Alumni Profile

When someone claiming to be from Google calls, most people go on guard. Google just doesn’t call people. So, it’s no surprise that Ka Shun “Sean” Chan was skeptical, even though he had already gotten a call from James Cameron’s production team (yes, that James Cameron) about his invention.

Chan, who graduated from Manatee Community College, now State College of Florida, Manatee-Sarasota (SCF), in 2009, and has spent the last few years inventing and building a gyro-stabilized electric unicycle dubbed the Uno Bolt, is now rubbing virtual elbows with A-listers and Silicon Valley executives. A prototype of his electric unicycle will be seen on the big screen in December when James Cameron’s futuristic film, “Alita: Battle Angel,” is released. Cameron’s production team bought all the original prototypes, even though Chan warned them they weren’t perfected. But they were perfect for the film, which contains a heavy dose of computer-generated images (CGI). Chan’s still waiting to hear when the Discovery

Channel will feature his invention. Producers visited Venice to film Chan putting the Uno Bolt through its paces and then pushing it to its limits. The testing and filming were designed to see how well it works and whether it can be improved. They learned that the computer chip isn’t as responsive as it could be when pushed to its limits.

Now Google, which is diving deep into competition on the smart technology front, may be interested in collaborating on the latest version. “Everything is happening faster than I expected,” Chan said. Chan recently completed a smaller, lighter prototype that is perfect for urban life. The Uno Bolt mini, including its battery, weighs less than 30 pounds. It’s designed for boaters to get around when they dock, college kids to use around and across campuses, and for people living in big cities, because they can even carry it on the subway. He already has several potential dealers lined up to sell the Uno Bolt mini, and Google has several of the models. Chan will be at the Big Boy Toyz Expo in Punta Gorda, Florida, Feb. 24-25, 2019, to demonstrate the mini to boating enthusiasts. He also has plans to bring the Uno Bolt to industry shows for electric vehicles in Las Vegas and New York in 2019. When Chan started school at SCF, his parents were urging him to become a doctor or a lawyer, he said. Chan wasn’t sure what he wanted to do but was able to explore his options at SCF. Chan said his time at SCF gave him a solid start to his life’s ambitions. “I definitely loved the experience,” he said. “The smaller classes allowed me to have better communication with the teachers. There was more one-on-one, and I really liked that.” He said attending classes at SCF also helped him financially, allowing him to live at home while starting college. “It was great that I started there,” he added. “Going straight into a university, I think I would have had a tough time.” By the time he got his Associate in Arts degree in 2009, Chan had decided he wanted to go into environmental engineering. He transferred to the University of South Florida and ended up in information technology. “I’m a modern-day hippie,” Chan said. “I love being outdoors, but I do love computers.” Pairing the two led to his invention, which is based on a vehicle in Dragon Ball anime. It runs on a rechargeable battery, has one fat tire and is gyro-stabilized for easy maneuvering. “It’s eco-friendly in that it leaves a small carbon footprint; it’s revolutionary, and it’s made for the outdoors,” he said. Chan, who was born in Hong Kong and moved to the United States when he was 3 years old, has a family friend and partner in China where the Uno Bolts are produced using the same type of gyro-stabilizing technology that the Segway uses. Chan also runs LED Impressions and Computer Solutions, a business he started in Venice, where he works with his father making LED signs. And he’s on to inventing new products. He has a couple of ideas of his own and is collaborating with a partner on another idea.