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more about #asimo more comments → ysirotin: Let's not forget that we have not solved the fundamental problem here: identifying obstacles and targets. In this case all of the obstacles were iden... more » Cyberization: Is anyone else even more excited about the future of robots after seeing this video? If Isaac Asimov were alive he'd be grinning alongside me. more » notlikeacat: LOL at 3:37 I swear the bot looks up at the human with an attitude. "Stop teasing me you bastard!" Pick it up at about 3:28 more » Killa_Charlie: Just look at those squinty eyes. "Smile now, but my time comes. more » Invisible-Echidna: The balance it had was cool. They'd better hope it doesn't have emotions before they teach it how to throw a right hook after all that shoving they've... more » jepzilla: Pretty cool, although I think Big Dog is cooler. more » OMG! Ponies!: Mark, Robosexuals like you disgust me! It's goddamn unnatural wanting to mate with a robot. And any lady who would date a robot deserves to choke o... more » Nick: yeah, but if put that on all the "fart can" civics will try to race me. i hate that crap. more » Kaiser-Machead: If you want to go for realism, you'll need to practice falling down the stairs. more » Hi, I'm God: Lets all join together in a group, "What the FUCK?" call. Seriously... I would not wear this thing even on Halloween. more » -
#robots
Asimo Autonomously Navigates Moving Obstacle Course Right Into My Nightmares
Asimo, still licking its wounds after being outrun by Toyota, fired back earlier this month at Carnegie Mellon, where it learned how to navigate complex, moving obstacle courses. Seriously impressive stuff in this video—just wait until things start spinning! More » -
#robots
Toyota Humanoid Robot Gives Asimo a Run For Its Money
Shown here is Toyota's running robot. At 7 km/h it's not going to win any wind sprints in the Olympics, but nevertheless this thing is airborne for 100ms between strides as it skirts across the floor (i.e. genuine running). More » -
#robots
Wearing an Asimo Costume May Be the Least Questionable Aspect of Your Social Practices
Don't you dare finger count the months until October. This Asimo suit is a completely necessary tool in confronting life's persistent social challenges. More » -
#manvsmachine
Five Reasons Why Humanoid Robots Will Someday Fight Our Wars
Robots are officially on the battlefield—UAVs like the Predator and Reaper patrol the skies while militarized bomb-disposal robots like the Talon detonate explosives on the ground. But where are the humanoids? Roboticist and author Daniel H. Wilson makes the case for a humanoid robot army. More » -
#video
How It Feels To Walk With Honda's Cyborg Legs
Few geeks haven't dreamt of one day taking on cyborg enhancements—me included. And today I did, thanks to two of Honda's wearable Asimo-inspired Walk Assist devices. This is how it felt. More » -
#thoughtcontrol
Honda Asimo Creators Turning Your Brain into the Ultimate Robot Controller
You know what I think the worst thing about having a robot army is? You have to press buttons. It's much more satisfying to get every automaton to do your bidding by just thinking it. More » -
#robots
New Asimo Action Figures Are Heads Better than Old Asimos Action Figures
It's easy to lump Asimo into a stagnant pile of clips demonstrating a short robot waving, dancing and rolling down stairs since 2004. But as these 1/8 scaledollsaction figures show, he's improved. More » -
#robots
Inside Asimo Takes Your Robotic Relationship To The Next Level
Asimo is the de facto face of modern robotics, but how much do you really know about him? The new Inside Asimo page explains it all, with interactive animations, diagrams and requisite robo-charm. More » -
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#robots
49-Foot-Tall Honda Asimo Robot to Terrorize Spectators at the Rose Parade
If you thought Asimo falling down the stairs was funny, wait until this epic 49-foot-tall version of Honda's robot falls down during the Rose Parade, crushing dozens of bedazzled dancers. More » -
#clips
Japan: Robot Nation Premiers Tomorrow Night
A while back we told you about a documentary named Japan: Robot Nation that would be on Current TV. Here's another clip from the show. And by the way, it premiers tomorrow night. -
