Yamaha Motor Company showcases self-balancing tech

MANILA: Yamaha Motor Philippines has brought select journalists to the company’s headquarters in Hamamatsu, Japan, where the marque showcased its self-balancing technology.  

The motorcycle manufacturer has been developing self-balancing bikes since 2015, starting with the Motobot project (photo below), which features an autonomous motorcycle-riding humanoid robot. Yamaha followed through with the first iteration of the Motoroid — a personal mobility vehicle — two years later. 

In 2019, Yamaha Motor Company Limited developed its Advanced Motorcycle Stability System (AMSAS). Questioning itself if it can adapt the technology and its expertise to mass-produced models, the company took a shot and experimented with the YZF-R3 using the said technology sometime in 2022. 

Other stories: Pope Leo signs BMW R18, motorcycle to be sent for auction Yamaha Motor PH brings ‘Start Youniqueness’ campaign to Cebu with Mio Fazzio Ducati-backed Access Plus Racing strengthens PSBK title grip with another 1-2 finish at CIS

Yamaha ELOVE 

During a presentation, Yamaha Motor Company Limited showcased the ELOVE — an AMSAS-fitted scooter, developed last year. 

Per the brand, the goal of developing the Yamaha ELOVE was to find a realistic solution for a low-speed, self-balancing commuter vehicle. 

Why focus on plodding motorcycles? 

It was discussed in the course of the presentation that balancing the motorcycle becomes more challenging at low speeds. That said, making a motorbike that can help mitigate the chances of riders toppling down can make two-wheelers safer and more enjoyable. 

The marque demonstrated how the Yamaha ELOVE can balance the motorcycle on its own at low speeds, both with and without a rider atop the saddle. 

This excites us because the likelihood of this technology trickling down to production motorcycles — and scooters for that matter — appears possible. Nevertheless, opting for a self-balancing motorbike could change several aspects of the product, specifically its price. 

“Let me share our dream with you,” Yamaha Motor Company Limited said. 

“We believe that when combined with other existing rider aids and technologies, AMSAS holds potential to become a whole new kind of rider support technology,” it added. 

The motorcycle manufacturer further noted that by making AMSAS practical, people will be able to share in the Kando Yamaha offers, regardless of their riding skills or physical disabilities. 

“Looking ahead, we plan to further downsize the system’s components so that way they can be adapted to a wide variety of personal mobility products,” it concluded. 

Yamaha Motoroid 2 

Earlier we briefly covered that the first Motoroid also featured a self-balancing technology. On that note, Yamaha Motor Company Limited is looking to up its game by featuring improved innovation with the Motoroid’s latest iteration. 

Refining the technology, the Yamaha Motoroid 2 uses its battery pack (it is a battery-electric motorcycle) as a counterweight to balance the two-wheeler. At low speeds, not only can it ride autonomously, but it can also respond to commands such as “stop” and “come here.” 

Curious concepts

The above technologies shared to select motoring journalists are still concepts, ideas that are under development. 

On that note, we may not see an exact representation of the said features in future models, but it gives us an idea of what direction Yamaha Motor Company Limited is heading; and that involves keeping riders safe while still enjoying their motorbikes. 

Also read: 

Here's why Yamaha Aerox no longer carries the Mio badging

Yamaha Motor PH produces OST with Nik Makino

WATCH: Yamaha Motor PH showcase Sniper 155, Mio Aerox in short film

Connect with us through our various social media pages:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ZigWheelsPhilippines

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/zigwheelsph/

Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@zigwheels

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@ZigWheelsPhilippines/