Honda U-3X personal transportation device

[HysteryDiagnosis]

http://www.youtube.com/watch_popup?v=cuIJRsAuCHQ

[nadinbrzezinski]

1. Ok that looks COOL

[HysteryDiagnosis]

2. Glad you liked it.... if it is energy efficient we have a winner maybe. n/t

[vanbean]

3. I want one.

[HysteryDiagnosis]

5. It should have pedals, not foot rests, you should be able to put back some of

the energy you take out of it... then they will have sumpin'. Well, they have something now but you get my drift.

[immoderate]

29. You could run alongside.

:shrug:

--imm

[NuclearDem]

4. Gimme gimme gimme gimme gimme gimme gimme

[Motown_Johnny]

6. It is cool

and maybe for people with some mobility issues it will be useful.


I can't see myself ever using something like that just because I don't feel like walking. If I were ill or recovering from an injury maybe. Something less than a powered wheelchair because it can easily be carried into locations that a wheelchair might not be able to go, but still it could cut down on your need to walk if injured or ill.


Cool technology even if I don't think it will be all that useful. Maybe Honda will incorporate this tech into a new type of motorcycle. Not THAT could be cool.

[phantom power]

7. Clever as shit, and yet I don't quite see the value proposition over.... walking.

Just sayin.

[neverforget]

10. That was my first thought too. Still, it's definitely cool.

[Robeson]

14. For the elderly or disabled, it has huge possibilities...

...small wheel base and maneuverability could change many peoples quality of life. Of course, it may have to be refined to meet those expectations, but it certainly has the potential to be an advancement over a hoveround.

[HysteryDiagnosis]

20. Hondaround.... or something of the sort? n/t

[Robeson]

35. Indeed. If I were you I'd copyright that term before they do.

[csziggy]

37. As an older, mobility impaired person I'm intrigued but I'd want some changes

More of a seat and a way to adjust the foot pedals would be the first things. More of a seat because frankly my wide old ass would overhang those little butt pads. Some way to change the angle of the foot pads or a slightly different system would work better with my knees - the angle that the people's knees are held on the demonstration would be acutely painful for my knees.

As a former horseback rider, a seat that is more saddle like with stirrups might be nice. That would also let people with some balance problems have a better chance to use one of the devices. People with balance difficulties do well with riding therapy since they use their entire torso, seat and legs together to stay in balance. And people with one or two missing legs have been able to ride with prosthetics - those could be adapted for use with this device.

Another problem for old people is the lack of ability to carry stuff except in their hands and arms. Sorry, but old folk just don't/can't do that. With a saddle concept, "saddle bags" or even panniers (the things they use on pack animals) could carry a small load.

You see where I am going with this? Not a "horseless cart: but a "legless horse"!

[Robeson]

39. I agree with you 100%....

...that's why it's so important that these proto-types are developed. The very things you listed, should be concerns in it's future phases.

[phantom power]

42. true, it could be a fantastic update on the wheelchair concept.

[blondeatlast]

8. very, very cool! nt

[Rex]

9. Looks so cheap that if you sprinkled water on it

it would blow sparks and explode. I hope that is brushed titanium and not cheap walkman plastic. It could never hold my tremendous butt weight. Nice bobble, but I'll pass until they start making 80 ton mechs! With flaming pinstripes and a flame thrower! Howitzer is optional.

[Initech]

11. I'll take a hydrogen-based FCX over that any day of the week!

[aikoaiko]

12. Wow, that blonde hair woman is hot!

The gizmo is cool too.

[Terry_M]

13. Pretty Amazing.. but

I don't think it will help the obesity crisis :(

[MadHound]

15. Another sad statement about our society,

Bad enough that we have the Segway, now, apparently according Honda marketing, we've become too lazy to stand and roll, now we must sit and roll around. What's next, the all in one chairs featured on Wall-E?

