Fake car makes room for a fake ASIMO to be your fake driving companion

by Paul Miller

You know, we're realists, and we know deep down that cars in the future are going to drive themselves just fine without a humanoid robot to grab the controls and peer out of specially crafted front compartments. Even if a humanoid was doing the steering, he'd probably just jack into the car's full complement of cameras and sensors, merely using his CPU to plot a course from his comfy charging bay in the trunk. But we want to believe. Designer Derek Chik Kin Ng has come up with this Honda concept (one which we're guessing has no official collaboration with Honda) that packs a nice little front seat for your 8th gene ASIMO. The bot can hop out of the car and help you on your errands, make casual conversation as you drive, warn you of upcoming hazards, or take over controls when you're in the mood for some SpaceChess2000. Only thing he can't do? Actually exist.

Source;
http://www.engadget.com/2010/07/06/fake-car-makes-room-for-a-fake-asimo-to-be-your-fake-driving-com/

Honda's Asimo Can Now Copy Your Dance Moves

POSTED BY: Erico Guizzo / Fri, September 30, 2011
ASIMO, the Honda humanoid, one of the world's most loved robots, was showing off its dance moves this week at the 2011 IEEE International Conference on Intelligent Robots and Systems in San Francisco.

The robot was here to demonstrate some new tricks it's been learning from scientists at the Honda Research Institute in Mountain View, Calif.

Victor Ng-Thow-Hing, Behzad Dariush, and colleagues work with Asimo seeking to develop robotics technologies that can assist people, especially in terms of mobility.

In one demonstration, the scientists showed how Asimo can mimic a person's movements in real time. The researchers use Microsoft's Kinect 3D sensor to track selected points on a person's upper body, and their software uses an inverse kinematics approach to generate control commands to make Asimo move. The software prevents self collisions and excessive joint motions that might damage its system and is integrated with Asimo's whole-body controller in order to maintain balance. The researchers say that the ability of mimicking a person in real time could find applications in robot programming and interactive teleoperation, among other things.

In another demo, the scientists showed how they're using gestures to improve Asimo's communication skills. They're developing a gesture-generating system that takes any input text and analyzes its grammatical structure, timing, and choice of word phrases to automatically generate movements for the robot. To make the behavior more realistic, the scientists used a vision system to capture humans performing various gestures, and then they incorporated these natural movements into their gesture-generating system.

Here's a video showing these two demos:

Source (via www.autoblog.com);
http://spectrum.ieee.org/automaton/robotics/humanoids/asimo-can-copy-your-dance-moves?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+IeeeSpectrum+%28IEEE+Spectrum%29

Concept Artist Falarsimons creates a ASIMO Firefighter

Someday, in a not too distant future....

Source;

http://falarsimons.deviantart.com/art/Honda-s-Firetruck-with-asimo-30567872

Honda denies nuclear mission for robot

There was a report that Honda was going to outfit ASIMO with a few upgrades to help out in the disaster in Japan;

http://gizmodo.com/5830373/hondas-most-adorable-robot-is-about-to-go-nuclear

TOKYO — Japan's Honda has denied a press report it is hoping to retool its humanoid robot ASIMO to enable it to join emergency work inside the crippled Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant.



The Japanese newspaper Asahi Shimbun said in its Friday evening edition that Honda was aiming to upgrade the robot's upper body functions so that it can move its arms as smoothly as a human being.



US Honda spokeswoman Lauren Ebner said the report was "speculation."



"Although Honda hopes that ASIMO will someday be a helper to people, at this point the robot is solely a research and design project," Ebner said in a statement to AFP.



No official at Honda's head office in Tokyo was available for comment on Friday.



The current ASIMO, introduced in 2000 and resembling a small astronaut, stands 130 centimetres (4 feet 3 inches) tall. The bipedal bot can walk, run, carry trays, push carts and shake hands with people.



Asahi said that to work in the debris-strewn nuclear plant, ASIMO would likely be modified and fitted with tyres or caterpillar tracks.



