Gizmodo: Honda

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 Robot 'Conducts' Detroit Symphony Orchestra

Adam Frucci — Wed, 14 May 2008 17:45:00 EDT

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]

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's Assisted Walking Device Makes Grandma Strut Like Asimo

Benny Goldman — Tue, 22 Apr 2008 11:30:00 EDT

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.

The device's lithium-ion battery only last two hours on a charge, so don't expect Grandma to run a full marathon, but some time moseying around the retirement village while looking all cyberpunk will surely make her coolest geriatric in Del Boca Vista. The Walking Assist Device will be demoed this week at Intex Osaka—the press release for that is below. [Honda via New Launches]

Honda to Showcase Experimental Walking Assist Device at BARRIER FREE 2008
TOKYO, Japan, April 22, 2008- Honda Motor Co., Ltd. will showcase an experimental model of a walking assist device which could support walking for the elderly and other people with weakened leg muscles(*), at the International Trade Fair on Barrier Free Equipments & Rehabilitation for the Elderly & the Disabled (BARRIER FREE 2008) which will be held at Intex Osaka, Friday, April 25 through Sunday, April 27, 2008 (Organizers: Osaka Prefecture Council of Social Welfare and Television Osaka Inc.)

Honda began research of a walking assist device in 1999 with a goal to provide more people with the joy of mobility. Currently, the device has entered into the feasibility stage.

The cooperative control technology utilized for this device is a unique Honda innovation achieved through the cumulative study of human walking just as the research and development of technologies was conducted for Honda's advanced humanoid robot, ASIMO. Applying cooperative control based on the information obtained from hip angle sensors, the motors provide optimal assistance based on a command from the control CPU. With this assist, the user's stride will be lengthened compared to the user's normal stride without the device and therefore the ease of walking is achieved.

The compact design of the device was achieved with flat brushless motors and a control system developed by Honda. In addition, a simple design to be worn with a belt around the hip and thigh was employed to help achieve overall weight as light as approximately 2.8kg. As a result, the device reduces the user's load and can be fit to different body shapes.

The research of this device is being conducted by the Fundamental Technology Research Center of Honda R&D Co., Ltd. in Wako, Saitama.

Honda is planning to offer interested attendees an opportunity to wear and experience this walking assist device at the Honda booth at BARRIER FREE 2008.
(*) This device is designed for people who are still capable of walking on their own.

Honda GPS Warns Drivers of High Crime Zones

Chris Magor — Mon, 21 Apr 2008 22:47:10 EDT

Honda's new GPS warns drivers when they're about to leave their car in places where it is likely to be stolen, broken into or otherwise vandalized. The new technology, available from today if you live in Japan, links to local police stations and provides crime ratings by location, and if area is particularly dangerous it issues an alert. No indication of when or if this'll come to the US. [Left Lane News via Inventor Spot ]

Drive Recorder Is Honda's Car Black Box

Kit Eaton — Fri, 01 Feb 2008 06:30:02 EST

Honda's Drive Recorder will detect impacts and save information for the 12 seconds before and 8 seconds afterwards, aircraft black-box-style: forward-view imagery, along with sound and data on speed and deceleration rates all get stored on an SD card in its main unit, ready to be uploaded to a PC.

Its 135-degree field of view camera gets hung on your windscreen, with all the accelerometry going on inside the 4.5 x 3 x 0.8-inch black box itself. Honda hopes this system will turn you into a safer driver, though we imagine it might also make insurance claims a little more straightforward. You can also switch on recording just for the hell of it, and amuse your friends with a show later: "Hey, check out that braking after I missed the red light." Available in Japan for ¥54,600 (around $500), and, sadly, only if you have an Honda car or your name is Jenny or Debra.

Hey, it's Friday. [Honda via Gizmodo Japan]

Honda to Mass Produce Hydrogen Cars in 10 Years

Mark Wilson — Fri, 28 Dec 2007 08:37:24 EST

While I desperately could use a new car (OK, it's fine and I barely drive, but my ego could certainly use it), I have a hard time buying into any technology in the auto market. Gas prices are only getting worse (as we run out of the stuff) and hybrids are a bandage where we need stitches or maybe an amputation. But for those who missed our original article, the Honda FCX Clarity fuel cell car drives like a dream, emits nothing but water vapor and can be leased by real people to actually drive. It's a viable product...but only 100 are on the market.

