The Unicycle Goes Electric

Unicycles aren't just for clowns anymore. The Telegraph reports that Honda has unveiled an electric version of the clown-car for the commuters of the future. The sleek, silver figure-eight-shaped U3-X has internal balance control that makes it constantly stand upright, a concept designers borrowed from Asimo, the company's humanoid robot. In order to ride the unicycle, a driver only has to lean slightly in the appropriate direction. The gadget weighs about 20 pounds, stands 25 inches tall, and can attain a maximum speed of 3.7 mph, about the pace of a brisk walk. Target markets for the unicycle, which is still in development, include commuters and the elderly—a major population in Japan, which is the world's most rapidly aging society.