Tuesday, May 15, 2012

Official: Honda unveils another Segway-fighter [w/video]

Official: Honda unveils another Segway-fighter [w/video]:
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Honda Uni-Cub Personal Mobility Device



It seems that ever since humankind grew legs and climbed out of the ocean, we've been trying to figure out ways to avoid using said appendages. While many of these efforts have been wildly successful - think Roman chariots, Pony Express, and the Ford Model T - the recent spate of personal mobility devices hasn't quite taken off.



The poster child for this failure is, of course, the Segway. Though completely awesome, its greatest success has come in comedic appearances on television (Arrested Development) and in the movies (Paul Blart: Mall Cop). But manufacturers have forged ahead, undaunted in their desire to bring human-like mobility to humans. The latest: The Honda Uni-Cub.



An evolution of Honda's U3-X motorized unicycle, the Uni-Cub marries a saddle and sturdy base with an omni-directional drive wheel. A rider controls the Uni-Cub by simply shifting their weight. Honda says it is "designed for harmony with people," as the device positions the rider at relatively the same height as pedestrians, rather than towering over them like a Segway rider.



The Uni-Cub is designed for use indoors, and is powered by a lithium-ion battery and electric drive. It can reach a top speed of 3.7 miles per hour and has a range of 3.7 miles, meaning that any reasonably fit individual should be able to both outrun and outlast the Uni-Cub.



Honda will begin demonstration testing of the device in June.



Scroll down to read the full press release and watch a video of the Uni-Cub in action, and be sure to check out all the images in our gallery.
Continue reading Honda unveils another Segway-fighter [w/video]
Honda unveils another Segway-fighter [w/video] originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 15 May 2012 13:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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