Weird Shimano shifter mechanism spotted on a Trek bike

[Number_35]

Out for a walk the other day, and spotted this bike, likely stolen and abandoned, at a bus stop.

What the heck is that Shimano device near the crank? Is it an automatic shifter, or perhaps a shift-by-wire type?

Trek is usually well-regarded, so I figure the shifter thing is a big step up from the "automatic transmission" bikes that Canadian Tire sold for a short time 25 or so years ago. They used weights which moved out with centrifugal force, and caused the gears to shift based on the rotational speed of the wheel.

Also, are those hub covers functional or just cosmetic?

Thanks in advance!

 

[Taildragger]

Tagged for later.

 

[ctechbob]

Shimano® Coasting System

This article discusses the Shimano® "Coasting" system. This system uses a 3-speed internal hub with shifting done automatically the "Automatic Unit."

www.parktool.com

Planetary gearset in the rear hub shifted by a control unit powered from a front hub generator.

 

[Number_35]

Shimano® Coasting System

This article discusses the Shimano® "Coasting" system. This system uses a 3-speed internal hub with shifting done automatically the "Automatic Unit."

www.parktool.com

Planetary gearset in the rear hub shifted by a control unit powered from a front hub generator.

Thank you! That's a very interesting system.

 

[Surestick]

Shimano® Coasting System

This article discusses the Shimano® "Coasting" system. This system uses a 3-speed internal hub with shifting done automatically the "Automatic Unit."

www.parktool.com

Planetary gearset in the rear hub shifted by a control unit powered from a front hub generator.

That is a very complicated way to achieve something relatively simple! It's a solution in search of a problem.
There have been two-speed planetary gear hubs that use spinning weights to shift but using a dynamo hub to power a shifting unit that uses a servo to pull a shifter cable to shift the hub through all three of its speeds... Hey Shimano, just because you can doesn't mean you should.

 

[buck91]

Yep, that’s a trek Lime. Not a terrible little cruiser but nothing real special. The shifter worked pretty good but the entire concept was wasted on a very tightly spaced gear set. Too bad.