So when is Honda planning to mass produce their awesome fuel cell technology? Not for 10 years according to Honda President Takeo Fukui. Why? Or should we say, WHY???????????

It doesn't seem like they're waiting on the cars themselves. Instead, it's a lack of hydrogen refuel stations that is making the job difficult, along with a lack of a feasible home solution for consumers. So Honda is working on the home solution part. And while it sounds like a nice idea, I don't mind stopping at the gas station every once in a while...and we'll certainly have plenty of open corners once hydrogen technology destroys fossil fuels. But apparently Honda plans to build their own infrastructure within the home to force private business to follow. [jcnnetwork]

Smarter Honda ASIMO Can Self-Charge, Avoid People, Work In Groups

Wilson Rothman — Tue, 11 Dec 2007 09:40:27 EST

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:

• Autonomous battery charging - Honda developed a Borg-like charging bay for ASIMO. When the robot's battery level drops to a certain point, it seeks out the closest bay.
Future Shock: Seeking a power source is the first step towards domination, Coppertop.

• Avoiding oncoming people - ASIMO sees an oncoming person through its eye camera, judges its inertia, guesses its speed and path, then either changes course to steer clear, or simply takes a step back.
Future Shock: If they're taught subservience, they start questioning their predestined role. Also, doesn't this sound a lot like targeting?

• Working together - This involves constant sharing of relevant data between networked ASIMOs, and a survey of which robot is closest to the most pressing task, and what his battery life status is. Among them, they "decide" which one is best suited to go in and do the job.
Future Shock: If I have to explain to you why robots working together could be a bad thing, well, you're probably already dead. [Honda]

Honda FCX Clarity Hydrogen Car Tested (Verdict: Star Trek)

Mark Wilson — Mon, 19 Nov 2007 13:56:26 EST

Our brothers from another mother(s) over at Jalonik got to test-drive the Honda FCX Clarity, a hydrogen fuel cell car from Honda that gets the equivalent of 68mpg in a conversion metric that (we'll be honest here) confounds us since the car uses no gas at all. So what was Jalopnik's verdict?

At one point we even found ourselves behind a Ford Escape Hybrid with a license plate that read, "NO HUMMR." I was reminded of Star Trek IV...

Oh...this is gonna be good.

...when Kirk and the boyz warp back to the year 1986 and Bones finds a woman hooked up to a kidney dialysis machine. He feeds her some pills made from super futuristic technology, unhooks her from the apparatus and declares the then contemporary state of medicine, "Barbaric." All around us people were driving vehicles that in their minds are atop the environmental food chain. Yet they're still emitting loads of dirty old carbon dioxide (and whatever else) into the atmosphere derived from a tank full of Middle Eastern crude. Meanwhile we're zooming past all of 'em, dripping only water while nestled comfortably behind the wheel of the future.

Wow, when the diesel-lovers at Jalopnik are impressed, we're impressed. it's just too bad that only 100 will be driving around in the LA area, leased for $600/month.

Here's Honda's latest commercial that just makes us love the car more.
[jalopnik]

One To The Power Of Four Equals Honda Awesomeness

Sean Fallon — Fri, 12 Oct 2007 19:20:52 EDT

At this year's LA auto show, Honda pulled out all the stops in the design category with their One to the Power of Four solar hybrid. The challenge was to design a vehicle that will be on the streets a half century from now, and Honda decided to devote their energy to solving the carpooling dilemma. The car is actually four individually operated vehicles in one, and they can be "instinctively reconfigured" thanks to a blend of gyros, artificial intelligence, and molecular engineering. When combined into a single vehicle, commuters could take advantage of HOV lanes. Carpooling—that's great. Honda had me with the looks. [Autobloggreen]

Honda Asimo Walking Aid For Humans: I Have One Problem With It

Sean Fallon — Fri, 12 Oct 2007 17:50:32 EDT

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]

Honda CR-Z Hybrid Concept Car Too Awesome to Be a Honda

Brian Lam — Tue, 09 Oct 2007 19:33:34 EDT

The Honda CR-Z hybrid concept is designed to the nines. The reality check, even if this is just a concept, it's a concept built around Honda's current-gen hybrid in this generation's Civic Hybrid/Accord. No matter—the LED headlights, body lines, and dash are kind enough on the eyes:

[Full gallery at Jalopnik]

Honda Announces Automobiles to be Displayed at the 40th Tokyo Motor Show 2007
TOKYO, Japan, October 9, 2007-Honda Motor Co., Ltd. announced that it will exhibit production and concept automobiles and a number of technologies at the 40th Tokyo Motor Show (sponsored byJapan Automobile Manufacturers Association, Inc.), to be held from Saturday, October 27 to Sunday, November 11, 2007, at Makuhari Messe in Chiba, Japan.

