Honda is taking mobility to a whole new level—or maybe a whole new height off the ground. Meet the UNI-ONE, a hands-free personal mobility device that looks like someone shrunk a Segway, tossed away the handlebars, and said, “Eh, just lean your body and it’ll work.” And it does. This futuristic chair-on-wheels is controlled by shifting your body weight, leaving your hands free to wave, text, or hold onto a corndog at a theme park.
Born from Honda’s robotics know-how (remember ASIMO?), the UNI-ONE is designed for “mobility at destinations.” That’s corporate speak for: after you drive somewhere, this thing takes over so your legs don’t. It’ll debut in Japan for corporate customers on September 24, with use cases ranging from airports and shopping malls to theme parks like Sanrio’s Harmonyland, where Hello Kitty fans can now glide around in style without breaking a sweat.
The UNI-ONE is certified as a “small mobility vehicle” in Japan, meaning it can roll legally on public roads at up to 6 km/h. It measures under 120 cm in height, width, and length, runs on a swappable lithium-ion battery, and comes with an app for operation management.
Honda will lease it in packages, starting at 120,000 yen (about US$785) a month, or offer daily rentals from 55,000 yen (~US$360) per unit. You can find more information in Japanese HERE [JP].
Images: Honda [JP].
