equipment enclosures, so every device could be powered on under software control when needed. The vehicle also came with many other random inputs and outputs for sensors and control. All of this was controlled by a bank of 68HC11 bicycle-control processors located in the console, the enclosure behind the seat, and the communications bay in the trailer. These and other tools created a generalized architecture that allowed a wide range of devices to work together.

The user interface was immersive. A heads-up display (720×280) was owned by a 286 DOS machine, and that was my view into the bicycle environment as well as a collection of utilities. There was a 386 for CAD in a screen under the Mac, and a hacked Toshiba laptop running the smaller screen on the console just for a scrolling FAQ when parked. A speech synthesizer kept the rider current with notifications from the Bicycle Control Processor. [2]

The console was only one of three networked equipment enclosures. The RUMP behind the seat (Rear Unit of Many Purposes) carried audio, security, helmet interface, the SPARCstation, microwave motion sensor, embedded radio gear including data links, and one of the three crosspoint nodes. [2]

The yellow WASU (Wheeled Auxiliary Storage Unit) carried a 19 rackmount communications bay with a fold-down door. This included HF, multimode VHF and UHF, amateur television, and other gear, along with an embedded cellular phone with interfaces to modems, fax, credit-card verifier, cordless phone, and answering machine. The white dome located at the front of trhe bike is a Qualcomm satellite antenna that provided 24/7 email connectivity. Taillights were homebrew LED, and the trailer located at the back of the bike carried two of the three 15 amp-hour batteries along with charge controller for the 72-watt solar array or shore power. [2]

A folding dipole antenna on the BYP (Big Yellow Pole) enabled global coverage on the HF amateur radio bands, and three other antennas on the solar lid took care of VHF/UHF, cellular, and security pager. The trailer body was made of cellulose-core, silicon-matrix, polyester-filled composite (CSPC) or fiberglass over cardboard. [2]

BEHEMOTH Featured the following components:

Console

Macintosh 68K (control GUI and primary workspace) Bicycle Control Processor (FORTH 68HC11) Ampro 286 DOS platform for CAD system Toshiba 1000 repackaged laptop for scrolling FAQ 80 MB hard disk space Audapter speech synthesizer Speech recognition board Trimble GPS satellite navigation receiver Audio and serial crosspoint switch networks (homebrew) PacComm packet TNC (VHF datacomm) MFJ 1278 for AMTOR (HF datacomm) Diagnostic tools (LED matrix, DPM, etc) Handlebar keyboard processor Ultrasonic head mouse controller Icom 2-meter transceiver; dedicated Larsen half-wave antenna on seat Radiation monitor Cordless phone and answering machine on RJ-11 bus Folding 6-segment aluminum console Fiberglass fairing

RUMP (white enclosure behind seat)

Stereo System (Blaupunkt speakers, Yamaha 18W amp) 10 GHz Microwave motion sensor (security) UNGO physical motion sensor (security) Rump Control Processor (FORTH 68HC11) Audio crosspoint network, bussed to console Ampro DOS core module for heads-up display LED taillight switch-mode controller (including turn signal logic) Single LED taillight cluster Motorola 9600-baud packet modem for backpack link 7-liter helmet-cooling tank and pump Personal accessory storage Air compressor for pneumatic system 15 amp-hour sealed lead-acid battery (1 of 3) Brain-Interface Unit (Helmet) Reflection Technology Private Eye display Ultrasonic head-mouse sensors Helmet lights (2) Life Support Systems heat exchanger for head cooling Setcom headset with boom microphone Rear-view mirror on gimbaled mount Jacks for stereo ear-insert headphones SPARCpack (aluminum case atop RUMP) Sun SPARCstation IPC with 12MB RAM and 424 MB disk Sharp Color active-matrix display Motorola 9600-baud packet modem 10-watt solar panel

Trailer

72-watt Solarex photovoltaic array (4.8 Amps at 12V) Qualcomm OmniTRACS satellite terminal Ham Radio station: Icom 725 for HF Yaesu 290/790 for VHF and UHF AEA Television transceiver Audio filtration and Magic Notch Antenna management and SWR/power meters Automatic CW keyer Outbacker folding dipole antenna on fiberglass mast Dual-band VHF/UHF antenna Oki cellular phone, repackaged and integrated Telebit CellBlazer high-speed modem Telular Celjack RJ-11 interface Credit card verifier for on-the-road sales Trailer Control Processor (FORTH 68HC11) Audio crosspoint network, bussed to console Bike power management hardware Two 15 amp-hour sealed lead-acid batteries Security system pager Canon BubbleJet printer Fluke digital multimeter Mobile R&D lab, tools, parts, etc. Makita battery charger (for drill and flashlight) Microfiche documentation and CD library Camping, video, camera, personal gear Fiberglass-over-cardboard composite structure High-brightness LED taillight clusters Bike- and Frame-Mounted Components Custom recumbent bicycle 105-speed transmission (7.9 – 122 gear inches) Pneumatically-deployed landing gear Pneumatic controls, pressure tank, air horn Hydraulic disk brake Under-seat steering Handlebar Chord Keyboard CD player Technomad Dreams

The BEHEMOTH logged over 17,000 miles while in service and it was an important milestone in the integration of technologies for recreational use as well as a highly visible artifact of early wireless mobile networking. The BEHEMOTH was donated to the Computer History Museum, where it's currently on display. Further information on the conception, design and construction history of the BEHEMOTH can be found here: From BEHEMOTH to Microship https://www.amazon.com/Behemoth-Microship-Steven-K-Roberts/dp/1929470002]