#walking
Honda's Groin-Threatening Robo-Legs Demonstrated On Video
Why Honda took a few days to seed a video of their potentially emasculating robotic legs is beyond me, but here it is: a faceless man running the "Walking Assist Device" through its strides (ha, ha). My fears of testicular danger are only partially mitigated, and the fact that the legs have a hilariously feminine gait doesn't offer much comfort. That said, they do seem to work: the demonstrator never falls down, and appears to exert very little energy, even during deep squats. [Akihabara] -
#walking
Honda Robo-Legs Help Mobility at the Expense of Fertility
Honda's first foray into robotizing old peoples' haunches looked pretty tame, but this new one, on which geriatrics are supposed to mount like some sort of meat trophy, feels like a glimpse into a horrible, dystopian future where up is down, right is wrong and grandmas and grandpas amble through Sears on mechanized rectal steeds instead of walkers. The machine, which I'm 90% sure is just the missing half of this Battle Droid from Attack of the Clones, is more a passive support device than it is a set of active robot limbs, though it does have a small electric motor. More » -
#robots
Asimo Understands Multiple People Yelling At Once, Has Future on Wall Street
Honda research engineers have given Asimo the ability to understand three voices at once, thanks to an array of eight microphones that can recognize each voice individually. The recognition software, HARK, can process the commands with 70-80 percent accuracy and the microphones are placed all over Asimo's head and body for spatial recognition purposes. The current application for this technology is using Asimo as a judge for verbal Paper-Rock-Scissors, where everyone calls out their answer at once, and Asimo decides who said what, and who wins. Though a great technical feat, this feels less glamorous than the robot's stint as orchestra conductor, no? [New Scientist] -
#robots
Toyota One-Ups ASIMO's Conducting Performance with Robot Orchestra
Honda's ASIMO may have picked up the baton to conduct an entire orchestra, but Toyota has just outperformed the little guy with its suite of robo-musicians. Dubbed Chuck, Harry, Dave and Ritchie (honestly!) the part-wheeled, part-bipedal quartet recently performed a concert where they actually played a trumpet, tuba, drums, violin and trombone. Their song repertoire included a Glenn Miller piece and a popular Japanese tune— and that makes waving a baton around seem pretty low-tech. Wait 'til you see the video of Ritchie hammering away on his custom drum kit— he'll have you giggling with robot-appreciation glee. More » -
#robots
ASIMO Robot 'Conducts' Detroit Symphony Orchestra
Asimo, Honda's consistently-unimpressive robot that they awkwardly walk out for press conferences to prove to everyone that they're working on vague, future-related projects, is at it again! This time, he's been spotted "conducting" Yo-Yo Ma and the Detroit Symphony Orchestra, caught here on NBC's Today Show. It's all quite ridiculous and probably not a little insulting to real-life conductors, but on the up side, Honda donates $1 million to the DSO to improve its music education programs, which is something even my grizzled, jaded heart can't frown upon. [Asimo on Giz] -
#robots
ASIMO to Conduct Yo-Yo Ma and Detroit Symphony Orchestra
It looks like there's no end to ASIMO's skills: the smart, cute robot will pick up the baton and conduct cellist Yo-Yo Ma and the Detroit Symphony Orchestra on May 13th. A robot conducting an orchestra? That's pretty amazing, we think. Honda's ASIMO and the 15-times Grammy winner musician will be performing a piece titled "Impossible Dream" to draw attention to the orchestra's nationally acclaimed music programs for Detroit youngsters. And the following day ASIMO will be doing a show for hundreds of school kids, and Yo-Yo will be leading a masterclass. We're just glad stepping up to the podium won't be a problem for ASIMO these days. [Akihabaranews] -
#walking
Honda's Assisted Walking Device Makes Grandma Strut Like Asimo
