Design and Fabrication of a Self‐Driven Air Purifying Bicycle With Real‐Time Monitoring System

ABSTRACT Air pollution is a serious health hazard, especially in urban environments where cyclists are subjected to excessive amounts of air‐borne harmful particulates and gas pollutants during their daily commutes. Conventional personal protective measures for cyclists are frequently inconvenient, non‐adaptive, and limited. This paper reports the creation of a new, self‐propelled air‐cleaning bicycle with a real‐time air monitoring system. The device actively controls the supply of filtered air to the cyclist depending on real‐time physiological feedback and air quality from the environment. The device consists of a ducted fan for taking air in, an acrylic filter chamber with double air channels for environmental and personal filtration, air quality probes, a feedback‐controlled airflow system, and a power system supplied by a dynamo and lithium polymer battery. The addition of health monitoring via an air mask also individualizes the delivery of air by associating it with the heart rate and energy spent of the cyclist. Experimental tests show that the system significantly decreases particulate exposure and enhances the quality of inhaled air without adversely affecting the cycling experience. The system is cost‐effective, modular, and environmental‐friendly, and thus is a good fit for urban transportation and personal environmental protection.