The theme for Honda's automobile booth for this year is: "For the endless joy of mobility on our earth". Based on this theme, Honda will display a variety of advanced environmental technologies that address environmental issues such as a reduction in CO2 emissions, together with the fun of mobility.

Two concept models will make their world premiere at the motor show. The CR-Z is a next-generation lightweight sports car equipped with Honda's original gas-electric hybrid system which achieves both clean performance and a high level of torque. The PUYO is a fuel cell vehicle which was designed based on out-of-box thinking to provide fun for both the vehicle owner and people around them as well. Also on display will be a model of the i-DTEC next-generation diesel engine, first announced in September at the Frankfurt Motor Show, which delivers both outstanding environmental performance and engine performance characteristics.

CR-Z
'CR-Z' stands for 'Compact Renaissance Zero'-an expression intended to capture the idea of a renaissance in the design of compact cars that begins anew from fundamentals.

This design research model of a lightweight hybrid sports car features advanced technologies that deliver enjoyable driving for all while reducing the vehicle's environmental footprint.

Exterior design
Designed to be 'Futuristic and Dynamic', the CR-Z combines powerful performance in a compact form with a futuristic image. For its frontal view, an over-sized grill with a high-performance look is offset by openings on each side that lighten the overall feel. In the rear, tube-shaped rear combination lamps ensure better rearward visibility. Design details emphasizing the CR-Z's advanced image include door mirrors that provide high visibility in a stylish form, LED headlights patterned after luminous bodies to convey a sharp impression, and jauntyfin-shaped

Interior design
The key words for the CR-Z's interior design are 'Hi-tech and Sporty'. The goal was to create an all-new sporty interior that fuses the liberating feel of airy spaciousness with an advanced interface that brings out the fun of the drive. Mesh material on a simple framework construction is used throughout the interior to convey a light, sophisticated image without being oppressive. In the cockpit, the meter unit conveys the image of advanced technology ensconced in a piece of glass artwork, offering the functionality of immediate recognition while enhancing the driving experience with a futuristic and exhilarating feeling.

Honda ASIMO to Return to Disneyland, Run Around and Talk Up a Storm

Charlie White — Wed, 29 Aug 2007 12:00:00 EDT

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.

Although Honda calls this version "all-new," he looks similar to the ASIMO we saw at CES last January. We saw that version running across the stage at what the host said was 4 kilometers per hour, but it wasn't doing a whole lot of interacting. If this ASIMO can actually run 4mph, that represents the next step in robot sprinting. If the little guy's capable of even more interaction, well, we want to talk with his agent—perhaps he would be interested in writing for Gizmodo. Wait, wait, just kidding. [Honda]

Box Converts XM-Ready Cars to Sirius-Ready Temples of Howard Stern

Brian Lam — Wed, 15 Aug 2007 19:10:44 EDT

The honkin' GM Sirius box, which replaces the XM box currently found in most XM-enabled GM cars 2003 and newer. This new Sirius box is compatible with about 8 million cars on the road. There are boxes from Directed that do the same for Hondas, Toyotas and Lexus autos, too.

Multiple Speech Recognition To Make Sex Dolls More Fun

Haroon Malik — Sun, 29 Jul 2007 10:45:13 EDT

Kyoto University and the Honda Research Institute Japan have collaborated to form the Robot Audition Project. They are at present making some very impressive ground; they have developed an advanced speech recognition technology that has the capability to understand multiple, unique speech inputs, whilst computing their meaning independently.

The efforts of the team are coming to fruition now, following years of research in the field. They have been able to integrate the multiple speech recognition with enhanced existing technologies. This has allowed robots to recognise the direction and hence categorise speech input qualitatively according to each individual.

The team has already incorporated the developments into the much-loved Honda Asimo and another robot called Robovie R2, seen in the video.