The Fukushima plant has been leaking radiation from its reactors since its cooling systems were knocked out by the March 11 earthquake and tsunami. At some hotspots radiation is high enough to be lethal to humans.



Robots have already been used inside the plant to take video footage, including the US-made PackBot and Japanese-made Quince crawler robots.



Source;

http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5g7m9qLNugC96cUAu4BGNJPVA8Dxg?docId=CNG.1cc437d7d61fc59f3394a87a1a28abbb.171

NewCa.com: 2011 Honda's ASIMO at the Ontario Science Centre

Honda Produces Short Documentary About Its Work With Robots

I’ve just discovered today that Honda has a short film series about a variety of cool topics, created by award-winning documentarians. Of the most interest to me and this audience, of course, is probably the fantastic little short “Living With Robots”.

This short is directed by Joe Berlinger, who’s done quite a few interesting works, including Metallica: Some Kind of Monster, and Iconoclasts.

The focus of the piece is a pretty fascinating look at Honda’s work in robotics, in particular, its issues and research in producing a robot that walks. But it goes beyond that into exploring how to get humans to be comfortable living and working with robots in their day to day lives — especially when it comes to overcoming the “creepiness” factor.

You can check out the video below. It’s about 9 minutes, but it’s well worth your time:

Source;
http://blogs.forbes.com/alexknapp/2011/04/10/honda-produces-short-documentary-about-its-work-with-robots/

ASIMO Humanoid Receives Honor as World’s Most Advanced Humanoid Robot

Honda’s ASIMO (Advanced Step in Innovative Mobility) humanoid robot has set a new world record and has been honored as the World’s Most Advanced Humanoid Robot.

The ASIMO humanoid is part of Honda’s R&D initiatives in robotics and human mobility fields. The robot was developed at Honda's R&D Wako Fundamental Technical Research Center before ten years.

All joints of ASIMO include 34° of Freedom, enabling the robot to effectively respond to the natural human motions. It can identify various objects as well as the landscape of its environment. It can understand easy verbal instructions, identify faces and evades mobile obstacles as it moves.

The company launched several applications in the iphone and smartphone (A ‘Run with Asimo’) enabling users to communicate with a virtual ASIMO robot on their mobile.

The Honda engineers worked for ten years to develop the latest version. The robot can now walk and run on all irregular surfaces. It can even climb staircases and stretch to grab objects.

The ultimate mission of Honda’ robotics department is to enable ASIMO to help humans for performing their daily tasks and to carry out risky operations.

Source;
http://www.azorobotics.com/details.asp?newsID=902

Honda makes short film on robots

I will use any excuse to post this picture....
Instead of cranking out a few more commercials, Honda is taking a different approach. It's making short films about some pretty interesting, and varied, topics.

The one about robots is especially well done. It's basic message: Robots are here to help us, says the company that brought you Asimo, pictured above. We have nothing to fear. There. If robots take over the world, blame Honda.

The goal of the films, a far longer format than any ad, was "telling the story we are already telling within the walls of Honda," said Barbara Ponce, Honda's U.S. ad chief. Doing it through short films works because "there wasn't enough time to tell the story and it wasn't breaking through in the 30-second spots."

Source;
http://content.usatoday.com/communities/driveon/post/2010/11/honda-makes-short-film-on-robots/1

Honda’s Asimo Celebrates 10th Bipedal Anniversary

It’ll be ten years on the 31st of October since the day Honda Motor Company’s bipedal Asimo first successfully walked on his own two legs, and Honda plans to celebrate that special day with several events: Honda are creating a large collage and are soliciting submissions of photographs of people with Asimo or other Honda products, or drawings of Asimo; the Honda Welcome Plaza in Aoyama, Tokyo will have a five-day “Asimo Special Week” with demonstrations, conferences with the design team, and handshake events (like booksigning events in bookstores, except with robotic handshakes); and Honda will release an app called “Run with ASIMO” for smartphones (no details on which platform or platforms) which will let users ‘grow’ their own Asimos (by counting steps like a pedometer) and race Asimos between two smartphone users.

