Yamaha MOTOROiD - Autonomous Motorcycles are a Thing now

January 16, 2018 · 2 min read

January 16, 2018

Yamaha MOTOROiD - Autonomous Motorcycles are a Thing now - TheArsenale

The Yamaha MOTOROiD price is one of the most asked questions about this self-balancing, AI-driven motorcycle, and the short answer is that it remains a Yamaha research concept rather than a production model you can buy. First shown at CES in Las Vegas, the MOTOROiD is a futuristic motorcycle that stands on its own, recognizes the rider's face, and responds to hand gestures, offering an early look at what autonomous motorcycles could become.

How much does the Yamaha MOTOROiD cost?

Because the MOTOROiD is a proof-of-concept experimental electric motorcycle, Yamaha has never set a retail price for it. It is a technology showcase, not a catalogue product, so there is no official Yamaha MOTOROiD price to quote. According to Yamaha Motor, the bike was built to explore new forms of personal mobility in which the rider resonates harmoniously with the machine, following the brand's Jin-Ki Kanno development ideal.

How does the self-driving, self-balancing system work?

Using artificial intelligence, the motorcycle can recognize hand gestures from the rider, and you can summon it with a single wave. Showing your palm gives off a halt message and the motorcycle stops. The bike is self balancing and can withstand light pushes to either side, which it corrects through its dynamic rear wheel. As Resident explains, this leaning, standing ability comes from Yamaha's exclusive AMCES active mass center control system, placed at the heart of the machine.

Yamaha MOTOROiD self-balancing AI motorcycle concept standing upright

What makes the MOTOROiD feel connected to the rider?

The rear of the motorcycle was developed in collaboration with a psychologist to feature slightly squeezing wings that give a sense of assurance when riding at speed. This comes in an attempt to seamlessly connect the bike with the rider through a haptic interface. Once it learns your riding style, the bike figures things out for you, turning a machine into something closer to a partner.

Yamaha MOTOROiD autonomous motorcycle concept rear haptic wings

Are autonomous motorcycles the future?

So far, human riders have far faster reaction times and intuitive maneuvers like counter-steering and corner leaning, but at the pace AI and robotics are progressing, it will not take long before motorcycles become genuinely autonomous vehicles. The MOTOROiD is a clear signal of where Yamaha believes that future lies.