Honda has unveiled today the new Honda U3-X personal mobility experimental device which they say it's the first driving system capable of 360 degree movement. Apparently the Honda U3-X is capable of every movement a human is capable of, including forward, backward, side-to-side, and diagonally. The speed and direction of the Honda U3-X is controlled by shifting your body weight which influences the world's first omni-directional driving wheel system.
The Honda U3-X measures 315mm in length, 160 mm in width and 650 mm in height. It weighs less than 10 kg and is powered by a lithium ion battery and an electric motor. The company says the Honda U3-X can be operated for a full hour on a full charge of the battery.
Honda Press Release:
Honda Develops Revolutionary New Personal Mobility Device to Work in Harmony with People
World's first driving system capable of 360 degree movement
Pursuing the concept of "harmony with people" Honda has developed a new personal mobility
technology and unveiled HONDA U3-X, a compact experimental device to provide free movement in all directions just like human walking - forward, backward, side-to-side, and diagonally. Honda will continue research and development of the device including experiments in the real-world environment to verify the practicality of the device.
This new personal mobility device makes it possible to adjust speed, move, turn and stop in all directions when the rider leans their upper body to shift their body weight. This was achieved through application of advanced
technologies including Honda's balance control technology, which was developed through ASIMO (Honda's bipedal humanoid robot) robotics research, and the world's first* omni-directional driving wheel system (Honda Omni Traction Drive System, or HOT Drive System), which enables movement in all directions, not only forward and backward, but also directly to the right and left and diagonally. In addition, the compact, one-wheel-drive personal mobility device was designed to be user friendly and unimposing to people around it. This is achieved by making it easy for the rider to reach the ground from the footrest and by seating the rider at roughly the same eye level as a person standing.
Honda is planning to showcase the Honda U3-X at the 41st Tokyo Motor Show 2009 (sponsored by JAMA) which will begin on 24th October 2009 at Makuhari Messe in Chiba, Japan.
Honda Motor Co., Ltd. has unveiled a new experimental personal mobility device that fits comfortably between the rider’s legs to provide 360 degree movement.
When walking, we perform forward, backward, side-to-side, and diagonal movements, the latter of which are difficult to achieve with a standard wheel, but Honda’s latest experimental technology, the Honda U3-X, is also capable of this. The rider can adjust speed and direction of the device, move, turn and stop in all directions simply by shifting their upper bodyweight.
Utilising ASIMO technologies
Honda has drawn upon advanced technologies used in the humanoid robot, ASIMO and benefits from the extensive study of human balance.
Honda’s balance control technology enables ASIMO to stand, walk and run in a controlled manner. This technology has been developed for the Honda U3-X – to detect a shift in the rider’s bodyweight to adjust the direction and speed of the device. Based on the incline sensor data, precise control is applied to return the device to an upright position, which achieves smooth and agile movements and simple operation using weight shift only.
Re-inventing the wheel
The Honda U3-X also uses technologies from Honda’s omni-directional driving wheel system (HOT Drive System) which enables movement in all directions, including right and left and diagonal, thanks to many small, motor-controlled wheels that are connected in-line to form one large-diameter wheel.
By moving the large-diameter wheel, the device moves forward and backward, and by moving small-diameter wheels, the device moves side-to-side. Combining these movements means the device moves diagonally too.
The Honda U3-X’s design focuses on the user as well as the other people around it. User-friendliness was key, so the reach from the device footrest to the ground is small, and the device places the rider at roughly the same eye level as other pedestrians.
Compact and innovative packaging
The Honda U3-X has a light-weight monocoque body, with the foldable seat, footrests and body cover housed within the body of the device, making it highly compact, portable and convenient.
Key specifications
Length × Width × Height (mm): 315 × 160 × 650
Weight: Less than 10kg
Battery Type: Lithium ion battery
Operation time (with fully charged battery): 1 hour
The compact device is an experimental technology at this stage and Honda will continue research and development, including testing in a real-world situations, to confirm the practicality of the technology.
Honda is striving to propose the next-generation of mobility which expands the joy and fun of mobility. The Honda U3-X has been developed based on the concept of “harmony with people”.
Honda has been conducting robotics research since 1986, including ASIMO, walking assist devices and Honda U3-X, at the Honda R&D Co., Ltd. Fundamental Technology Research Center in Wako, Saitama, Japan.
Honda will showcase the Honda U3-X at Tokyo Motor Show 2009 at Makuhari Messe in Chiba, Japan from 24 October. There are no confirmed plans for sales of the device as it is still at an experimental stage.
