ASIMO Tours North America

ASIMO Tours North America
Posted :: Feb 26, 2005 by Haggs

The well known automobile manufacturer, Honda, has been working on the humanoid robot project since 1986. In 1986, engineers were just beginning to learn how to create a robot that could walk on two legs. From 1987 to 1993 the walking ability of a humanoid robot was enhanced to more closely emulate the way humans walk. Later, from 1993 to 1997 the engineers were able to add a head and body to the pair of legs. These robots, named P1, P2, and P3 began to take on a more human-like appearance. Finally, in October of 2000, the latest creation, the Advanced Step in Innovated Mobility or ASIMO, was produced. Since ASIMO's creation, it has been touring the world to educate audiences everywhere about the current state of robotic technology and the potential it has for the future of mankind. Currently, ASIMO is on tour in North America, and Absolute Insight staff was able to see the presentation during the stop at the University of Minnesota.

ASIMO's tour truck.

ASIMO - brought to you by Honda.
The presentation opened with a short video clip that described the history and evolution of robotics from the ancient egyptians to the present day. It also gave a short background on the humanoid robot project that has created ASIMO.

An anxious audiance awaits ASIMO's appearance.

All eyes on the screen.
After the clip was over, ASIMO walked through the doors and out onto the stage. With techno music blaring, it was quite an entrance. It's not often you see a four foot tall robot walking toward you.

ASIMO's frontside.

ASIMO stands next to a full grown man.

ASIMO is approximately 4 feet tall
ASIMO was intentionally designed to be 4 feet tall because this places it at eye level with someone in a wheel chair or sitting on the side of a bed. The motivation behind the robotics projects is to create robots for the benefit of mankind. Some of ASIMO's basic abilities include face, voice, and posture recognition, walking forward, backward and sideways, following someone, kicking a soccer ball, balancing on one foot, dancing, and even going up and down a flight of stairs. During the thirty minute presentation, the Honda staff showed off some examples such as checking the weather, picking up objects, acting as a traffic cop, or helping elderly people remember to take their pills.

ASIMO dances with some kids on stage

ASIMO is capable of walking up a flight of stairs.

ASIMO is also capable of finding his way back down.

Mission successful!
ASIMO's actions are made possible through a set of servomotors placed throughout the robot which allow it to adjust its center of mass on the fly. ASIMO also wears a backpack which contains a nickel-zinc batter that allows about 25 minutes of operation, an acceleration sensor, and an antenna so that it can be operated wirelessly. We reccomend you check out ASIMO if it is comming to a location near you. The known remaining tour dates and locations are provided below.

Mar 10-12, 2005
West Lafayette, Indiana
Purdue University

Mar 31 - Apr 2, 2005
Sacramento, California
California State University, Sacramento

For more information about ASIMO you can visit http://www.asimo.honda.com.