WATCH: Honda Unveils Electric Unicycle U3-X (PHOTOS)

**See photos and video below**

Honda Motor Co. has just unveiled the U3-X electric unicycle, a silver, futuristic device that looks like a cross between a Segway and a hand-held vacuum.

The unicycle is intended for commuters and the elderly.

"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," said Honda's President, Takanobu Ito, at the unicycle's release.

Honda also suggested the unicycle could be used by "people going on an outing together or a teenager performing stunts."

A Examiner article describes the device's features:

The U3-X is self-balancing, and uses the same technology as Honda's astronaut-like biped robot ASIMO, according to the company. The U3-X can essentially move in any direction, based on a simple and intuitive method of how the user shifts their weight. Lean forward to move forward, lean back to go back.

The unicycle can putter along at a top speed of 3.7 mph, and has a battery life of about one hour.

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Comments

[kidolympic]

OK. now design something that will harvest a field of tomatoes delineated with steel outlines, and the processing behind. Somethin smooth as grandma's needs!

http://www.infinite-energy.com/

[ChangeurMind]

This will ONLY work in Japan. People steal in America-Invade countries. Japanese doesn't have to lock their possessions.

[take10]

We send our young men and women off to war while the competition sends its own to school. Don't forget, another Asian country entered the American auto market just a few years ago. Some car and auto magazines names their 2009 fullsized 4dr sedan "Car Of The Year! HYUNDAI! Our auto makers are closing plants!

[woundedduck]

The Japanese will save this planet.

[satanlite]

Someone has too. Sure won't be American capitalists.

[Douvie]

Beware of Honda green products. I own a 2006 Hybrid Civic. For the first two years, it was great-- I got 47MPG. Then the $4,000.00 battery began to weaken and my mileage plummeted to 36MPG. They tweaked the computer to "update" the system. What they were doing was partially disabling the hybrid system to stretch its life past the warranty. I still get 36MPG and have been told by American Honda that there is nothing wrong with the car, although they admitted getting calls all the time about this problem. RUN RUN RUN! Buy a Prius.

[antfarmer]

1) is it only for use inside on carpeted floors? would it fry outside on a wet sidewalk or gunk up if you rand over a doggie doo?
2) what are the weight limits? The people I've seen in walmarts etc. that use mechanical assistance to get around instead of walking are usually 300 pound plus supersized individuals that would probably crush this thing.

[LeftLeanWing]

for those folks ( jumbo + ) they are developing a 18-wheeler version with seat hydraulics and a cup holder.

[filo]

LOL!

[Ismael38]

See this is why america better start getting its act together and start re educating the populus or in 30 years the US will be a third world country compared to Japan, China and Europe. So you republicans keep blocking all types of reforms, all your doing is bringing closer the end of the US world dominance. Who will you blame then, Obama?

[PlantGod72]

Of course....­..ignoranc­e is their friend. The stupider the populace remains, the more power they wield.

[OldSchoolLiberal]

Coming back to America from Japan is always an exciting experience; seeing my friends and family. But, two things make me sad every time. 1) Seeing how Japanese kids are trained in math and science and also how they can ride public transportation alone at any time of the day and 2) the state of that public transportation in comparison to the wealthiest country in the world, the US.

Japanese trains are clean fast, safe as possible (though there are accidents) and many even have wireless.

[patrickmcdougal]

Amtrack has started wireless in the Northwest, should be everywhere in about a year.

[yappnmutt]

it needs a fatter roller ball and a turbo charge.

[StephBr]

And twice the seating surface for the US market

[patrickmcdougal]

and a Diesel Engine

[Wildone8]

They forgot the cup holder!

[deli lama]

now that i've given the matter full consideration, i see this gizmo is never gonna work, since people, being the way they are nowadays, are sure to pull a string across the sidewalk just in time, so you'll have to duck or be clotheslined and pick pocketed. and neither the dealership nor the government will warn the unlucky consumer. well, maybe they'll print a warning in 8 pt greyscale, like the back of a credit card agreement, and folded up real tiny, in an impossible nine folds, and then tucked somewhere inexplicable, but that's it.

what ever happen to america? how could obama pull us this far down and so fast?

[StephBr]

You forgot to take your pills again!

[patrickmcdougal]

another reason for a public option

[jws2346]

But, but, no racing stripe

[detwob]

Honda workplaces are unsafe.

Honda workplaces are 4 to 8 times less than comparable UAW workplaces..

[gigihoffman]

I'm a grandma. I want one!!

[doxpin]

i would like to see these in a race

[dogman44]

That made me laugh. A 3.5 mph race.

[littlechuckie]

Segways are cool too. Just try to use them in many public places. They are outlawed and security comes running. Mall of America, for instance.

[satanlite]

A place around the corner rents them out for tours around the harbor. They're doing great. Can't be all bad I guess.