Both Honda and Toyota seem to be quite interested in producing Segway-like personal mobility devices for human usage. Toyota has the i-REAL, and this latest gadget from Honda is called the U3-X. It’s still a concept for now, a compact experimental device that fits between the rider’s legs, to provide free movement in all directions just as in human walking – forward, backward, side-to-side, and diagonally.
Honda’s balance control technology – gained from the robotics research of Honda’s bi-pedal ASIMO robot – enables the rider to control the U3-X by leaning his or her upper body to shift body weight. The U3-X moves via a wheel that Honda calls the Honda Omni Traction Drive System, or HOT Drive System. The letter U stands for “unicycle” and “universal”.
It enables movement in all directions, including not only forward and backward, but also directly to the right and left and diagonally. Basically you sit on it like a stool, and lean around to move. The height of the device is designed to enable the user to be placed roughly the same eye level as other people. Top speed isn’t much, considering your upright position perhaps it’s for the better. You can travel at speeds of up to 6km/h. The U3-X itself weighs less than 10kg, can run for an hour with a full charge, and uses a lithium ion battery.
The U3-X will be one of Honda’s exhibits at the 41st Tokyo Motor Show 2009 that will happen towards the end of October 2009. You can probably expect the new Honda boss Takanobu Ito to ride out onto the stage on one of these to deliver his opening speech 
Look after the jump for more shots and videos of this gadget.
After dabbling for years in the IT industry, Paul Tan initially began this site as a general blog covering various topics of personal interest. With an increasing number of readers paying rapt attention to the motoring stories, one thing led to another and the rest, as they say, is history. An avid electronic gadget aficionado as well as big-time coffee lover, he's also the executive producer of the Driven motoring TV programme.
Good for lazy ppl like me but it will cost a bomb.
Am I the first?
Human are getting lazier and lazier. It'll soon or later human wil become like the movie Wall-E. Human limbs are useless.
You're the first one, cfa.
They can really make this successful by making it reasonable price. Unlike the segway that priced itself out of the market. This makes the Segway look old fashioned!
jolly_idiot said,
September 24, 2009 @ 5:42 pm
Human are getting lazier and lazier. It’ll soon or later human wil become like the movie Wall-E. Human limbs are useless.
Read more: http://paultan.org/2009/09/24/hondas-very-own-seg…
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very true & straight to the point
I wonder why they never improve the wheelchair for those who really need them. Why create something like this for us healthy and God bless working arms and legs? I am really sad that smartest brain among us create something just to amuse the rich. I dont see the point….
Who said it’s for the normal human being?
Members of my family have a serious skin disease that walking a few feet causes blisters.
some days they can and will walk longer distances, depending on the weather etc.
How does one go to school/university etc.
With one of these they can sit and ride and when they get to a short flight of stairs, pack it up and up they go.
I can’t afford it but I would find a way to so my family doesn’t have to suffer.
That girl on the right in the vid has nice curve!
Well said Elvis.
An improved wheel chair is much needed then… this toy
Actually its already implemented to a wheel chair by the segway guy. But of course many cannot afford it although it looks so simple.
omg lols.. just walk dammit! in a way its good for oldies and disabled people but i still believe the normal healthy one will buy too
The first cyborgs will probably be made in Japan.
yeap, we're all getting lazier and fatter each day.
inventing this devices for fit and healthy people have absolutely no point. we're born with legs, the purpose of legs are meant to walk and transport us.
rather than being as it is, they should utilise it for handicapped personnel who need it even more than us fat, lazy people.
maybe in the future, all the humans will have small limbs, and extremely large head, cause we only use our brain and everything else is computer assisted.
did anybody notice that it is only goin to work for 1 hour ? at full charge..
unless you have a powercord or a battery bakpack its not goin to run..much
@csv – maybe in the future, all the humans will have small limbs
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Then our legs won't be able to reach the leg stand of this U3-X
riz.. ur right or my right? hehe..
hope honda will build a bigger version of this for road use..
the power of dream.. dream is really powerfull..