The practical applications are staggering, but surly the most pertinent is being able to finally have a well-communicated, meaningful threesome with your two sex doll robots. You sicko. Hit the video to see it in action. (The technology, not the threesome. You sicko). [Technabob]

$5,700 Formula One Seiko Sportura Ultimate Kinetic Chrono

Wilson Rothman — Tue, 22 May 2007 14:35:36 EDT

F1 racers are lucky sons o' guns. They make more than baseball players, get first pick of the hottest Euro models, drive really really fast without fear of the highway patrol, and get cool special edition crap. Seiko just unveiled this year's Honda special edition Sportura Ultimate Kinetic Chrono, and announced that in addition to the drivers and crew, you can get your hands on one if you've got $5,700 and, presumably, some good Seiko connections. Only 750 will be made, and every one will ship in the packaging you can see in the gallery, complete with an actual gear from a Honda F1 car. Hopefully, it's not a part that one of the drivers will need. – Wilson Rothman

Hybrid Concepts From Toyota and Honda Roll Out at Geneva Auto Show

Charlie White — Wed, 07 Mar 2007 10:15:53 EST

Well, well. Look what those Japanese automakers are playing around with in the hybrid arena. On the left is what some wags are saying could be the next Toyota Prius, but for now it's called the Hybrid X concept, loved by many but called such epithets as "jellybean" and "suppository" by others. Inside this concept car—but maybe not ever making it to the open road in the real world—are electronically-opening doors, energy-efficient LED lights throughout, drive-by-wire steering and touchscreens all over the place. Check out our friends at Jalopnik's extensive gallery of this science fiction-like prototype.

On the right as Honda's creatively named Small Hybrid Sports Concept. It has front wheel drive and was designed by Honda's European research and development center. There was little other information about this little pocket rocket, but you can see more of it in this gallery. More about these hybrids versus electrics, after the jump:

Both of these concepts stick with the combination of internal combustion engine and electric motor, but we were hoping for plug-in models, or completely electric cars such as the Tesla Roadster.

Even though hybrids seem like a great idea, they're still guzzling fossil fuels from countries that hate America, and then, well, those batteries might cause more problems than they solve when it's time to dispose of them. So we're thinking maybe the solution is for all of us to work at home instead of driving so much. Or ride bicycles. – Charlie White

Honda Small Hybrid Sports Concept and Toyota Hybrid X Concept [Jalopnik]

Laptop Fails to Save Life in Hummer Crash, Nobody Is Surprised

www.gizmodo.com — Wed, 28 Feb 2007 04:31:17 EST

Apparently, the news is that while laptops can save you from a bullet and still work, they can't save you from a ~~military-grade~~ absurdly giganormous SUV. Like the notebook found in a computer teacher's Honda following a fatal crash with a Hummer. That too was still working. Unlike the teacher. Incidents like this make us ask questions such as: what is the deadly element here? ~~Humvee~~ Hummer, laptop, moron or Windows Vista? – Jesus Diaz

Cops Eye Laptop In Calif. Collision [CBS News]

Honda HS1132TA Full-Auto Snowblower: Destroys Snowdrifts

Brian Lam — Mon, 26 Feb 2007 13:38:07 EST

The best thing about being snowed into a remote Tahoe cabin, low on food, with dog slow internet? Getting to decimate some snow drifts with this fire engine red, 11HP, tank-treaded snowblower, complete with headlight, and fully adjustable chute (which doubles as a snow cannon when friends come within range). I cleared a 200 foot strip of hard snowdrift as wide as a car, and 2-feet high in about 40 minutes. When the highway opens and the local roads are clear, we're as good as home. We just have to hope we can outrun the 3-feet of scheduled blizzard about to dump on our heads in the next 12 hours.

Improvements I'd like to see an integrated chair, as the added body weight would help traction in deep powder, and a flame thrower nozzle system up front for getting through the more difficult patches. Maybe while I'm at it, I should ask for a 4 seater version I can ride all the way down the mountain. Maybe someone over at MAKE can rig a roomba brain into this thing. What are you plowing with this winter?– Brian Lam
P.S. Send help!

HS1132TA Snowblower [Honda]

Honda Civic Del Sol X-Wing Starfighter

Travis Hudson — Mon, 22 Jan 2007 18:24:37 EST

Hot diggity damn. This Honda Del Sol was completely converted into a X-Wing Starfighter from Star Wars. Good thing the Del Sol is only a two-seater because there would be no way to haul around all of the babes in this ride. Hit the link for more pictures. –Travis Hudson

One Geek to Rule Them All [Trigger]

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]

Honda ASIMO Vs Banana Peel...Again

Brian Lam — Tue, 12 Dec 2006 21:45:39 EST

Oh Noes. Not again!

