Honda's New U3-X Mobility Device - For People too Lazy to Stand or Walk

By Shane Craver on September 30, 2009

In 2001, Dean Kamen unveiled the Segway to much hype and speculation that it was a "world changer." Today, the Segway as known around America as the nerd-bike. The hype was correct but the Segway only affected nerd-world and the lives of mall cops.

Not to be outdone by Kamen, Honda recently unveiled the U3-X human transporter. The new "mobility device" is basically a unicyle Segway for people who are too lazy to stand up.

The figure-eight device has a fold-out mini seat and foot pegs. U3-X'ers sit down on the device to get going then torso-steer using variety of bad posture techniques.

The speed of the U3-X makes it safe for steering around a cube farm, however a U3-X rider could easily be run down by Honda's Asimo (the Astronaut looking robot).

The one very innovative feature is the "HOT Drive System an omini-directional wheel that allows the unicycle-like device move backwards, forwards, and left and right. The HOT Wheel (Honda Omni Traction) places small diameter wheels around a larger diameter wheel.

While, Honda's earlier "legged" versions of mobility devices were interesting, this one is screams vanity invention.

More on the U3-X here.