<p>Assuming that you're asking about the engine in particular, it seems to be a large number of pneumatic engines that have been coupled together in order to supply the required torque. LEGO pneumatic engines typically consist of a pneumatic cylinder driving a crankshaft. Here's a basic picture to give you an idea:</p>

<p><img src="https://i.sstatic.net/SnCML.png" alt="cylinder and crankshaft"></p>

<p>The shaft usually also controls a pneumatic valve that switches the direction of the piston to allow continuous rotation as shown here:</p>

<p><img src="https://i.sstatic.net/yHPdh.png" alt="valve control"></p>

<p>This allows the engine to run on air pressure being directed to the pneumatic valve without the use of any electrical components.</p>

<p>These images come from a fairly simple single cylinder pneumatic engine by nico71 <a href="http://rebrickable.com/catalog/nico71/single-cylinder-engine" rel="nofollow noreferrer">on Rebrickable</a> that includes <a href="http://nicolas.lespour.free.fr/fichiers/images/Lego/Manipulateur/The_BI_LPE1_By_Nico71.pdf" rel="nofollow noreferrer">instructions</a> if you are curious about more of the details of how these work, or if you would like to build your own.</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2013-12-19T17:04:23.103Z
Yes I'm talking about the engine. Is this working with electricity?
Adam Arold
CC BY-SA 3.0
2013-12-19T17:25:58.183Z
Air engine runs on compressed air. Or with a straw if you blow hard enough :)
Stephane Delcroix
CC BY-SA 3.0
2013-12-19T18:06:18.047Z
This does technically run on air, but the air has to be compressed. This is often done using an electric compressor.
jncraton
CC BY-SA 3.0
2013-12-19T16:48:39.003Z
2013-12-19T18:04:47.240Z
2013-12-19T18:04:47.240Z
jncraton
<p>I've recently read an article about a car which is made entirely of LEGO and it <strong><em>runs on air</em></strong>. I'm curious about how it works. Can someone explain the details of it?</p>

<p>Here is the car:</p>

<p><img src="https://i.sstatic.net/pjupm.jpg" alt="enter image description here"></p>

<p>These are all the details I have:</p>

<blockquote>
  <p>Super Awesome Micro Project is: A car made of Lego, that drives, has
  an engine made from Lego which runs on air. (wheels and some load
  bearing elements are non-Lego)</p>
  
  <p>Super Awesome Micro Project Factoids</p>
  
  <ul>
  <li>More than 500,000 LEGO pieces were used.</li>
  <li>The car engine is made from standard Lego pieces and runs on air!</li>
  <li>The engine has four orbital engines and a total of 256 pistons.</li>
  <li>Top speed is not very fast, around 20-30km</li>
  </ul>
</blockquote>

<motor><vehicle>
How does the Super Awesome Micro Project work?
Adam Arold
# How does the Super Awesome Micro Project work?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2013-12-19)

I've recently read an article about a car which is made entirely of LEGO and it ***runs on air***. I'm curious about how it works. Can someone explain the details of it?

Here is the car:

![enter image description here](https://i.sstatic.net/pjupm.jpg)

These are all the details I have:

> Super Awesome Micro Project is: A car made of Lego, that drives, has
> an engine made from Lego which runs on air. (wheels and some load
> bearing elements are non-Lego)
>
> Super Awesome Micro Project Factoids
>
> * More than 500,000 LEGO pieces were used.
> * The car engine is made from standard Lego pieces and runs on air!
> * The engine has four orbital engines and a total of 256 pistons.
> * Top speed is not very fast, around 20-30km

**Tags:** motor, vehicle


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## 1 answers

### Answer by username_1 on 2013-12-19. Score: 6

Assuming that you're asking about the engine in particular, it seems to be a large number of pneumatic engines that have been coupled together in order to supply the required torque. LEGO pneumatic engines typically consist of a pneumatic cylinder driving a crankshaft. Here's a basic picture to give you an idea:

![cylinder and crankshaft](https://i.sstatic.net/SnCML.png)

The shaft usually also controls a pneumatic valve that switches the direction of the piston to allow continuous rotation as shown here:

![valve control](https://i.sstatic.net/yHPdh.png)

This allows the engine to run on air pressure being directed to the pneumatic valve without the use of any electrical components.

These images come from a fairly simple single cylinder pneumatic engine by nico71 [on Rebrickable](http://rebrickable.com/catalog/nico71/single-cylinder-engine) that includes [instructions](http://nicolas.lespour.free.fr/fichiers/images/Lego/Manipulateur/The_BI_LPE1_By_Nico71.pdf) if you are curious about more of the details of how these work, or if you would like to build your own.

> **Comments:**
> **username_0**: Yes I'm talking about the engine. Is this working with electricity?  
> **username_2**: Air engine runs on compressed air. Or with a straw if you blow hard enough :)  
> **username_1**: This does technically run on air, but the air has to be compressed. This is often done using an electric compressor.  

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