The UX-3 is an absurdly bizarre contraption which Honda
has devised in order to evaluate a completely new form
of transport.
The UX-3 is an experimental technology at the moment,
but Honda intends to continue research and development
of the vehicle, including testing in real-world situations,
to confirm the practicality of the technology.
Despite the fact the Honda UX-3 makes the driver look
like a complete idiot, it does feature some pretty impressive
technology within its sleek bodywork. Namely Honda's omni-directional
driving wheel system (HOT Drive System) which enables
movement in all directions, including right and left and
diagonal, thanks to many small, motor-controlled wheels
that are connected in-line to form one large-diameter
wheel. By moving the large-diameter wheel, the device
moves forward and backward, and by moving the small-diameter
wheels, the device moves side-to-side. Combining these
movements allows the UX-3 to travel diagonally too.
The design of the Honda U3-X has been developed to help
the user interact with people around them. Unlike many
other forms of personal transport the UX-3 places the
rider at roughly the same eye level as pedestrians. So
instead of looking down on them from a Segway,
or up at them from a Toyota
i-Real, they can talk face-to-face.
The system which balances the Honda UX-3 is derived from
the balance unit found in Honda's
ASIMO robot. Honda's balance control technology enables
ASIMO to stand, walk and run in a controlled manner. This
technology has been developed for the U3-X – to detect
a shift in the rider's bodyweight to adjust the direction
and speed of the device. Based on the incline sensor data,
precise control is applied to return the device to an
upright position, which achieves smooth and agile movements
and simple operation using weight shift only.
The Honda U3-X has a lightweight monocoque
body, with the foldable seat, footrests and body cover
housed within the body of the device, making it highly
compact, portable and convenient. Weighing in at less
than 10 kgs (22 lbs) the Honda UX-3 features a lithium
ion battery which offers up to 1 hour of operation with
a full charge.
Similar and related pages:
Honda ASIMO robot
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