Honda is bringing virtual reality on the go. Set to make its debut at SXSW 2024, the Honda XR Mobility Experience combines VR headsets with Honda’s Uni-One, a “personal mobility device.”
The Uni-One, first revealed in Japan in 2023, is similar to a more comfortable Segway. It’s self-balancing and offers two ride heights. In its lower setting, which keeps the user at roughly eye level with seated people, it’s controlled using a joystick. When raised to the taller height, users can move in any direction or turn around hands-free just by shifting their weight.
The power for this device comes from what Honda calls the Honda Omni Traction (HOT) drive system. Two main wheels provide the driving force, while motors read sensors to figure out the desired direction based on the user’s posture. Four extra wheels help stabilize the chair in its lower position. The Uni-One weighs 154 pounds, has a top speed of 3.7 mph, but achieves its maximum range of five miles at a steady 2.5 mph.
Honda envisions the Uni-One as a playful gadget for entertainment venues. In a 2023 demonstration at Japan’s Suzuka racetrack, the Uni-One was paired with augmented reality technology, allowing users to navigate scenes displayed on a tablet. Now, with the XR Mobility Experience, the tablet is gone, and users can navigate completely hands-free.
At SXSW, attendees can hop onto a Uni-One, put on a VR headset, and either float peacefully in the sky or glide along a half-pipe path. While the experience is likely to be thrilling, users might look a bit funny doing it.
Honda aims to commercialize the XR Mobility Experience or something similar in the U.S. The company believes this tech would be perfect for large, open spaces like theme parks or shopping malls, where people could play racing games navigating courses in Uni-Ones.
Honda has always been keen on exploring mobility options beyond cars. Starting with motorcycles, the company now makes a diverse range of products from lawn mowers to private jets. A device like the Uni-One aligns with this philosophy, even though vehicles like Honda’s upcoming electric vehicles will likely remain the core business.