Source;
http://en.akihabaranews.com/67667/robot/hondas-asimo-celebrates-10th-bipedal-anniversary

HondaJet Program Update Released at 2010 NBAA

- Ground function testing underway on first conforming flight test aircraft
- Static stress testing in progress on second conforming aircraft
- Third conforming flight test aircraft in production
- Production cockpit and cabin released

Honda Aircraft Company, Inc., today released at the annual National Business Aviation Association (NBAA) convention an update to its HondaJet advanced light jet program, including the announcement of ground testing underway on its first conforming flight test aircraft and static structural stress testing in progress on its second conforming aircraft. Also announced was the commencement of assembly of its third conforming flight test aircraft.

With the installation of electrical, hydraulic, mechanical and environmental control systems, the first conforming flight test aircraft has entered the ground testing stage in preparation for first flight. Systems tests already completed on the conforming aircraft include, among others: oxygen, fuel tank and vapor cycle systems tests; landing gear deployment tests; steering and brake tests; flight control tests; power distribution tests; core navigation functions (VOR/ILS/GPS) tests; primary air data and attitude/heading sensor tests; and integrated avionic system functional tests. Additional tests completed at supplier facilities include: DC motor pump extreme environmental condition tests; hydraulic and electrical component tests; landing gear actuator vibration tests; landing gear drop tests; and crew and cabin seat crash tests.

Exterior treatment of the first conforming flight test aircraft also is complete with the application of a new HondaJet paint scheme. Featuring a metallic silver-over-white profile combined with a distinctive sweeping fuselage stripe in dark metallic gray, the aircraft sports a bisecting white and dark metallic gray combination stripe extending from its nose over the upper fuselage, further enhancing the HondaJet's unique image of dynamic performance.

Assembly of the second conforming aircraft - to be used for static structural stress testing - was completed in July. Following control surfaces FAA testing, including rudder and elevator tests, static structural stress tests of the entire aircraft have commenced and included: 100% limit-load wing tests; 100% limit-load horizontal stabilizer tests; wing stiffness tests; landing gear load tests; pylon stiffness tests; and fuselage pressure tests. Static structural stress testing has been undertaken at Honda Aircraft Company's R&D facility on its Greensboro, North Carolina, campus.

"In addition to the more than 500 flight hours we have accumulated on the proof of concept HondaJet, the successful completion of this robust range of static structural stress tests on the conforming aircraft significantly reinforces the advantages of the HondaJet's advanced design," said Michimasa Fujino, Honda Aircraft Company's President and CEO.

All static structural stress tests are conducted utilizing Honda's advanced structural test system. The system incorporates 61 hydraulic actuators and a 2,600-channel data acquisition system within a structural test fixture designed exclusively for HondaJet testing. The entire aircraft can be tested simultaneously to prove static and fatigue strength under various flight- and ground-load conditions. Testing will continue on static test aircraft as the HondaJet program moves through the certification process. The fourth conforming aircraft will be used for fatigue testing scheduled for 2012.

Honda is now focused on assembly of the third conforming aircraft to be used for flight testing of mechanical systems. The fuselage and empennage for this aircraft have been completed, while the wing assembly nears completion. Final assembly of this aircraft is scheduled to begin soon at Honda's R&D facility on its Greensboro campus.

Testing of aircraft systems on conforming flight test aircraft are supported through the implementation of Honda's industry-leading Advanced Systems Integration Test Facility (ASITF). Honda's ASITF confirms before first flight the integration of the aircraft's electrical, avionics, mechanical and flight control systems, including stall warning protection systems (SWPS) and rudder bias systems (RBS). The HondaJet ASITF incorporates a fully representative primary flight control system with a high-fidelity control-loading system.

The HondaJet ASITF also incorporates actual aircraft systems hardware and software, installed in a spatially-representative manner and interconnected with actual aircraft electrical harnesses. Additional simulation capabilities have been integrated to provide real-time simulation of navigation RF data, including GPS.