Honda has developed a gadget that they say could make walking easier for the elderly and others with weak leg muscles. The aptly named Walking Assist Device is a 6 lb. motorized belt with hip sensors that gauge how much help the wearer will need. The motor then gives the wearer an appropriate boost, lengthening his or her stride enough to make walking easier on the legs. More » -
#robots
Smarter Honda ASIMO Can Self-Charge, Avoid People, Work In Groups
When scientists in some bunker in the year 2525 are trying to determine when humanity handed over the keys to the robot overlords, December 11, 2007, may be a good date, for on this day, Honda announced it had given its ASIMO servant robots three key abilities. Here we break them down, and provide a "Future Shock" analysis of each: More » -
#toys
Kyosho's Robo Hopper Hops into Our Faces, Pectorals and Hearts
We have just realized our lives are far from complete. Please do not be shocked, we also thought blogging for a living was the abstract definition of self-completion. Apparently not, the Robo Hopper, an RC flying robot fashioned like our lovable buddy Asimo, has made us realize we need a flying robot/astronaut toy to complete us. More » -
#robotrehab
Honda Asimo Walking Aid For Humans: I Have One Problem With It
There isn't a whole lot of information available about this device, but it appears that Honda has developed a new type of robotic leg brace based on existing Asimo technology. Sensors on the brace pick up abnormalities in your walking stride and help correct them. Sounds great, right? Check out how well Asimo's legs work in this video before you rush to judgment. [HCRJapan via GetRobo] -
#robots
Honda ASIMO to Return to Disneyland, Run Around and Talk Up a Storm
Honda's ASIMO (Advanced Step in Innovative Mobility) humanoid robot is back on his feet after a conspicuous face-plant late last year, and now he's returning to the stage at Disneyland, running around at nearly 4mph. Besides all that robo-sprinting, this version of ASIMO reportedly interacts a lot with a live host in the 15-minute Say Hello to Honda's ASIMO show starting August 29. It's the only permanent installation in North America where you can see Honda's robot, and now according to his makers he's more mobile and smarter than ever. More » -
#robots
How Would ASIMO Do on Dancing with the Stars?
The latest cast of the breakthrough hit, Dancing with the Stars, was recently announced and we are sad to see that our favorite dancing robot, Honda's ASIMO, did not make the cut. One of the included "stars" is Heather Mills McCartney. She has a prosthetic leg after losing her real one from an accident. So by definition she is practically a robot. Why not just go big and let ASIMO dance in the competition? More » -
#robots
Honda Asimo Can Handle Stairs Like a Pro Now
Asimo, Honda's robot that they tote out at basically every single press event they're at, made his requisite appearance here at CES, and boy is he excited. Witness him run, kick a soccer ball, and handle a set of stairs without falling and smashing his face in. More » -
#robots
Honda ASIMO Vs. Slippery Stairs
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#robots
History of Humanoids, Part I
Honda put together an extensive history of its humanoid machines on its website, culminating in Asimo, which debuted in 2000. We're digging the group shot above, showing how the robot started off in 1986 as just a primitive pair of legs that took five seconds between steps and could only walk in a straight line. What will this lineup look like 20 years from now? More » -
#robots
Asimo Robot Can Now Fetch Coffee
Just one year after we watched Honda's Asimo humanoid robot run around and try not to trip over chairs, things are looking up for the little guy. Looks like Asimo has graduated to office work, meeting and greeting visitors and of course, fetching orange juice and coffee for visitors. Rumour has it he can also push a cart, walk straight, sideways or even backwards. Way to go, buddy! Basically, Honda has added more joints and flexibility to the robot as well as myriad technologies such as advanced sensors, image/voice recognition and other stuff Honda ultimately hopes to use in its core automotive business. I don't know how bowing deeply and bringing tuna sandwiches to a meeting is going to help with new cars, but I'll leave it to the professionals.
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