I also have a video of the reporter who eventually went on to program the ASIMO stair algorithm:

–Brian Lam

Honda ASIMO Vs. Slippery Stairs

Brian Lam — Mon, 11 Dec 2006 08:05:37 EST

FF to the 1-minute mark to see Honda's ASIMO robot tumbling down some stairs like someone in the nosebleed seats sniped him with an EMP. If you look closely, you can see its featureless mirrored face shatter on the hard floor of the stage. The Lesson: When they come to put our little meaty heads on electric spears, retreat to the second floor and wait for reinforcements.–Brian Lam

Digital World Tokyo [Tokyo]

Insanity: Four GPS Navs Shouting From One Dashboard

Brian Lam — Mon, 16 Oct 2006 16:22:28 EDT

The voices in Charlie's head are nothing compared to the cacophony coming from his dashboard. Take a look at this video, where you can hear the voices of four GPS units as he test which tell us to turn soonest. The smooth-sounding male voice is that of the Honda Civic Hybrid's built-in GPS unit, the robotic male voice is the Garmin, the smooth and sexy-sounding female voice is the Cobra NavOne, and the other female voice is the Mio. Between all the yapping, its hard to tell which one was a better backseat driver, so hit up our full reviews here.–Brian Lam

GPS Gang Bang [Giz]

Honda GPS Adds Weather Conditions, Social Networking

Charlie White — Mon, 16 Oct 2006 12:03:48 EDT

Honda takes GPS navigation to the next level, planning to add weather data and social networking to its upcoming factory-installed car navi systems. It connects to the Japanese InterNavi Premium Club, showing you what the weather is like wherever you are, and what it will be like on your proposed route. There's also a social networking service (SNS), where you can bookmark establishments such as restaurants and hotels, letting other subscribers know about your experiences there.

The system will be available in Japan first, but we're hoping this will be the next step for all GPS units. What a great idea, to have digital footprints from those who have gone before, letting you know where the good restaurants are, and also letting you know where the bad weather is. – Charlie White

GPS with weather info and social networking system on Honda cars [Akihabara News]

Honda Getting Into the Mini-Jet Business with its HondaJet

Charlie White — Wed, 26 Jul 2006 13:56:18 EDT

Honda has been working for over 20 years on its HondaJet, and now has decided to go into business with Piper Aircraft to sell the six-passenger (plus one pilot) mini-jet by 2010. The company says it will start taking orders this Fall for the jet (seen here in its custom Gizmodo livery), which will cost somewhere between $1.5 million and $4 million.

This little pocket rocket has already flown at 43,000 feet at a speed of 450mph. And in the grand tradition of Honda automobiles, it's 5% more fuel-efficient than its competitors, according to Michimasa Fujino, a vice president of Honda Research and Development Americas, who has led the jet's development. Plus, the jet's wing-mounted engines makes its interior the roomiest in its class.

Looks like just the right size to fit our intrepid Gizmodo team, taking us on necessary adventures far and wide. Note to self: order one asap. – Charlie White

Honda And Piper Take To The Skies On A Wing, A Prayer And A HondaJet [Jalopnik]

Honda Adding a Jet, a Six-Passenger Model, to Its Lineup [New York Times]

Honda Stays Cool, Old Skool

Charlie White — Thu, 20 Jul 2006 12:26:26 EDT

Everybody's trying to stay cool this summer, and Honda is resorting to old-school low-tech for its Ohio plant, cooling it with good old-fashioned ice. During off-hours, at night when power is cheaper, they're using two 450-ton chillers to make huge blocks of ice, and then they're using them to cool off the air all day as the ice melts.

Sounds like a great way to store coolness at the lowest cost, and the company says the system will pay for itself in savings over three years. The greenies like it too, because it doesn't use any environmentally unfriendly gases such as freon. Everybody wins. – Charlie White

Honda Cools Off with Ice [treehugger]

Competition Winner: 3145 Miles Per Gallon

Charlie White — Fri, 23 Jun 2006 12:47:15 EDT

We like to ooo and ahh over gadget-y cars like the Honda Civic Hybrid and Toyota Prius, especially when rumors swirl about turbocharged engines getting 100 miles per gallon. But then we saw this winner of the SAE Super Mileage Competition, a car which racked up a jaw-dropping 3145 miles per gallon. This is a particularly amazing feat, because it's nearly twice as efficient as its predecessor: the same Canadian team won the competition last year with a 1600mpg car.