Why any new products, people always think it's designed for them only? Many shallow-minded doomsayer here!
These should be suitable for working people that walks a lot in a huge place, like in a airport, hypermarket, shopping malls, even police for patrolling streets, etc.
Just like golf buggies that are designed for golf courses, these vehicles are meant for different purposes. It's the same like roller-skates, motorbikes, trishaws, etc do we throw them away and walk instead??
Actually our less capable friends are really at disadvantage on any latest tech. Take example the Kindle, device tat can read books for the blinds…..BUT the authors of books REJECT the text to audio capability of Kindle. Handphone for deaf….nowadays they can send sms. So bro Black Dog…i dont think we are doomsayers…all i am saying is that technology like this one SHOULD benefit our less capable friends….
i want the girl with long hair.
Need to redesign this. They are holding the seats while seating. That shows that it is not stable. Whatever happend to walking for the able bodied?
Ala apa susah ..kalau malas sangat naik kokkong belakang robot Asimo saja la
I thought about Wall-E immediately too.
Well said Elvis.
Technology should help those less capable to become more capable, not the other way round.
Elvis, humans are always developing new products every single MINUTE, no matter for hadicappers or not. I'm sure there are lots of inventors designing solely for hadicappers too but that is another story altogether.
This is a auto blog and we're talking about advancement in auto technology in general and you can't stop the world from constantly developing new products.
The world can't stop turning.
beautiful lady in white shirt there…. yummmm…
a…..if take this at malaysia jalan raya, haha cannot imagine..
yes the future, when thin people will be awkward and fat people are common hahaha
I'm wondering how it would cost to have one of this,
perhaps it just ment for rich people….
anyway it's a smart invention and yes we can't stop inventing new things
oh what a nice invention!
stop critizing this because of 'poor' ppl. there is only poor mind and poor thinking.
i'm very sure lazy ppl wont be able to use this too, because lazy people dont want to move FAST!
the wheel concept looks like a simplified version of the Mecanum wheel. you can find it at how stuff work site. the wheel can even spin 360. the most intelligent invention since the creation of wheel itself imho..and ermm..i'd pick the long haired one too..hheehee..
i hope it comes with a remote control. it will be fun.
I'm sure Paul posted this article because of the woman. Thank you Paul, you are such a caring guy. We sure appreciate masterpieces of art.
got vtec or taip-R version kah?
lolz! >.<
i agree if it used for the handicapped, it should do a lot of assistance…
but for a perfect human being, we shouldnt japerdized the gift of the priceless legs…instead of using lithium bat, why dont they designed it with turbine-based power which the rider should cycle often, not all the time, but often to sustain the power…eh…
plus it kinda make a handy gym-cycle for all…exercise and socialize anytime n anywhere…. =)
The purpose isnt the main issue, but the great thinking behind it is important. Why would Honda spend decades n millions for their robot development? This shows they have a dream and always look for a way to a new technology. And new technology like this will open new ways for many positive things that benefit human in the future. The Segway for example, has opened ways for a smarter wheelchair that can climb stairs, overcome most obstacles on the road, and give video/filmmaking people a way to get a better dolly shot.
Robotic technology has grown deep in Japanese culture, u see it in manga, anime, in everywhere. But they always go further beyond comic book fantasy by dreaming n creating something that may defy reality for a moment.
I saw a TV program not long ago, showing how robotic technology would help their nurses carry heavy loads with ease. It shows a robotic suit that can be worn (think= Alien2) and transforms u into a superhuman (or supernurse), and helping a sick man getting up from his bed is a lot easier.
Lazy people would always be lazy, segway or not. Give them a beanbag and they would be happy for life.
david said,
September 26, 2009 @ 12:32 pm
i hope it comes with a remote control. it will be fun.
Haha… As long as people don't get their remote controls swtiched..
I want to know how much so I can look at purchasing one so my offspring can use on in University.
Very cool. I had a VERY similar idea drawn up much like their wheel about 12 years ago. I left that idea behind (too many parts) as I found a better way to do this with much wider applicability. Watch for SideDriver wheels coming soon…