"Honda's Advanced Systems Integration Test Facility is a powerful tool that will support the most efficient development and certification process possible for the HondaJet. By effectively identifying any developmental issues at the earliest possible stages of the process, our ASITF system will support an accelerated program momentum and, ultimately, help us create the best possible aircraft," said Fujino.

At this year's NBAA, Honda released HondaJet production cockpit and cabin designs featuring production parts, reflecting the quality of materials, colors and finishes to be available in delivery aircraft. The HondaJet's cockpit design has been updated to reflect the maturity of Honda's human factors engineering efforts and flight test evaluations.

Concurrent with the ongoing assembly of flight test aircraft, construction of the HondaJet production facility on the company's Greensboro campus is quickly nearing completion. The 250,000 ft2 production facility is now in the final phase of construction, with interior build-out well underway. The facility is scheduled for completion in early 2011, at which time pre-production preparations and training of production staff will begin. Upon completion, the production facility's two state-of-the-art painting facilities will be utilized to support finishing of additional conforming aircraft, thereby supplementing the painting capacity of Honda's R&D facility on campus. In addition, the HondaJet production facility will incorporate Flight Safety International Level-D, full-motion flight simulators for training of all HondaJet pilots and crew.

Also at this year's NBAA, Honda will conduct demonstrations of its advanced humanoid robot ASIMO to showcase the company's commitment to enhancing and expanding human mobility for the benefit of society. In addition to the design and development of automobiles, motorcycles and power equipment products, Honda's innovative research and development efforts during the past decade have yielded such diverse outcomes as humanoid robotics, walking assist devices, HondaJet, fuel cell electric vehicle technology, thin film solar cells, increased rice crop yields and functional nano-materials.

Based on its belief in the value of technology to address the needs of society, Honda's mission is to develop products that anticipate and satisfy the evolving needs of its customers while meeting society's demand for cleaner, safer, more efficient and sustainable means of transportation and human mobility.

About HondaJetHonda Aircraft Company, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Honda Motor Company, Ltd., began sales of the advanced and innovative HondaJet in October 2006 in the U.S. and has amassed orders for well over 100 aircraft. Scheduled for first delivery in the third quarter of 2012, the $4.5 million HondaJet is Honda's first-ever commercial aircraft and lives up to the company's reputation for dynamic performance together with superior efficiency. The HondaJet proof-of-concept aircraft has accumulated more than 500 flight test hours and attained both a top speed of 420 knots (483 mph) and a maximum altitude of 43,000 ft. in flight testing.

The HondaJet incorporates many innovative technological advances in aviation design, including a unique over-the-wing engine-mount configuration that dramatically improves aircraft performance and fuel efficiency by significantly reducing aerodynamic drag in flight. This innovative approach to airframe design also lowers ground-detected noise when overhead and allows for a more spacious cabin and greater cargo capacity. The HondaJet is powered by two highly fuel-efficient GE Honda HF120 turbofan jet engines.

The production HondaJet flight deck features a Honda-customized Garmin® G3000 next-generation all-glass avionics system incorporating a class-leading layout with three 14-inch landscape-format displays and dual touch-screen controllers for overall avionics control and flight plan entries. The HondaJet Avionics Suite is the most advanced glass flight deck available in any light business jet and provides state-of-the-art integrated avionics functionality featuring split screen MFD capability, satellite weather, graphical synoptics, digital audio, and optional Synthetic Vision.

Learn more about HondaJet at www.hondajet.com.

Source;
http://www.hondanews.com/channels/corporate-headlines/releases/hondajet-program-update-released-at-2010-nbaa

Honda Conducts European Public Research to Perfect Human-Robot Interaction

Living with HUMANOID Robots

HONDA CONDUCTS EUROPEAN PUBLIC research to perfect
Human-Robot INTERACTION

A research project will be conducted this week in Linz, Austria, to discover what the ideal interaction between people and humanoid robots ought to be in the future, Honda R&D and Ars Electronica Futurelab announced today. The research, the first of its kind in Europe, will involve members of the public directly interacting with ASIMO, Honda's humanoid robot.