Just think, this car could drive from New York to L.A. on a gallon of gas. Plus, it looks damn cool. I guess Canadians aren't that bad after all. – Charlie White

Stick Your Fossil Fuel, Eh? Canadian Students Build 3,145-mpg Car [Jalopnik]

Honda: Fuel Cell Vehicle In Three to Four Years

Charlie White — Thu, 08 Jun 2006 14:15:28 EDT

While Honda was distracting everyone with its first-rate Civic Hybrid, behind its back it was putting together a hydrogen fuel cell car it says will be ready for consumers "in three to four years."

The company says the car will run on simple hydrogen and its only apparent byproduct will be a few drops of distilled water. Thinking of everything, Honda is also creating a special in-home fuel production plant fueled by natural gas. But wait a minute. Natural gas is just another fossil fuel. Why is this better than using gasoline? Plus, Honda didn't mention the price of such a vehicle. – Charlie White

Honda: Fuel-Cell Vehicles On the Road by 2010 [Sci Fi Tech]

History of Humanoids, Part I

Charlie White — Wed, 31 May 2006 12:36:51 EDT

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? – Charlie White

Man's Dream Takes First Step Forward [Honda, via OhGizmo]

Rumor: Honda Fit Hybrid?

Joel — Wed, 22 Feb 2006 11:56:02 EST

Though we usually leave the car news to our strapping brother Jalopnik, there is hardly a more gadgety car than the rumored hybrid version of the miniscule Honda Fit. While Honda has publicly denied the story by Japanese daily newspaper Nihon Keizai, the report says that Honda will launch the sub-Civic-sized hybrid by 2007 in Japan for a price in the neighborhood of $12,000.

As Mobile Mag notes, if the hybrid Fit were launched in the US, it would be the cheapest available hybrid vehicle by a few thousand dollars.

Honda to sell low-cost hybrid car in 2007/08: paper [Reuters via Mobile Mag]

Gizmodo Video Review: Honda Civic Hybrid, Part 2 - iPod On Board

Charlie White — Thu, 09 Feb 2006 08:57:23 EST

Here s part 2 of our 2006 Honda Civic Hybrid review, where Gizmodo s Charlie White shows you the iPod-compatible components that are part of the DVD-based navigation system inside this newly-redesigned hybrid vehicle. There s now an optional iPod Music Link installed, and you ll see how that works along with the rest of this versatile but flawed sound system.

Honda FCX Fuel Cell Vehicle to Go Into Production

Charlie White — Tue, 07 Feb 2006 13:45:40 EST

Honda announced it will began building a new fuel cell vehicle, with the first Honda FCX model hydrogen-powered fuel cell car rolling off the assembly line within three or four years. Along with unique ways of arranging the fuel cells within the vehicle, Honda also dreamed up an idea for obtaining the hydrogen necessary to fuel this baby.

Called the Home Energy Station, it gins up hydrogen right there in your garage, converting it from readily-available natural gas. Not only would you be able to use that hydrogen for the vehicle, you could also use it in fuel cells that would provide electricity for your house as well. Tanks positioned under the car s trunk will hold enough hydrogen to keep its fuel cells humming for 350 miles. Honda says this system can save 50% on not only vehicle fuel bills, but household electricity, too.

By the way, also inside the Honda FCX concept car at the Detroit Auto Show was a 3D-rendering navigation system, whose point of view hovers at street level when you're turning, but returns to a bird s-eye view for long cruises. If the production vehicle is anywhere near as spectacular as this concept car, this I gotta see. No pricing available yet.

