DailyTech - Honda Reveals 'Personal Mobility' Device

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Gadgets Honda Reveals 'Personal Mobility' Device
Michael Barkoviak - September 25, 2009 2:43 PM

39 comment(s) - last by G2cool.. on Sep 28 at 9:04 AM

Honda shows off innovative transportation device

Honda recently showed off a new personal mobility technology that closely mimics a robotic unicycle designed to help disabled people move around.

The new device, the U3-X, has a seat height a bit higher than an average person's waistline, and riders must jump up a bit before they can put their feet on a foot rest. Honda designed the U3-X so it can move forward and backwards, sideways and diagonally.

Riders simply need to lean the direction they wish to go in, and it has a top speed of 3.7 MPH.

"We believe this is the first step in realizing the fun of human transportation and expanding that joy indefinitely," Honda President Takanobu Ito said during the event. "And if my legs get a little weak, I would like to have one of these around the house. It makes it easy to move about."

Honda is known for its robotics development and similar technological advancements, though very few of its new technologies have been made available to the public. Similar to other breakthroughs, it looks like Honda is more interested in showing off future technologies, not necessarily launching products in the next few years.

In fact, the U3-X development was made possible in part because of Honda's bipedal humanoid research robot known as ASIMO.

Honda will show off the U3-X during the Tokyo Motor Show in late October, Honda officials said in a statement.

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Uh...

By quiksilvr on 9/25/2009 2:51:38 PM , Rating: 5

Something tells me that women are going to enjoy this mode of transportation more than men.

RE: Uh...

By amanojaku on 9/25/2009 2:58:34 PM , Rating: 4

Particularly the models with the flexi-grips...

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RE: Uh...

By dajeepster on 9/25/2009 3:03:38 PM , Rating: 3

and "attachments"

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RE: Uh...

By MadMan007 on 9/25/2009 4:22:24 PM , Rating: 5

totally

http://www.southparkstudios.com/clips/153051

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RE: Uh...

By Souka on 9/25/2009 4:12:33 PM , Rating: 3

espescially with the knobby tires...

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Might work in Japan....

By Smartless on 9/25/2009 3:09:51 PM , Rating: 5

But I don't think the average american with mobility issues would be able to ride it.

It would at least need a reinforced seat, tires, remote for TV, some 21 inch rims.....

RE: Might work in Japan....

By Ammohunt on 9/25/2009 3:10:53 PM , Rating: 2

Being 6'4" 300lbs i would need one for each foot.

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RE: Might work in Japan....

By walk2k on 9/25/2009 5:27:09 PM , Rating: 2

8 speaker DVD-entertainment system, 5 cupholders and a gun-rack.

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RE: Might work in Japan....

By AstroCreep on 9/26/2009 12:04:10 AM , Rating: 2

Those rims must be of the "Spinner" variety.

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VTEC

By Shark Tek on 9/25/2009 3:55:53 PM , Rating: 2

I wonder if it has a VTEC engine.

RE: VTEC

By Souka on 9/25/2009 4:13:37 PM , Rating: 4

I wonder if it runs on methane?

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RE: VTEC

By G2cool on 9/28/2009 9:04:21 AM , Rating: 2

I wonder how fast they will work in a RAID configuration...

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Funny...

By PublixE on 9/25/2009 4:24:24 PM , Rating: 1

quote:
And if my legs get a little weak, I would like to have one of these around the house. It makes it easy to move about

- Takanobu Ito

Sounds like a device meant for lazy people...

That or I could see it being used for... actually i can't think of anything besides maybe fun and games?

quote:
And overpriced vibrator that let's you travel from point-A to point-B at walking speed! What will Honda think of next

- stmok

Thanks for continuing Chauvinism. How and why would you relate this device to a vibrator? By the way your sarcasm
is much like a worn out joke - not funny.

quote:
Humans really don't need this to get around. The disabled ones will have trouble getting on it and staying on it. The able-bodied shouldn't use it because they need the exercise. However it will work well for a robot. Reminds me of Rosie on the Jetsons cartoon.

-KGBird

Agreed.

Even though this is not a very technological advance i'm sure furthur down the road it may lead to other advances in technology.

RE: Funny...

By sh3rules on 9/25/2009 4:54:46 PM , Rating: 2

Well, some women can’t ride horses because the experience becomes uncomfortable, so there’s room for humor here. Are you perhaps a Gender Studies undergrad?

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RE: Funny...

By stmok on 9/25/2009 6:11:28 PM , Rating: 2

quote:
Thanks for continuing Chauvinism.

Thanks for reading.

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RE: Funny...

By mindless1 on 9/26/2009 6:35:34 PM , Rating: 3

It is an easy leap from this to vibrator since the primary interface is the as$, and afaik, men have them too so the implication is a little troubling but hey, the internet is for pron.

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For older people with weak legs?

By theplaidfad on 9/25/2009 3:47:27 PM , Rating: 2

I'm sure jumping up to ride on the damn thing is going to be quite the anti-selling point for that usage.

Smooth thinking, Honda!

RE: For older people with weak legs?

