Honda's UNI-CUB Robotic Unicycle Could Replace Scooter

Honda's new UNI-CUB puts riders at eye level with pedestrians.

Honda unveiled an updated version of a robotic unicycle which it said could revolutionize travel for people with disabilities.

The UNI-CUB uses what Honda calls an omni-directional driving wheel system, which allows riders to sit upright almost as tall as pedestrians, using their body weight to change directions and turn.

The device raises the question: Are the folks at Honda way more in tune with the future transportation needs of the world than the rest of us, or have they gone a little wacky? Time will tell.

The UNI-CUB is part of Honda's robot family, which includes a humanoid robot called ASIMO.

In 2011, Honda brought the UNI-CUB's predecessor, the U3-X, to New York and let tech writers and auto writers tool around on it for a while. Reviews said it was smooth and a little nerve-wracking to get used to, but overall kind of cool.

Honda said the device is part of its efforts to "offer more and more people the joy and fun that comes from freedom of movement." And the company might be onto something. Currently, scooters are the only offerings for people who can't walk far, but are otherwise able to move around.

The UNI-CUB advances the technology from the U3-X, allowing riders to move forward, backward, sideways and diagonally, which enables them to move through crowds more easily.

And the height, "promotes harmony between the rider and others, letting the rider travel freely and comfortably inside facilities and among people."

The device will be at Japan's National Museum of Emerging Science and Innovation starting in June. Although Honda says it doesn't have plans to sell it at this time, the automaker is clearly working on getting this kind of technology into consumers' hands.

Comments

[demisfine]

10:21 AM on 05/16/2012

Yeah.
Cause humans walk way too much.
Obesity epidemic???
Hello??

[WoodsideCraig]

09:39 AM on 05/16/2012

If they can get one to handle a few steps here and there, it'll be a winner.

[jeffrey678]

08:56 AM on 05/16/2012

From another HP post I read;

In 2006, my regional office at Honda starting only hiring people fresh out of college between 22 to 26 years of age. It took a year before I asked one of my co-workers if she had noticed that they didn't seem to interview anyone over the age of 30. She reply, "Yes" before I could get the complete sentence out of my mouth.

A couple of months after that conversation (in 2007) we had two office meetings in a row where the regional manager tried to reassure everyone over the age of 30 why hiring only young people was reasonable and that this in no way would affect an older person's ability to move up in a company. We all understood that nothing was going to change, just shut up and smile like you mean it. Since then all new managers are in their late 20's or very early 30's, anyone over 30 is being systematically broken down by management in order to encourage them to quit.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/05/15/age-discrimination-unemployment_n_1518591.html

[Rimsha Rajput]

08:43 AM on 05/16/2012

The compact layout of the seat UNI-CUB allows the rider to easily reach their feet to the ground, while remaining at the eye level of other pedestrians.
http://gadget-mag.com/honda-showed-a-private-vehicle-uni-cub/

[byoungusa]

12:22 AM on 05/16/2012

I am disabled and this device really caught my eye! I wonder how it would be tho for ppl like me who have limited upper body mobility and strength? I still think its cool and really am glad to see that Honda is working of tech like this. I can think of many many situations where this would be really useful technology.

[parrotfish]

10:30 PM on 05/15/2012

Hmm that model in the pic looks to be average weight for someone in Japan. Which likely equates to the average 5th grader in the US. If they want to market that Unicycle in the US they may want first to see how large amaericans are and demonstrate how that Unicycle will work for someone 2-3 times that ladies weight which would likley equate to an average size american.

[jtghp]

10:30 PM on 05/15/2012

I believe that the original intent for this device was for use in large automotive plants. The hands free nature would allow technicians or supervisors to traverse the sprawling assembly plants while holding tools/clipboards/phone/tablet/etc. Clearly the scope of the project has been expanded to a general purpose mobility device.

[sarabono]

10:25 PM on 05/15/2012

Americans need to walk more. We are fat enough already.

[atexasdem]

01:44 AM on 05/16/2012

I keep telling them the same thing here at the VA hospital. This thing would be far better than the motorized wheelchair the issued me now.