Hydrogen-Powered Honda FCX to go Into Production [Automotive News]

Video Review: 2006 Honda Civic Hybrid

Charlie White — Fri, 03 Feb 2006 09:00:00 EST

Here s a little piece of technology you might be interested in seeing. It's the new Honda Civic Hybrid for 2006. The vehicle has been completely redesigned, and it has lots of great technology inside. We road tested a fully-loaded model with a DVD-based GPS navigation system onboard. With all the options, the thing costs just north of $25K. Is it worth it? Take a look at this video review from Gizmodo correspondent Charlie White:

Honda's Monkey Limited

johnb — Tue, 10 Jan 2006 11:11:05 EST

Gizmodo Japan - Honda s 50cc leisure motor bike aka Monkey first appeared in 1967. It is small, but carries a 4 stroke engine is beloved by many and looks like something Yoshi would ride. This year, Honda is going to sell 3000 special model Monkey Limited (BA-AB27) . Most of it, like the tank and the fender, are chrome plated and engraved. It is equipped with solid "Monkey" emblem and two-tone seat in silver and black. It will sell for $2260 and I want one so I can flip over on it and make it onto America's Funniest Home Videos.

Product Page [Honda]

Honda Gives Thumbs Up For Solar Power

tgrumet — Tue, 20 Dec 2005 14:14:26 EST

Go, Honda, go! Green is good these days and Honda wants to help save the environment by announcing its plans to start mass-producing solar cells for both residential and industrial use. The plant, which will be on the site of a car plant on the southwestern Japanese island of Kyushu, should be able to generate sales of about $40 million to $70 million and power about 8,000 households at its full annual capacity. The cells will be made of non-silicon compound materials that are more energy-efficient to manufacture—they're said to consume half as much energy and generate 50 percent less carbon dioxide during production.

Honda Says to Mass-Produce Solar Cells from 2007 [Reuters]

Asimo Robot Can Now Fetch Coffee

tgrumet — Tue, 13 Dec 2005 06:42:48 EST

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.

There are tons of HDTV videos of Asimo in action—see the list after the jump...

Product Page
[Thanks Bram!]

New ASIMO Running at 6km/h (00:35) video

New ASIMO Turning on the Spot (00:22) video

New ASIMO Greeting Passers-By (00:24) video

New ASIMO Walking with a Tray (00:31) video

New ASIMO Operating a Cart (01:26) video

New ASIMO Running while Cornering (00:57) video

New ASIMO Exercising (00:44) video

New ASIMO Walking Hand-in-Hand (01:16) video

New ASIMO Receiving and Delivering a Tray (01:15) video

New ASIMO IC Tele-Interaction Card (00:25) video

New ASIMO Interaction with Distancing (00:44) video

New ASIMO Interaction with Recognition (00:22) video

New ASIMO in an Office (01:03) video

New ASIMO Pushing a Cart (05:21) video

New ASIMO Running at 6km/h (Slow Motion) (00:26) video

New ASIMO - Comparison of Running Speed (00:20) video

The Week in Cars - The Best of Jalopnik

Travis Hudson — Mon, 14 Nov 2005 15:00:45 EST

This week in Jalopnik: A luxury wheelmaker offers a free Bentley with a set of gem-encrusted rims; XM Satellite builds our dream traffic app; design students compete to design a killer Ferrari prototype; we review Honda's newest (and wonkiest) Civic; a Michigan man redeems the honor of a lost hot rod legend of the '60s; a German carpenter carves a full-sized classic Mercedes out of wood; and BMW is the first to launch a car that uses a new, high-speed data standard.

Dropping the word "bling" into conversation (or a column) may be as tired as "Will and Grace," but the concept of blingage has never been more blindingly alive. In what could be the long-lost eighth sign of the apocalypse, luxury wheel brand Asanti has introduced a set of diamond-encrusted 22-inch rims that cost a million bucks for a set of four. Here's the upside — they come with a free, $150,000 Bentley Continental GT. Wither, Marie Antoinette?

XM Satellite Radio is working on a system with which drivers in urban areas can find available parking spaces. Sensors embedded in private parking lots will detect whether or not a space is in use, and that data is conveyed to drivers via their navigation systems. Still, the system won't be a truly killer app until cities embed the sensors into public parking spaces. That's when we'll show up at XM's office with cake, to say the least.

Students from top auto design schools are competing to come up with the most compelling new Ferrari design. It's a contest sponsored by Ferrari and Pininfarina — "Ferrari: new concepts for the myth" — and the students are from Art Center College of Design in Pasadena, Tokyo Communication Arts, Coventry University School of Art and Design, and the European Institute of Design in Turin. The winners will receive an internship at Ferrari or Pininfarina.

According to our own Robert Farago, the recently redesigned Honda Civic could bet the first car designed for the vid kids, the "first mainstream motor to reflect, represent and personify the Playstation Generation s digitized automotive sensibilities." Bloop.

