Gizmodo: honda asimo

Honda Asimo Creators Turning Your Brain into the Ultimate Robot Controller

Elaine Chow — Tue, 31 Mar 2009 00:45:00 EDT

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.

Apparently, the people at Japan's Honda Research Institute had the same idea, because they've now partnered with ATR and Shimadzu Corp. to come up with a way to use your brain as a robot remote control.

Called BMI (Brain Machine Interface – not the acronym that tells you you're fat), the tech uses electroencephalography, which measures slight electrical currents, and near-infrared spectroscopy, which looks at brain blood flow. Putting the two together gives you up to 90% accurate robot control without the use of physical implants.

Unfortunately, you still have to strap yourself to this giant chair and ridiculous-looking cap that kind of makes you resemble Dark Helmet from Spaceballs. But one day, when your mobile minions appear suddenly in the horizon, wordlessly laying waste to your enemies with nary a peep from you... oh, how glorious a time it shall be. [Akihabara News]

Inside Asimo Takes Your Robotic Relationship To The Next Level

John Herrman — Thu, 12 Feb 2009 07:20:00 EST

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.

There's nothing terribly groundbreaking here, but this online exhibition is the next best thing to seeing him live at Disneyland. How does he balance? It's there. How does he see? Got it. How heavy is his battery? Find out! Can he love? On this, Honda is silent (yes?). [Honda via BusinessWire via Crunchgear]

Asimo Understands Multiple People Yelling At Once, Has Future on Wall Street

Adrian Covert — Tue, 10 Jun 2008 21:45:00 EDT

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]

ASIMO to Conduct Yo-Yo Ma and Detroit Symphony Orchestra

Kit Eaton — Fri, 25 Apr 2008 11:00:00 EDT

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]

Honda Asimo Can Handle Stairs Like a Pro Now

Adam Frucci — Tue, 09 Jan 2007 17:31:01 EST

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.

Next step: making Asimo useful. –Adam Frucci with video by Richard Blakeley

CES 2007 [Gizmodo]