Honda’s New Prototype
Personal mobility device prototype U3-X

 

 

If you all remember ASIMO, Honda’s little robot, well Honda’s new invention was basically derived from ASIMO. The U3-X has a large wheel similar to that of a unicycle, but the most interesting part of it is that with its one wheel it can move in four directions, left, right, forward and reverse. This is possible due to the fact that the one wheel is made up of several small wheels in a series, which can rotate independently, meaning that the device can go back, forward, side-to-side, right, diagonally, all of these movements are can be done with a simple lean in the direction.

It is a very interesting device to be made by a car company, which goes to show Honda’s versatility. This futuristic device can be very useful for elderly people and people with certain disabilities.

Honda says that they will not be making this amazing device available to public, but if I know better I would say to keep your eyes peeled for this product on the market.

The prototype/experimental model of the U3-X has a single hour of battery and weighs under 22 pounds, with a seat and footrests that can be folded into the prototype which makes portability extra easy.

Honda plans on showing off this brilliant invention at next month’s Tokyo Motor Show. As for the name of the new prototype I’m guessing that the “U” stands for unicycle and the “X” would represent the fact that it is just a prototype.

The reason why I keep stressing the fact that this is a very interesting and ingenious project is because in places where there are a lot of people with limited mobility this device is less than half the size of a wheel chair, persons with limited mobility can move around in narrower spaces versus if they had a wheel chair.

Here is a link to a demonstration to the prototype:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zCSQPnGkt78

 

Howard Breezy Harrison