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Thursday, September 24, 2009
Honda U3-X: New Electric Unicycle with 360 Degree Movement Looks Awkwardly Weird [with Video]
Posted by wedos at 8:08 AM
Take out the Honda logos and most people would probably think that the U3-X is either some sort of a compact gym machine or if you're childishly foolish like ourselves, a pleasure contraption - if you catch our drift... But if you take a look at the video after the jump, you'll soon discover that the U3-X is actually a kind of unicycle that according to Honda, "fits comfortably between the rider's legs providing a 360 degree movement" - no pun intended.
Honda says that the U3-X uses technologies from its omni-directional driving wheel system that enables movement in all directions, including right and left and diagonal, thanks to a series of small, motor-controlled wheels that are connected in-line to form one large-diameter wheel.
The lithium ion battery-powered model also makes use of the balance control system found in Honda's humanoid robot, ASIMO, with the rider being able to adjust speed and direction of the device, move, turn and stop in all directions just by shifting his or her upper bodyweight.
According to the company, there are no confirmed plans for sales of the U3-X as it is still at an experimental stage. However, Honda will showcase its alternative Segway at the Tokyo Motor Show 2009 on 24 October.
