In conjunction with the opening of Isetan The Japan Store in Lot 10 tomorrow, Honda Malaysia is offering the general public a chance to ride on Honda’s personal mobility device – the Uni-Cub Beta.

The personal mobility device, which was unveiled at the 2013 Tokyo Motor Show, is designed “for harmony with people,” according to Honda. The Uni-Cub Beta also features the world’s first omni-directional driving wheel system, dubbed the “Honda Omni Traction Drive System.”

This system allows one to pilot the Uni-Cub Beta by simply shifting one’s body weight, allowing the device to move forward, backward, side-to-side and diagonally. This gives the rider the same freedom of movement just as in human walking.

It is also self-balancing, thanks to Honda’s proprietary balance control technology, which originated from Honda Robotics’ research into humanoid robots – including the bi-pedal ASIMO. If you’re curious how all this works, allow McLaren-Honda Formula 1 drivers – Fernando Alonso and Jenson Button – to demonstrate.

Interested? Well, the Technology & Promotion section (ground floor) of Isetan is where you’ll need to be to attend demonstration and ride-on sessions for the Uni-Cub Beta, from October 27 to November 24 (11am until 9pm).

Honda’s personal mobility lineage began with an internal idea contest that resulted in two ideas for single-rider personal mobility devices in 1989. In September 2009, the company announced the U3-X, which made an appearance during the 2010 Kuala Lumpur International Motor Show (KLIMS).

Following this, in May 2011, the Uni-Cub prototype was revealed to the world, offering enhanced ease of control and mobility in barrier-free indoor environments (offices, shopping malls, airports). Two years later, the Uni-Cub Beta was revealed, designed to be even more user-friendly, for a wider range of people.

The name Uni-Cub is derived from the “uni” in “unique,” “universal,” and “unicycle,” while the “cub” comes from Honda’s well-known Cub series of motorcycles. Put together, the Uni-Cub signifies a convenient device that anyone can use.