A better way to assist pedal power?

[Myrtone]

Here's a interresting way to assist pedal power, and I wonder whether anyone has already done it, let alone in the time before (solid state) electronic motor controllers. The idea is to assist pedal power with a pair of reciproacting electric motors, these would also cancel out torque ripple and operate over the same (narrow) speed range as the pedals turn.

[AUbicycles]

I think you will have to sketch that for me - just trying to work out the advantage, ie. it is easier or better in cancelling out the dead-zone?