Ed "Big Daddy" Roth s Mysterion was once one of the most recognizable custom cars from the radical 1960s hot rod generation. But the cycloptic beast didn't stand the test of decades; the lost machine likely turned to dust in the back of some defunct SoCal garage. But one Roth fan set about to recreate the Mysterion, only with a build quality exceeding that of, say, a paper-towel holder from Target. He did it.

Not all replicists, of course, aim for perfection. Some switch media and just keep right on going. One seriously skilled carpenter from Germany, Udo Haase, carved a replica of the famed Mercedes 300SL gullwing out of pine, just for the hell of it. And we couldn't even finish that baseball-card box in shop class.

And finally, BMW will be the first to apply a new data-transfer standard to a new car. The company's next X5 will be fitted with a suspension-damping application that uses the new FlexRay high-speed data transfer system. That system, developed by a consortium of carmakers and electronics suppliers, will likely form the infrastructure of new drive-by-wire functions that will one day replace mechanical systems for acceleration and braking. The X5's use of it is a kind of soft launch, a dry run to see how close to a zero failure rate can be achieved.

[Jalopnik s The Week in Cars appears every Friday (normally, but Monday today)]

The Week in Cars - The Best of Jalopnik

Travis Hudson — Fri, 28 Oct 2005 15:30:31 EDT

This week in Jalopnik: A Renault F1 car performs a Queen hit; Israeli scientists theorize an in-car system that produces its own fuel; Honda (and nearly every other car company) looks toward a spark-plugless future for gas engines; Hummer builds a buggy, and the F d ration Internationale de l'Automobile (FIA) proposes a new aerodynamic wing for Formula One cars that would make passing easier.

Engineers from Renault's 2005 Formula One team weren't merely happy they had broken Ferrari's six-year domination of the series' Constructors Championship; let's just say they were deliriously nerdy. To celebrate the win, they put one of their V10-powered cars on a dynamometer, and programmed the engine management software to play Queen's "We Are the Champions" using the differing tones of various RPMs as notes in the scale. Luckily the aerodynamics group didn't win the coin toss, or else we'd be hearing an MP3 of "Wind Beneath My Wings."

Scientists in Israel have come up with a novel way to supply hydrogen to power fuel-cell cars. Using concepts from the chemistry of metals, they designed an in-car system that separates Hydrogen out of heated water using Magnesium and Aluminum. The system, still in the theoretical stages, will need more extensive testing and lots more money (to build a working prototype) to determine whether it can produce more energy than it would require to run.

Could it be time to short spark plugs on COMEX? Honda and other automakers are working various forms of homogeneous charge compression ignition (HCCI) engines, in which ignition occurs by cylinder compression - like in a diesel engine — not spark plugs. Such engines require less fuel to run, and emit fewer fluorocarbons, but need a bag of Ruffles' worth of microchips to calculate the heat required for optimum power and adjust exhaust-valve timing to minutely compensate for changes in fuel composition, as well as engine and external temperatures. Yeah, we're talking about a ways off for these suckers.

Sun-worshiping fans of squarish SUVs may soon have something to trade in their Jeep Wranglers for. Hummer is reportedly working up a two-door ragtop, possibly called the H4, that could hit the market by 2008.

The governing body of Formula One Racing has proposed a new aerodynamic wing for F1 cars that would make passing maneuvers easier and more plentiful during races. As it turns out, 94% of viewers want to see more overtaking of cars, and less of the F1's typical follow-the-leader runs. Of course, the new wing would would allow for far less ad space, but we're figuring advertisers would rather have more viewers than more places to slap their logo. Just a thought.

[Jalopnik's The Week in Cars appears every Thursday]

Honda WOW Car - For Dogs

johnb — Wed, 05 Oct 2005 13:51:02 EDT

We're not big car folks here at Gizmodo, but I do love me some dogs. Put a dog in a car and you've got a dog+car=dar and when he sticks his little head out of a hole in the front of the car you're all like "Ahhhh! So CUTE!" and you're like "Can I pet it?" and the owner is like "No, we're training him to hate man." and you're all like "Huh" and you're really thinking "What a sick bastard."

Anyway, to recap: Dogs are cool. Honda makes cars. Honda is Japanese. This car has a dog carrying case. The Japanese need to get out more.

Honda "WOW" the dog friendly car [NewLaunches]