Researchers at Wako Research Center and Honda found that vehicles with humanlike forms may be noticed more often and more quickly by motorists and pedestrians. In effect, the human brain (normally unused by most American motorists except when selecting a radio preset or flipping off a fellow driver in New Jersey) lights up in a hurry when it perceives something akin to a human face.

A Honda experimental motorcycle, the ASV-3 has a fairing that looks almost like a cartoon character. You can definitely make out eyes, nose, and mouth; the chromed struts add legs to the figure. Seven powerful white LEDs on the upper edges of the fairing (look to the right of the ASV-3 decal) give the bike more presence and help others judge distance.