If you are a novice rider or your bike is a bit big or heavy for your physique, maintaining a well-adjusted position in crowded spaces where you have to drive sluggishly can be a bit nervy. To avert these types of circumstances which can bruise your body or damage your ride, Honda has debuted its self-balancing motorbike that won’t fall-over at low speed.
This self-stabilizing invention was unveiled in Las Vages by Honda during Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in a curious driverless display. The manufactures believe that this technology can significantly dampen the accidents ratio in slow moving traffic as the probability of falling-over greatly diminishes.
Rather than using the heavy gyroscopes which can impede the attainment of self-stability, Honda has used the technology which has been used earlier in its Asmio robot and its mobility tool UNI-CUB.
Digitally controlled system switches between self-stabilizing and conventional mode on its current speed basis. It uses an electronic steer-by wire system which switches the control from conventional mode to computer at speed lower than 3mph by unlocking the handlebars from the front forks. The bike continuously senses the angle and revolutions of the wheel at this speed and sustains its position by swinging the wheel either side thereby retaining its equilibrium. Angle of front forks is also adjusted by the control system of this technology thereby lowering the motorcycle’s center of gravity to ameliorate its stability. While disconnected, both handlebars and forks are moved with different motors in steer-by-wire mode for synchronization so that the rider can have control of the bike for low-speed steering. Whenever the rider accelerates above 3mph both anchors lock back into the forks, bike switches back into conventional steering mode, thereby giving back the rider its full control.
This technology isn’t for the need of every consumer. As described by the Lee Edmunds in Honda motorcycle division, “Most riders can manage their bikes just fine, this would be for those who want to relax a little bit and not stress out about falling over, if they’re older or a little shorter in stature or the bike is heavier. This takes away that anxiety.”
There is still time for this technology to be launched in the markets. Despite being in the prototype stage, Honda claims that, the bike represents its dream of the better riding experience in future and has a potential to prevent road accidents significantly.