Honda U3-X Prototype Demonstrated in the US

First introduced at the Tokyo Motor Show last October, Honda’s U3-X personal mobility prototype currently has a three-day debut event at the New York Marriott Marquis Hotel in Times Square. A second demonstration will follow between April 13-15, at the 2010 SAE World Congress in Detroit, Michigan.

The U3-X aims to provide the rider with freedom of movement in any direction - forward, backward, sideways and diagonally - by simply leaning slightly in the desired direction.

The design is simple: with only one wheel, it features a foldable seat and retractable footrests. The low-mounted foot pedals make it easy for the rider to reach the ground, and a seat height that places the rider at approximately the same eye-level as other people.

Power comes from a lithium-ion battery pack for up to one-hour of use and that can be recharged by plugging in to a conventional household or office 120-volt power outlet.

Inspired from the development of the ASIMO bi-pedal humanoid robot, the U3-X also employs the world's first omni-directional driving wheel system (Honda Omni Traction Drive System) which uses a series of concentrically mounted wheels - a larger, forward and backward moving inner wheel and a series of smaller sideways moving outer wheels.

The U3-X, however, is not the only experimental technology derived from the development of ASIMO, but joins Honda's Stride Management Assist and Bodyweight Support Assist walking assist devices, all to further enhance human mobility through technological innovation.