More mobility, less noise 

With the UNI-ONE, Honda Motor has developed a modern means of mobility robots that are used while seated, but can still be controlled simply by shifting your weight. The UNI-ONE is ideal for people with limited walking ability, but is also suitable for anyone who wants to cover longer distances comfortably and effortlessly.

However, acoustic challenges were encountered during series testing: A loud impact noise when the safety feature to prevent falls was activated, noticeably impaired the user experience. During the prototyping phase, they tested some casters from several manufacturers, but they were unable to meet the high requirements. Honda Robotics specifically looked for an alternative and found it at Blickle.

Blickle recommended the use of the LRA-VPA 50K, a high-quality swivel castor with a non-marking, grey solid rubber tire (80 Shore A) and an impact-resistant bracket made of zinc-plated castor steel. The robust design with double ball bearing in the swivel head and the special Blickle riveting process ensures minimal swivel head play and an increased service life. The UNI-ONE uses four of these Blickle castors as support wheels, which reliably stabilize the system and at the same time enable it to move quietly and smoothly.

By using the LRA-VPA 50K, Honda Robotics was able to reduce the annoying impact noise - a decisive factor for user acceptance of the innovative UNI-ONE. At the same time, stability was increased, movements were smoother and operational comfort was improved - even with changing floor conditions indoors and outdoors. The rapid availability of the Blickle solution also meant that development and production times were not delayed.