By CJ Hubbard
Ever wished you could buy an adult-sized Trunki suitcase – those animal-shaped ones with wheels on for towing kids around airports to keep them from screaming the place down? Well, at first glance the UNI-CUB suggests Honda’s engineers might have had the same idea.
Okay, so there isn’t actually any room for clothes inside. But that’s because all the interior space is taken up by complex robotics-grade hardware and lithium-ion batteries – meaning you won’t need to find another grown-up to provide the propulsion.
Effort-free travel
The UNI-CUB β, Honda’s latest experimental personal mobility device, is the second-generation UNI-CUB. It’s a little smaller than the penguin-esque original, but is lighter and offers improved usability. The idea is to provide an effort-free, hands-free way to travel around barrier-free indoor environments.
So far the trials have concentrated on museums, with Japan’s National Museum of Emerging Science and Innovation involved in the demonstration programme. Top speed is three miles per hour, maximum range is three miles, and with a seated rider the UNI-CUB β is no wider than a regular pedestrian.
UNI-CUB meets UNI-CUB β – its latest incarnation
I’ve been given the chance, along with a few privileged others, to try it out at the Tokyo Motor Show. As futuristic as the UNI-CUB β is, getting acquainted with it at this world-leading event renowned for its unusual innovations seems perfectly appropriate.
It may seem like a simple idea, but the UNI-CUB β is remarkably sophisticated. There’s a saddle, a parking brake and foot pegs. What’s more, as soon as you take your feet off the floor, suddenly it feels like you’re floating. This is the Honda Omni Traction Drive System announcing its presence.
ASIMO legacy
The playful device was first introduced in May 2012, and is an example of how Honda’s research into humanoid robots like ASIMO can impact our daily lives and offer solutions to ongoing problems such as transportation.
The balance control technology and omnidirectional driving wheel system both come from ASIMO. Essentially, the UNI-CUB features a driving wheel that can move in any direction – which is very clever even before you learn it’s controlled by merely shifting your bodyweight.
While Honda’s display team are zipping around effortlessly on their UNI-CUB βs, I may well need a little more time to get to grips with the more subtle possibilities of its manoeuvres…