By Jackattak on 9/25/2009 4:21:49 PM , Rating: 2

Ya I don't get it. Based on the article it's "geared towards disabled persons" but then they go on to say that in order to get on it you have make a small jump?

WTF? Mobilized assistance FAIL.

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Don't we already have something like this?

By check on 9/26/2009 12:05:48 AM , Rating: 3

The japanese have successfully created a Segway scooter that you can sit on...

LOL!

By stmok on 9/25/2009 3:41:39 PM , Rating: 2

...And overpriced vibrator that let's you travel from point-A to point-B at walking speed! What will Honda think of next?!

Forget transportation

By KGBird on 9/25/2009 3:45:26 PM , Rating: 2

Humans really don't need this to get around. The disabled ones will have trouble getting on it and staying on it. The able-bodied shouldn't use it because they need the exercise. However it will work well for a robot. Reminds me of Rosie on the Jetsons cartoon.

One question.

By kyleb2112 on 9/25/2009 4:05:02 PM , Rating: 2

How do they stay on that thing? Wait, don't answer that.

Wow!

By bldckstark on 9/25/2009 4:09:45 PM , Rating: 2

What we need is a few of these and a firmware update that let's it rock up to about 120MPH. Now THAT would be cool!

Right

By aguilpa1 on 9/25/2009 5:18:17 PM , Rating: 2

Because disabled people can easily jump up and balance on this thing..., piece of cake. (sarcasm)

BUTTSCRATCHER HERE GET YOUR BUTTSCRATCHER

By Codeman03xx on 9/26/2009 3:34:49 AM , Rating: 2

LOL this thing looks like some sort of strange pleasure device. who would buy this. I mean seriously this thing looks dumb.

Toyota

By explicit4u on 9/26/2009 7:57:17 AM , Rating: 2

I would prefer the Toyota i-REAL

Its the technology

By Skott on 9/26/2009 5:16:43 PM , Rating: 2

The UX-3 isn't practical but the technology that is developed and goes into making such items is what is going to help people down the road someday IMO.

Umm?

By mindless1 on 9/26/2009 6:38:47 PM , Rating: 2

"The new device, the U3-X, has a seat height a bit higher than an average person's waistline,"

Obviously the women pictured must be giants, considering the seat is not even waist high unless there's something sticking out the top that they have hidden (chuckle).

Worst

By HostileEffect on 9/27/2009 1:36:46 PM , Rating: 2

Even the elderly should be keeping acceptable fitness. I'm still young but I hope to leave this world before I have to be carted around by a bot or someone else. Zelot leg enhancements would be most desirable.

As for the lazy, a few sets of pushups, squats, and a 2-3 mile jog is not too much to ask for a morning session, is it?

Thats retarded.

By Bateluer on 9/25/09, Rating: -1

RE: Thats retarded.

By Yawgm0th on 9/25/2009 4:36:16 PM , Rating: 5

Disagreed, strongly.

I have a close friend who recently had to get foot surgery on each foot, separately. This put her through two separate ~four month recoveries during which she could not walk at all. She got the surgery because her feet had problems from birth that made walking very painful by the time she was in her twenties. During recovery she had to use a stroller to move around. It was not comfortable, not effective, and even bulkier than this device. When not in a stroller she had to use a wheelchair.

This would have made her recovery much, much easier. No doubt it would make short-distance transportation easier for all sorts of disabled people.

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RE: Thats retarded.

By Bateluer on 9/25/2009 5:32:03 PM , Rating: 2

That still makes it a very niche product, especially for US citizens.

Look at the 'disabled' people cruising Walmart on the motorized carts and tell me they'll actually be able to use this thing.

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RE: Thats retarded.

By sigmatau on 9/25/2009 5:48:22 PM , Rating: 4

You mean fat people at Wal-mart? I lol everytime I see a 500 pounder on one of those. Reminds me of the fat twins in the Guiness records that make their motorcylces look like pocket rockets.

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RE: Thats retarded.

By Hakuryu on 9/25/2009 5:44:02 PM , Rating: 1

Not to nitpick, but this thing has footrests... your friend would not have been able to use it. I highly doubt you could just sit on it with feet dangling and move around well.

They mention the disabled using this, but truly I don't see how. You got to have some balance and leg strength to ride one of these from the look it. Perhaps a seatbelt and some sort of foot retainer could be installed, but I can't see this being safe for a disabled person who might not have the best balance no matter how stable it is. I think they were more on target with the 'joy' ride part.

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RE: Thats retarded.

By adiposity on 9/25/2009 5:55:29 PM , Rating: 2

If she could use a walker, then she can probably handle footrests. A walker requires putting your feet on the ground, and supporting a lot of your own weight on those same feet, in case you weren't aware...

-Dan

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RE: Thats retarded.

By 67STANG on 9/25/2009 5:54:32 PM , Rating: 3

Aren't Americans fat enough? Whatever happened to "walking"?

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RE: Thats retarded.

By mindless1 on 9/26/2009 6:25:45 PM , Rating: 2

Doesn't it only have a 1 hour charge capability? Seems to me you'd get more exercise riding it then having to lug the rest of the way than you would merely walking normally.

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