The findings from this and similar research around the world will be integrated into the functionality of future versions ASIMO. It will also help realise a humanoid robot that can interact effortlessly with people in a living environment and take on some the tasks that would help make people's lives easier.

For nearly a quarter of a century Honda has made significant progress towards this goal. The latest generation of this research is Honda's ASIMO, widely regarded as the most advanced humanoid robot. ASIMO, which stands for Advanced Step in Innovative MObility, features functionality including high-level mobility and an ability to give and receive objects.

Satoshi Shigemi, Large Project Leader of ASIMO development, Honda R&D Co., Ltd., said:

"This is an exciting collaboration for us with Ars Electronica Futurelab, which has a long history of investigating human-machine interaction and design. It is a significant milestone in our development of ASIMO and an important piece of human-robot interaction research to examine the diverse levels of robot acceptance and interaction around the world. We've already held research in Japan and in time we will conduct similar research in different cultures and different parts of the world."

He added: "The aim of this research is to better understand what the ideal interaction and communication between people and humanoid robots ought to be in the future. People need to be able to comfortably communicate with the robot so that it can react properly to their commands and carry out their wishes when assistance is needed."

The collaborative research with members of the public visiting the Ars Electronica Center will take place from the 2nd to 8th September 2010 during the Ars Electronica Festival in Linz, Austria. Leading experts from around the globe in the fields of robotics, futurology and design will gather at the Festival.

Source;
http://www.hondanews.eu/en/news/index.pmode/modul,detail,0,1579-DEFAULT,21,text,1/index.pmode

Robot Wars: Osaka Tower Robot Versus Honda Asimo

Japan's Tsutenkaku Robot, a rather unwieldy construction based on Osaka's Tsutenkaku Tower, was recently shown off in Tokyo's Akihabara district. During the robot's exhibition, the developers brought the robot over to a nearby store for a photo opportunity with Honda's Asimo robot.

Weighing in at around 66 pounds and 5 feet 7 inches tall, the robot's main function is to promote tourism to Osaka, thus its limited feature set can be excused as it hobbles around Japan Frankestein-like. You can see video of the Tsutenkaku Robot in action here.

Source;
http://dvice.com/archives/2010/04/robot-wars-osak.php

P4: Honda’s Asimo humanoid gets a re-design after 13 year [Update: No, he doesn't]

Honda’s Asimo is probably the world’s most famous humanoid robot. The company today leaked the first technical details and pictures of the fourth version of Asimo, the P4. And the new and improved Asimo, which took 13 years for Honda to develop (P3 was unveiled in 1997), looks much more elegant and human astronaut-like than the previous models.

Standing 160cm tall, Asimo is probably only second in height to “tower robot” Tsutenkaku. P4 is as tall as P3, but Honda managed to reduce his weight from 130kg to 80kg. He now has 34 joints (two more joints in each hand than P3) and is said to be able to dance better than his predecessors (“dancing” was always one of Asimo’s special skills).

Update: Sorry readers, it looks as if P4 is just being publicly displayed in a museum in Japan, and Honda isn’t planning to manufacture the robot currently. We’ll tell you when they do.

Source;
http://www.crunchgear.com/2010/03/23/p4-honda’s-asimo-humanoid-gets-a-re-design-after-13-years/

Honda Technology Connects Brain with Robotics

"The circle is now complete. When I left you, I was but the learner; now *I* am the master."
A new device developed in Japan by Honda Motor Company can analyze thought patterns and actually relays them as wireless commands.

Straight out of a science fiction tale, now opening a car trunk or even controlling a home air-conditioner becomes merely a thought.

Honda’s robot is known as Asimo. Shaped like a human, it receives wireless commands via electric currents on a person’s scalp. Asimo can also decipher changes in cerebral blood flow whenever a person thinks about four movements; namely, moving the right hand, moving the left hand, running and eating.

