The “Bed Car”- Playful invention by inventor sparks reminder for all to have fun, be silly and end up with something amazing

A 42-year-old inventor has gone viral after filming his “bed car” out and about. The inventor extraordinaire has long had a fascination for tinkering and creating attention-grabbing mechanics but his “bed car” has caused quite a stir worldwide.

Explaining the inspiration to local media, Gu Yupeng, said, “When I was a child, I was always reluctant to get up early for school. Then I thought, if only I could go to school without leaving my bed.” With a cheeky glint in his eye, Yupeng continues, “I just tried to make this wish come true when I was able to.”

Giving time, effort and funds to his childhood musing, Yupeng did just that, creating the now coined “bed car” and gaining fans globally. Seen in footage going over rough terrain, bogey areas full of water, Yupeng’s latest iteration of the “bed car” is a sight to behold. Controlled simply and easily by a joy-stick from the comfort of the very same bed, it may be the answer the youth have been clamouring for.

Yupeng’s impressive inventing prowess didn’t show up overnight. The “bed car” even had an iteration in 2022 but as is Yupeng’s style, he has quietly been tinkering and improving, for the joy of learning and problem-solving.

He had the irresistible urge to improve his design and for three further years he worked to improve the functionality of the bed. Cue the incredibly agile bed of this year, able to go up hair-raising steep inclines, over flooded areas, all the while keeping the person in a pleasantly reclined position in bed and seemingly bone-dry.

Seeing his car in action, the potential for substantial impact in Australian residential aged care comes to mind. The ability to navigate a complex and highly adaptive vehicle, while keeping the occupant safely positioned and comfortable could have countless positive impacts in the sector.

Yupeng’s ability to spend the time being ‘silly’ and tinkering away shines an example for multiple actors in the aged care space, from Government, to providers. Investing in opportunities for children, even adults, to have fun learning mechanics, controllers and electrical skills means happy accidents like the “bed car” that could change people’s lives forever.

Growing up Yupeng recalls his ever-present fascination with cars. He started small focusing on wood-work and then translating that into his first human-sized wooden car in 2015. Yet without formal training, he explains that his process has been and continues to include a significant amount of trial and error. He didn’t smoothly roll into success but explains that he had to drastically learn and grow in his expertise with batteries, controllers and motors that comprise an electric car.

There were frustrating set-backs, he recalls burning through five to six motors with cars before he got them working. It is in how Yupeng responded to these setbacks, to these headache-inducing problems that is telling. Despite these obstacles and the fatigue they brought, he put one quirky solve forward at a time, and kept going.

Another lesson Yupeng’s approach to inventing has brought is that of stewarding resources well. Yupeng has always been drawn to recycling parts. Due to limited resources, when a particular project hadn’t worked out exactly how he’d imagined, or he had reached his goal he would dismantle parts and input it into his next vision. This kept his costs, and waste down.

A part from being charmed by his antics about town in the “bed car”, it’s his journey and heart to the invention that comes off the loudest. Yupeng shares that he loves the creative process. It’s not about instant success or even a flashy outcome but the sense of accomplishment and joy in creating something that’s never existed before.

Friends have mused with him that instead of just entertainment, his “bed car” has certainly brought that, his inventions could be used for critically important needs, maybe eventually even maritime rescues after floods, or potentially wide-spread use in residential aged care across the world.

He shares that money has never been a driver. It is in making the best of his curiosity, skills and abilities to help people, even if that’s bringing out a smile when they see his inventions. However like his technical journey of learning, Yupeng has grown in the vision of what his projects could do.

While he’ll always have his hope that they will have a “utilitarian function” to meet people’s needs, that of sparking joy and curiosity, he sees that his inventions could do more. He wonders if experienced manufacturers could mass produce the “bed car”, could he share the blueprints online for like-minded hobby inventors to assemble for their communities. His main hope is that the benefit to people could be amplified.

The ”bed car” is a great reminder that curiosity, steady perseverance and seeking joy for others can result in great fulfilment and growth for the tinkerer and also happy accidents that could change the world for the better.