The new Honda U3-X might look like a glorified unicycle but beneath the carbonfibre skin it’s a fiendishly clever bit of kit. Unveiled at the 2009 Tokyo motor show earlier this week, it’s one of Honda’s latest-generation personal mobility devices.
CAR has just ridden the concept, so read on for our first slide review.
Tell me all about the Honda U3-X then. Bonkers?
On something this small and this complex, the simple stuff is the lithium-ion battery and carbonfibre monocoque that keeps the weight of the U3-X down to under 10kg.
The clever and complicated bit is the HOT Drive (Honda Omni Traction) system. Essentially, it’s the world’s first omni-directional wheel, and although it’s complicated to make, the construction is straightforward. In the bottom section of the U3-X is an electric motor that forms the centre of the wheel, and around that lots of little perpendicularly placed wheels are connected to form one large wheel. By moving the large wheel the U3-X can move forward or backwards, while the movement of the smaller wheels allows for lateral movement. A combination of the two allows a diagonal change of direction.
Incidentally, the U3-X name derives from three things. The ‘U’ is supposed to signify that it’s unique, the ‘3’ means it’s a third-gen mobility system, and the ‘X’ refers to the infinite possibilities in the future.
And just how do you stop and steer the U3-X? Where are the controls?
Let’s start from the beginning. A little handle pops out of the top of the Honda U3-X and you can carry it around with you. Then when you want to ride it you set it down and turn it on. (Don’t let go before it’s turned on though, as it’ll just topple over – hence why it comes with a stand for storage.) But once it’s on the balance technology starts working and it’ll happily stand upright, fractionally moving to keep itself steady.
The centre of the top half of the U3-X then folds out to form a seat, and two solid metal foot pegs flip out of the bottom section. Then gingerly, like you’re about to perch on a china toilet seat, you sit down.
>> Click ‘Next’ to read CAR’s verdict on the Honda U3-X
And how does the Honda U3-X feel to drive?
Quite weird. There’s a constant, small vibration from the electric motor that you feel through your groin (no bad thing some would say) and a faint whirr like a quiet vacuum cleaner. Like riding a bike without stabilisers it then takes a leap of faith to lift your feet off the floor and let the balance systems in the U3-X hold you steady. But they do!
To move you then just lean your upper body in the direction you want to go, and off glides the U3-X. It uses balance control technology pilfered from Honda’s ASIMO robot, and an incline sensor detects you upper body movements, and based on pre-set data, then moves the U3-X.
After just a few minutes it feels reasonably natural, and it’s easy to manoeuvre. It can’t do the tightest of turns without you putting a foot on the floor to help pivot it, but as the widest part is your own shoulders its takes up no more space than walking. Gliding around on the U3-X is a wonderful experience – it makes you feel utterly free, and there’s no effort involved like walking. To brake, just put your feet on the floor.
Verdict
Do we really need to glide and slide when we can just walk? Not really, but then not everyone is blessed with a set of working legs – the U3-X has a practical use. But on the other hand it’s great fun, utterly cool and an amazing gadget.
Unfortunately it’s still a concept with no production plans, but Honda’s boffins at the Wako R&D centre – suitably pronounced wacko – want to develop the U-3X further, so it could be a new-fangled skateboard, or an autonomous waiter in a restaurant. We can’t wait for the next step. Or slide.