According to Honda, a leader in the field of robotics, the technology is not quite ready for a live demonstration and is still in research stages for a number of reasons. Distractions in a person’s thinking could offset Asimo, and brain patterns differ greatly among individuals, which means advance study of at least two years is required in order for the technology to function. Also, the reading device needs to be smaller so it can be portable.

A recent video reveals a man wearing a helmet that is seated and thinking about moving his right hand. His thought is transmitted to the robot by cords attached to his head inside the helmet. It took a few seconds, but then Asimo, dutifully programmed to respond to brain signals, lifted its right arm.

Yasuhisa Arai, executive at Honda Research Institute had this to say regarding the project:
“I’m talking about dreams today. Practical uses are still way into the future. Our products are for people to use. It is important for us to understand human behavior. We think this is the ultimate in making machines move.”

Deciphering brain patterns represents an important breakthrough in medical research. All over the world, scientists are attempting to unlock the mysteries of the human brain, but Honda believes its research in the field is among the most advanced and least invasive anywhere.

Embedding the necessary sensors under the skin is a painless procedure that is easily tolerated. The Japanese government is encouraging this robotic research as it sees the industry as a path to growth.

Asimo is a Honda celebrity, appearing in television ads and at various public events. He fascinates all who view him, but as of yet, he cannot sign autographs. Hopefully that day will some soon.

Source;
http://www.ethiopianreview.com/news/8027

ASIMO Turns 9; Parties like a Robot

This is one case where we can't improve on the caption: "Ketch and Hiro-pon, members of the Japanese pantomime group Gamarjobat, take part in a promotional ninth birthday party for Japanese auto giant Honda Motor's humanoid robot Asimo."

Source;
http://jalopnik.com/5394839/honda-asimo-turns-nine-parties-like-a-robot

Honda’s Asimo Controlled by the Human Brain

That's right ASIMO, pick up the lightsabre, now see Toyota's headquarters? Here's what I want you to do.....
While it may seem that technology takes two steps back before it takes a half step forward (see: talking and singing wall fish,) there is hope for us yet. That is, there is hope that we will soon have our own robots that we can control with our minds!

Don’t get too excited. While a future filled with robot slaves doing our laundry while we sit around and get lazier and more inactive is a possibility, the company behind this technology is looking at more practical operations like opening a car trunk or turning on the air conditioning.
That’s right folks, our favorite Honda Motor Company designed robot Asimo is back and he’s ready to do our bidding. As long as you have one of those fancy helmets that are programmed to read patterns of electric currents in your head and changes in cerebral blood flow. The helmet and Asimo are prepared to handle some of the more basic functions of life; moving the right hand, moving the left hand, running and eating. Currently, the technology is just at the beginning stages. It takes several hours to essentially program a users brain activity to the robot and helmet, so it knows what it’s looking for. This is due to everyone being different and thinking different.

The company did admit that they are at the “dream” stage of the project, but were hopeful that someday cars would drive themselves - controlled by the power of the brain. I think it’s a pretty safe guess that the first brain controlled vehicle will be produced by Honda.
Now if they only made one of these helmets we could use to control our kids…
via: China Daily News

Source;
http://www.wired.com/geekdad/2009/05/hondas-asimo-controlled-by-the-human-brain/

Honda robot spices up Insight launch in Europe

By Chang-Ran Kim, Asia autos correspondent

GENEVA (Reuters Life!) - Don't tell the boss, but Honda Motor Co may have managed to successfully replace its chief executive with a humanoid robot.

At least, that is, to show off the latest addition to Honda's car line-up at the Geneva auto show on Tuesday.

Like virtually all other carmakers, Honda is looking to save cash anywhere it can as plummeting vehicle sales hammer profits.

So instead of calling a press conference with the top brass attending, which is common practice at international motor shows, Japan's No.2 automaker employed its four-feet-tall robot Asimo to introduce the Insight hybrid, which will go on sale in Europe this month.

"I'm really interested in hybrid technology," the bubble-headed robot said in a boyish voice after being introduced by a Honda spokesman at the company's booth at the show.

