U3-X is Honda’s idea of a personal mobility solution for future. It’s a self-balancing one-wheeled electric vehicle inspired by robotic technologies. But like all these Japanese personal mobility thingies we’ve seen so far, it has one big flaw. It can’t be used by fat people. It’s going to topple over if a chubby sit on it. That’s OK in Japan, but there are a lot of fatties in Europe and America. Still, Honda decided to show it to the Europeans anyway.

So this weird robotic chair will be on display in Europe within an exhibition entitled ‘Getting Around’, on show between April and August 2012 at the Museum of Architecture and Heritage.

The U3X uses the same system Honda’s famous robot ASIMO uses to find its own balance point. It features some very sophisticated technologies from Honda’s Omni Traction (HOT) Drive System to move around. The regular large wheel is actually made up of several small wheels in a series, which can rotate independently, meaning that the device can go forward, backward, side-to-side and diagonally, all being controlled with a simple lean of the rider’s upper body. Just like what you see in geeky science fiction movies.

It has not been confirmed whether U3-X will be offered for consumer sale. It certainly won’t be cleared for use in today’s streets. But it can be used in places like malls, by lazy people who don’t feel like walking.