[Davis_X_Machina]

16. Speed, not effort, has a lot to do with it. And time.

At walking speed, the useful radius from where you stand is about 3 miles. That's an hour's walk.
With automobiles, or motorbikes, or such it's about 40 miles.
With other technologies, it's some size in between

How big a world do you want?

[MadHound]

18. Except that these personal transportation devices aren't going to be used for long distance,

Seriously, if you're going over a mile, most people are going in a car, bike, what have you. These things are going to be used for getting around your neighborhood, campus, etc., destinations which are easily reached on foot, which is a much more healthy form of traveling, both for you and for the planet. How much energy was used to make these things? How much toxic heavy metals are in them? More plastic to throw away, all for what? So we can roll our fat ass down to the mailbox and back?

Like I said, a sad statement about our society.

[HysteryDiagnosis]

17. Have you ever watched people at Wendy's or some other FFR standing and

struggling ALL DAY LONG because that is the way their work environment is set up?? I think it is inhuman the way they are given so many square inches with with to navigate around one another and then having to stand up all day and work in that heat.

Mebbe some progressive businesses who have employees in similar situations will see this and consider making life a little more bearable for the working men and women in this world.... then there could be olympic competitions where you have to navigate pylons and such, follow a painted line... but that's for another time.

[MadHound]

19. I've worked several of those jobs where you stand all day long,

And you know what, I still wouldn't want one of these things. They would be a nightmare to maneuver in one those spaces behind a counter, and awkward to actually work on one of these things.

And if you're working for some compassionate, progressive business, they will provide you with chairs, stools and sufficient break time so that you're not on your feet all day.

Not to mention that the seat on those things looks rather ill fitting, much like a racing bike seat, and having raced bikes I can tell you that sitting for that length of time on poorly designed seats, tucked up like that, you're going to have circulation problems.

[Ex Lurker]

21. For some reason, watching that video made me feel like

a dirty old man.

[Sherman A1]

22. Cool, not only for itself, but to what it could lead.

A very interesting device.

[HysteryDiagnosis]

23. Wall-E or his pardner ya think?? Or them pesky bowlers next to you on Wii sports. n't

[fishwax]

24. wow, that's pretty cool

I can't see it as useful for me personally, but it looks quite cool and could lead in some interesting directions :kick:

[MattBaggins]

25. WTF? They have perfectly functioning legs?

What is the point? To use this thing until your to fat for it to support you anymore?

[Generic Brad]

27. They're young and have plenty of time to atrophy

They will develop spindly legs before you know it.

[FormerDittoHead]

26. A Segway with a seat instead of handlebars. They should stick with the soup-making robots.

I'd more likely eat this soup:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5sVOSlUn7e0&feature=player_embedded

than buy one of these toys.

[Blue-Jay]

28. That's fuckin' dumb.

[Stevenmarc]

30. It doesn't look strappy open toe friendly

[ohheckyeah]

36. Looks like a the toes of a lot

of shoes would get worn out. Why are they dragging their toes?

[AsahinaKimi]

31. whats amazing about this technology despite the

negative comments, here... Is that what is made now will lead to more advanced items in the future. I look forward to what Honda comes up ten years from now...

[underpants]

32. Okay that is amazing

did they gain weight DURING the video?

[HysteryDiagnosis]

33. Might have lost some from the adrenaline rush from thinking you might make a

faceplant at any moment.

[Warren DeMontague]

34. Kick and Rec to piss off the anti-technology whiners.

:kick:

[Generic Other]

38. I like it...but

do you have to limit yourself to driving in shopping malls, airports and other vast astroturfed spaces? How are they on real terrain?

[calimary]

40. Pretty amazing. Especially the way the thinking is going.

[Poll_Blind]

41. And the president of Honda will die by accidentally driving one off a cliff.

PB

[BR_Parkway]

43. If these become popular, they'll need a much wider place for your ass

to rest since no one using them would be getting much exercise anymore - I can see some use for those with limited mobility, but can't really fathom the widespread use of them