Honda has showcased a concept bike that can balance itself during low speeds or when stopped completely.
Demonstrated at the CES 2017, the ‘Riding Assist’ technology helps the motorcycle to self-balance without the use of any gyroscope or mass-shifting devices.
The concept is simple: When the system is turned on, the front fork angle of the bike is increased by disconnecting the forks from the handlebars, which lengthens the bike's wheelbase. Once the wheelbase is increased, the system then uses minute steering inputs to keep the bike perfectly balanced.
The bike is also electronically programmed to follow its owner at a walking speed if required. According to Honda, the ‘Riding Assist’ technology was developed from the UNI-CUB. There are a lot of self-driven cars in the automobile segment, but it's the first time that a self-ridden bike is showcased.
There is no news from Honda about this self-ridden bike making it to the production line, but technology along similar lines might surely be seen in upcoming Honda motorcycles, which will make the roads slightly safer.
(BikeDekho is one of the leading automobile portals in India, part of GirnarSoft. The site offers in-depth analysis, comparisons and reviews of the latest bike launches in the country.)
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