Honda introduces self-balancing motorcycle at CES 2017

The self-balancing motorcycle greatly reduces the possibility of falling over while at rest

Honda’s latest motorcycle might be the easiest bike to ride.

The automobile giant took to this year’s Consumer Electronics Show to showcase its latest innovations in motorcycling which included Honda’s new self-stabilising technology.

Dubbed Honda Ride Assist, the technology uses robotics to create a self-balancing motorcycle that is able to stabilise itself at low speeds greatly reducing the chance of falling over while the motorcycle is at rest. It incorporates the technology originally developed for the company's UNI-CUB personal mobility device.



Honda’s latest technology abandons the use of conventional gyroscopes in favour of electronic motors that disengage the handlebars from the front forks at speeds below 3 mph, passing control to a computer. On board computers calculate the bike’s lean angles and adjust the front wheel and fork angles to stabilise the bike by counteracting any tendency tip over.

In addition to this, Honda also showcased an AI based technology which when paired with Ride Assist allows the motorcycle to follow the rider on its own.



“Honda concept envisions a future where vehicles will communicate with each other and infrastructure to mitigate traffic congestion and eliminate traffic fatalities, while increasing the productivity of road users and delivering new types of in-vehicle entertainment experiences,” reads a statement on Honda’s website.

"Since our founding, Honda has focused on creating technologies that help people," said Yoshiyuki Matsumoto, president & CEO of Honda R&D CO, Ltd.  "Our goal is to showcase a future technology path that results in a redefined mobility experience."

[brid video="103706" player="7247" title="Honda introduces selfbalancing motorcycle at CES 2017"]