Honda on YT: With U3-X Honda rethinks the concept of personal mobility, providing the rider with freedom of movement in any direction forward, backward, sideways and diagonally by simply leaning slightly in the desired direction. The lightweight and compact one-wheeled device also features a foldable seat and retractable footrests. A lithium-ion battery pack provides power for up to one-hour of use and can be recharged by plugging in to a conventional household or office 120-volt power outlet.
Weighing roughly 22 pounds, U3-X uses an advanced Honda proprietary balance-control system which derives from its research into human walking dynamics for the development of the ASIMO bi-pedal humanoid robot. To realize full freedom of movement in all directions, the U3-X also employs the worlds first omni-directional driving wheel system (Honda Omni Traction Drive System) which utilizes a series of concentrically mounted wheels a larger, forward and backward moving inner wheel and a series of smaller sideways moving outer wheels. Diagonal motion is achieved when both forward and sideways moving wheels operate in tandem. In addition, the compact size and one-wheel-drive design of U3-X was intended to provide user-friendly and pedestrian-friendly operation with low-mounted foot pedals that make it easy for the rider to reach the ground, and a seat height that places the rider at approximately the same eye-level as other people.
23 Comments
csnel3says...I want one.
Duckman33says...>> ^csnel3:
I want one.
Which one, the blond or brunette?
siftbotsays...Moving this video to Duckman33's personal queue. It failed to receive enough votes to get sifted up to the front page within 2 days.
Deanosays...This looks like the start of a porn film. And the blonde one. Even though she looks like a doll.
I just hope their legs don't atrophy given that they're never going to use them again.
Deanosays...*quality
siftbotsays...Boosting this quality contribution up in the Hot Listing - declared quality by Deano.
Porksandwichsays...The text boxes in this video remind of RPG fight scenes and such. The noise sounds like it's copied from them.
ponceleonsays...Remember in WALL-E where the humans got all fat because they no longer walked and only floated around on motorized chairs?
Yeah, that.
MaxWildersays...Yes, as cool as this is, I can only see it actually being used by fat people who currently live on their scooters.
Yogisays...What I liked is that it made the case for both hands being free so that you can carry a box. I assumed the alternative was walking...where my hands are surprisingly without much to do. I suppose it could be making the case for people who carry boxes while using a Segway...I hope that's no one.
RedSkysays...I wonder how well it will balance with an obese slob sitting on it.
notarobotsays...Almost as efficient as using legs!
conansays...Segway 2.0: Nice idea, impressively engineered but comercial fail because no one pays 6000€ for something like this.
conansays...I wonder if it is possible to easily remain at the exact same spot. Imagine talking to someone who constantly wobbles around a bit.
Sericsays...As far as I can tell, this is a vagina powered vehicle.
pho3n1xsays...in my mind i can see how the machine part would handle turning or pivoting... how do you convey that by leaning?
i just can't imagine how you would communicate to the 'chair' to turn.
also, a bunch of drunk people on these in a closed 'arena' would be awesome.
robbersdog49says...This is brilliant and awful at the same time.
KnivesOutsays...>> ^ponceleon:
Remember in WALL-E where the humans got all fat because they no longer walked and only floated around on motorized chairs?
Yeah, that.
This.
With each successive frame of the video, the girls should have gotten fatter. That would have been awesome.
pho3n1xsays...nevermind, looks like they're just dragging their feet a little to turn.
shogunkaisays...>> ^pho3n1x:
in my mind i can see how the machine part would handle turning or pivoting... how do you convey that by leaning?
i just can't imagine how you would communicate to the 'chair' to turn.
also, a bunch of drunk people on these in a closed 'arena' would be awesome.
Gyroscopes and accelerometers: How do they work?
pho3n1xsays...>> ^shogunkai:
>> ^pho3n1x:
in my mind i can see how the machine part would handle turning or pivoting... how do you convey that by leaning?
i just can't imagine how you would communicate to the 'chair' to turn.
also, a bunch of drunk people on these in a closed 'arena' would be awesome.
Gyroscopes and accelerometers: How do they work?
forced meme is forced.
re-read the statement.
(i was hoping there was more to getting the device to turn or pivot than simple friction.)
shogunkaisays...>> ^pho3n1x:
>> ^shogunkai:
>> ^pho3n1x:
in my mind i can see how the machine part would handle turning or pivoting... how do you convey that by leaning?
i just can't imagine how you would communicate to the 'chair' to turn.
also, a bunch of drunk people on these in a closed 'arena' would be awesome.
Gyroscopes and accelerometers: How do they work?
forced meme is forced.
re-read the statement.
(i was hoping there was more to getting the device to turn or pivot than simple friction.)
My bad, didn't really read your comment. There's an engadget clip on this, and to pivot you gotta use your feet.
Harbingersays...>> ^Seric:
As far as I can tell, this is a vagina powered vehicle.
I too was thinking just that... I was particularly worried until they unfolded the seat...
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