RE: Look - no hands! PH2
Friday 6th January 2017
At the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas, Honda has pulled the cover off this rather impressive prototype. Containing Moto Riding Assist technology, this bike uses robotic technology from Honda's ASIMO robot and its UNI-CUB personal mobility device to self-balance.
But here is where it gets very clever. Rather than rely on a gyroscope to self-balance, when the bike is traveling at under three miles per hour the fork's angle is lowered to increase stability while simultaneously the bike makes tiny adjustments to the steering to balance itself. And it can do it all with or without a rider onboard, as the slightly disturbing video demonstrates!
Look - no hands! PH2
Honda reveals a bike that can't fall over
"Since our founding, Honda has focused on creating technologies that help people," said Yoshiyuki Matsumoto, President and CEO of Honda R&D Co., Ltd. "Our goal is to showcase a future technology path that results in a redefined mobility experience."
Wouldn't you be tempted to shout 'walkies' and get the bike to follow you down the street just to freak people out?
Watch the video here.
Discussion
Hovering at traffic lights?
I suppose the really interesting bit is whether it could stop bikers falling off - cars have had "fully nanny mode" for quite a while - this could possibly drive out out a "loss of grip situation" better than the some less experienced bikers. Not much it can do about the issue of getting whacked by a car.
I suppose the really interesting bit is whether it could stop bikers falling off - cars have had "fully nanny mode" for quite a while - this could possibly drive out out a "loss of grip situation" better than the some less experienced bikers. Not much it can do about the issue of getting whacked by a car.
SpudLink said:
Love the video. But not sure about the tech. Do you really want to ride a bike that is changing its geometry as you ride. I guess you'd get used to it. But I would find it very distracting.
You're right of course, but the article does say (imply?) that the bike only self balances below 3mph? I doubt it's going to be changing the geo just as you touch your knee down on the north circular 
Plus it's a prototype. Plus I'm reasonably certain that Honda know a thing or two about motorcycles. Plus...well...it's just f
king awesome. What a time to be alive. Only yesterday I would have laughed at the notion of a self-riding motorbike without stabilizers.
SpudLink said:
Love the video. But not sure about the tech. Do you really want to ride a bike that is changing its geometry as you ride. I guess you'd get used to it. But I would find it very distracting.
i think when your caning it in a straight line, it lowers the bike by pushing the forks out. i could use that following thing to get the bike out the shed without smashing the wing mirrors on the door frame.
rxe said:
Hovering at traffic lights?
I suppose the really interesting bit is whether it could stop bikers falling off - cars have had "fully nanny mode" for quite a while - this could possibly drive out out a "loss of grip situation" better than the some less experienced bikers. Not much it can do about the issue of getting whacked by a car.
Modern bikes already have nanny modes to stop riders falling off in loss of grip situations.I suppose the really interesting bit is whether it could stop bikers falling off - cars have had "fully nanny mode" for quite a while - this could possibly drive out out a "loss of grip situation" better than the some less experienced bikers. Not much it can do about the issue of getting whacked by a car.
rxe said:
Hovering at traffic lights?
I suppose the really interesting bit is whether it could stop bikers falling off - cars have had "fully nanny mode" for quite a while - this could possibly drive out out a "loss of grip situation" better than the some less experienced bikers. Not much it can do about the issue of getting whacked by a car.
It doesn't, it's not designed for that.I suppose the really interesting bit is whether it could stop bikers falling off - cars have had "fully nanny mode" for quite a while - this could possibly drive out out a "loss of grip situation" better than the some less experienced bikers. Not much it can do about the issue of getting whacked by a car.
I'm a biker and it doesn't really bother me, it seems more like a "look how clever we are" rather than solving a problem.
Pressing a button and having it roll forward (like in the video) to extract itself from a bay would be pretty handy at times.
I've seen a few bikers drop a bike at a set of lights. This is a pain, especially the cost to repair. I would imagine over the course of a young riders starting up experience, that this may just save a few people some money (and embarrassment). Anything that helps is welcome, and I think if you really hated it, there would probably be a way to switch it off.
Impressive, and interesting! Well done, and hope to see a lot more stuff like this by the mad scientists out there.
Impressive, and interesting! Well done, and hope to see a lot more stuff like this by the mad scientists out there.
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