By Christopher Tan, Senior Correspondent

MOTORISED WALKING AID

Honda Motor has begun testing a motorised walking aid featuring technology used in its Asimo robot.

To use the Honda Walking Aid, a person steps into the device's shoes and leans back into the seat.

The device reduces the stress on muscles and joints in the hips, knees and ankles. It supports part of the user's body weight when he is bending and stretching his knees during actions such as walking, going up and down the stairs and crouching.

The experimental walking aid, weighing 6.5kg, has two motors powered by a lithium-ion battery that lasts for two hours between charges.

PROMOTION TO GO GREEN

Yes, petrol prices have fallen, but there are still good reasons to switch to compressed natural gas, such as being gentler on the environment. Another reason, perhaps, is CNG conversion company C Melchers' latest promotion: $2,999++ to retrofit a car to run on the gas.

When raw material prices soared, it used to cost from $3,600 to $4,100.

Conversions using just-arrived German composite tanks, which are half the weight of equivalent steel tanks, will cost around $3,500.

LONGER ROAD LIFE

Fewer cars are being taken off the road here. According to Land Transport Authority figures, a monthly average of 6,500 vehicles were taken off the road in the first three quarters of the year. This is down from 6,800 last year, 8,700 in 2006 and a peak of 9,800 in 2005.

LAST LAUNCHES

Two of the last cars to be launched this year will be the new Honda Odyssey and the Lexus GS450h.

The Odyssey MPV will be launched by Kah Motor this weekend, while Borneo Motors will unveil the sporty GS450h petrol-electric hybrid next Wednesday.

This article was first published in The Straits Times on Nov 8, 2008.

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