This is a few months old but I stumbled upon this today and I find it completely amazing. Honda has built a prototype segway-like unicycle that has a bidirectional wheel and can move in all direction. Here's a link for an article and a video of it in action : http://www.pcworld.com/article/172593/hondas_u3x_a_geekfriendly_unicycle.html
This is simply amazing. I've seen electric unicycle (such as the Enicycle) and they are really cool, but having a wheel that can go in both directions and balance itself just like this is mind-blowing! With all the self-balancing Arduino robots out there, do you guys think we will see a version of the U3-X made out of an Arduino sometime soon?
Probably, just because of the "can I do it" factor. However cool this Honda device may seem, though, it doesn't seem practical except on flat surfaces. It doesn't seem to have enough clearance to even negotiate a small bump (like you would see transitioning from a street crossing to the curb ramp).
I wouldn't mind seeing a "unicycle" robot that could lean and turn, and have a singular larger tire; you might be able to do a multi-direction robot like this Honda device by using a textured-rubber "activity/exercise" air-filled ball, and three omni-wheels arranged 120 degrees around it on top. That would probably have enough clearance to negotiate small bumps and such like you would see in a real setting.
Thanks, spooky: I was extremely disappointed when Cox went digital, and i discovered that the SciFi channel wasn't actually part of the basic cable package.
But now I don't feel the sudden loss of Doctor Who so badly, because I have discovered the true origin of the Daleks...
