Honda's electric unicycle in action   Honda demonstrates the
U3-X at Geneva  GENEVA--Honda's display at the 2010 Geneva auto
show included the new hybrid CR-Z, which we saw previously at
the 2010 Detroit auto show, and some electric vehicles
demonstrating Honda's commitment to sustainable mobility, the
most curious of which was the U3-X personal mobility device.
But nothing was more interesting than seeing a live
demonstration of the device, a woman effortlessly piloting the
U3-X around the stage through slight body shifts. She was able
to travel forward and back, and glide to either side, making it
look incredibly easy and graceful. As we imagined trying the
device out, a picture of absolute mayhem and bloody broken bones
emerged.  But as the demonstration proved, a well-trained person
can operate the device. The U3-X uses one big wheel for forward
and back motion, with lots of little wheels perpendicularly
wrapped around the outside of the big wheel to provide side to
side motion. The device's programming