Asimo, who normally resides in a studio in Brussels, is scheduled to do several shows a day when the Geneva auto show opens to the public later this week.

"It was cheaper than flying the CEO over from Tokyo for the show," said Shigeki Endo, a spokesman for Honda.

Another spokesman said both the Insight hybrid car and Asimo were "the result of the dream and hard work" of engineers at Honda, which is looking to make a business out of selling humanoid robots one day to assist the elderly or do simple work around the office, such as distributing mail.

During a 20-minute presentation for journalists Asimo fetched two green teas and stood diligently by the Insight on the stage as the spokesman chatted with an engineer about the merits of Honda's first low-cost hybrid car.

After some specifications were rattled off including the car's top speed of 189 km (117 miles) per hour, Asimo waved both hands in a plea for attention.

"I also run on batteries, and my top speed is impressive too," he said.

When Asimo was invited to perform, the robot walked to the front of the stage, loosened up his knees and ankles and dashed across the stage at 6 km/hour -- a record for his kind.

Source;
http://www.reuters.com/article/GCA-autos/idUSTRE5227QH20090303

Honda Adds 360° Look at ASIMO Robot’s Technology Online

Here's a look into what makes ASIMO tick....
ASIMO, which stands for Advanced Step in Innovative Mobility, is being developed to help people and someday assist the elderly and disabled in their homes. But while Honda continues to develop and enhance ASIMO's capabilities, the robot is being used today to encourage and inspire young students to consider studies in math and science. Honda engineers began developing a humanoid robot in 1986 with the dream of creating a new dimension in mobility. By having a robot provide assistance to people, they envisioned that this could enable those people to be more mobile to pursue other activities. After years of research and development, they created an advanced humanoid robot able to function in real-world environments. ASIMO continues to be a popular part of Disneyland’s Innoventions attraction where the live 15-minute Say ‘Hello’ to Honda’s ASIMO demonstration take places several times daily in the Honda ASIMO Theatre.

Here's the link to ASIMO's site;
http://asimo.honda.com/InsideAsimo.aspx

Honda robot Asimo set to make appearance at science spectacular

THE world's most advanced humanoid robot is to make an appearance in the Capital later this year, as part of a 21st birthday programme for the Edinburgh International Science Festival.

Highlights of this year's programme, which was launched this morning, include a chance to take a first-hand look at the revolutionary ASIMO robot.

There will also be a spectacular exhibition examining the very edges of the universe, a sleepover at Edinburgh Zoo and a chance to get hands-on with the latest advances in renewable energy.

Launching the programme on the 200th anniversary of Charles Darwin's birth, festival director Simon Gage also announced a series of events celebrating the man and his revolutionary ideas.

Mr Gage said: "This is a spectacular programme packed with some of the best popular science events you'll find anywhere in the world.

"It's a sensational way to celebrate the 21st birthday of the first, and I believe best, science festival in the known universe.

"It is a festival that befits an inventive nation that continues to pioneer ways of making the world a better place."

In total, this year's festival will include 170 events in 26 venues over two weeks.

The most eye-catching element of the programme is the first visit to Scotland by ASIMO, which has been created by Honda over the last 22 years.

It is the only robot in the world that walks on two legs, runs, climbs up steps, dances, recognises people and speaks.

The City Art Centre will, for the first time, host part of the family programme – offering seven floors of hands-on experiments and activities.

For more on the article;
http://news.scotsman.com/scitech/Honda-robot-Asimo-set-to.4972822.jp

Giant Robot Attack!!!! 49ft ASIMO Float

If you thought Asimo falling down the stairs (aww, that's just not funny anymore! ;) )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.

Yes, Honda made a nearly 50-foot-tall version of its not-so-nimble robotic friend, and it'll be heading down the Rose Parade route on New Year's Day. Also, it will be wearing a big top hat, which is a nice touch.

Source;
http://gizmodo.com/5114514/49+foot+tall-honda-asimo-robot-to-terrorize-spectators-at-the-rose-parade