Tech tracks

Honda U3-X
Image: Photo courtesy of honda

Domo arigato, Mr. Roboto

by Landon Tom | Oct 14, 2009

Honda U3-X / You know Honda as the car company. These days, they’re also going a little Cyberdyne-in-training, building robots to complete human tasks and literally trying to reinvent the wheel. Don’t call Sarah Connor yet, though–at least not until we have a chance to test-drive Honda’s latest “personal mobility device,” the U3-X, which is a unicycle of sorts, only way, way cooler. Using research Honda acquired from itsASIMO project (the one that will eventually give us Governator-like robots), the U3-X is a self-balancing Segway-like vehicle that keeps its driver upright throughout the ride. The device is compact, about a little shorter than waist-height when standing. You’ll look like you’re slouching on a stool zipping around on this thing and it can be folded up (it weighs about 20 pounds) so you’ll feel like George Jetson walking into the office with it.

But here’s where Honda is trying to blow our minds: You can navigate the U3-X omnidirectionally, purely by shifting balance. Strafe side-to-side, move diagonally in one direction, turn or reverse–all depending on which way you lean. And it’s all about the wheel. What appears to be a normal wheel is made up of many tinier wheels that can move side to side. When the larger diameter wheel is used in conjunction with the smaller wheels, diagonal movement is made possible.

At this point, the U3-X is just a prototype–no word yet on when it hits the market–but can’t you already imagine the tourists in Waikiki cruising on these things? Up next: Honda reveals that the flying car is so last year. Or something.

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