Honda reveals more details about its companion mobility robots

At CES in Las Vegas on Tuesday, Honda officially debuted its four newest mobility and companionship robots, part of the company's 3E (Empower, Experience, Empathy) program. Though they are currently only in the conceptual stage, Honda plans to develop the platforms with a variety of like-minded partners as part of the company's "open innovation" approach. First up, we've got the 3E-D18, an autonomous off-road vehicle designed for rugged applications -- everything from backcountry search and rescue to agriculture -- the more mundane and time-consuming, the better. Based on Honda's existing ATV chassis, the D18 is expected to feature all-wheel drive and virtually indestructible airless tires, enabling it to scrabble over nearly any obstacle. The 3E-C18 is more of a robotic pack mule, albeit less adventurous than the D18.