Hang with ASIMO at DMS
Meet Honda’s humanoid robot at the Dubai Motor Show
By Shahzad Sheikh
Don’t miss the Honda stand because you could get to meet ASIMO, Honda’s incredible humanoid robot. He’s been here before of course – back in 2005. Back then he could only walk, but this time he has a few more tricks up his virtual sleeve.
ASIMO stands for ‘Advanced Step in Innovative Mobility,’ and he seems to be getting more mobile every day! During regular shows on the Honda stand you’ll see ASIMO running, walking, climbing and descending stairs, interacting with people and more. The kids are gonna love him, especially as he’s about their height! Oh and he’s not a ‘he’, it’s and ‘it’.
To see the ASIMO show, please visit the Honda stand in Hall 2 and catch the shows:
• Thursday, November 10: 5:30pm, 7:30pm and 9:30pm
• Friday, November 11: 3:30pm, 5:30pm, 7:30pm and 9:30pm
• Saturday, Sunday and Monday November 12 to 14: noon, 2pm, 4pm, 6pm, 8pm
And here he is at the Dubai Show!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5xH1lBNSBMc?rel=0
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DJ8aYvBh1GI?rel=0
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cAL1G5ya214?rel=0
ASIMO FAQs
How long did it take to develop ASIMO?
• Honda’s development of humanoid robot began in 1986.
• The world’s first self-regulating, bipedal humanoid robot, named P2, was completed by Honda in December 1986.
• P3, the first completely independent, bipedal humanoid walking robot, arrived in September 1997. P3 stood 160 cm tall and weighed 130 kg.
• ASIMO was completed 31 October, 2000 and remains the most advanced humanoid robot ever created.
• New ASIMO was first demonstrated in 2005, and represents significant advancement in robot mobility. New ASIMO made its first steps in Europe in September 2007.
What are ASIMO’s main features?
1. Lightweight and compact size
2. Ability to interact and work in harmony with people
3. Ability to move objects using a trolley
4. Advanced, flexible walking and running technology
5. Expansive range of arm movement
6. Simplified operation
7. People-friendly design
8. Ability to give and receive objects
What is the size and weight of ASIMO?
ASIMO stands 130 cm and weighs 54 kg.
How fast can the New ASIMO run?
ASIMO is able to run at a speed of 6kph. The time with both feet off the ground when running at a speed of 6kph is 0.08 seconds.
How intelligent is ASIMO?
ASIMO has number of cognitive abilities, such as being able to recognize people, objects and gestures and react accordingly. ASIMO can also understand a number of commands and provide an appropriate response.
Can ASIMO walk up and down stairs?
Yes. ASIMO is the world’s only humanoid robot that can ascent and descent stairs independently.
How fast can ASIMO walk?
ASIMO’s walking speed is 2.7kph.
Is ASIMO a “he,” or “she,” or an “it”?
ASIMO is a humanoid robot, but still a robot. It is most appropriate for ASIMO to be referred to as an “it,” or simply as “ASIMO.”
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The Full Story
Honda will be displaying more than just cars at this year’s Dubai International Motor Show, the Japanese marque’s headline-grabbing robot, ASMO will be there! ASIMO (Advanced Step in Innovative MObility) is the world’s most advanced humanoid robot, with the ability to run, walk forward and backward, climb stairs, turn smoothly without pausing, and maintain balance, even while walking on uneven slopes and surfaces.
Over 15 years ago, following on from motorcycles, cars and power products, Honda took up a new challenge in mobility – the development of a two-legged humanoid robot that could walk. So Honda engineers began developing a humanoid robot in 1986 for the purpose of someday helping people in need. After years of research and development, they created an advanced humanoid robot able to function in real-world environments.
ASMIO has lead to breakthroughs in mobility technology, but Honda’s ultimate goal is to develop ASIMO into a robot to help people, both by carrying out day to day tasks and by performing work too dangerous for a human, such as firefighting and cleaning up toxic spills.
The diminutive robot, which looks a little like a small astronaut but is styled to appear friendly and subservient is one of the leading proponents of Japan’s love affair with robot technology and was one of the first to master running as well as walking.
It’s capable of running at speeds of upto 6 km/h and also running and cornering at the same time at a speed of 5km/h. Likewise it can successfully navigate a slalom course also at that speed and is capable of turning on the spot.
In terms of human interaction its feats are even more remarkable. It’s able to recognise people, interact with people by calculating their distance, greet passers by, walk hand in hand with a person moving in synch, receiving and delivering a tray, walking with a tray, and pushing trolleys even around corners.
“The previous generation of ASIMO amazed people with the fluidity of its movements,” explains a Honda spokesman. “The new ASIMO takes this mobility and interaction with people to the next level and moves Honda one step closer to its ultimate goal of developing a robot that can be a helper to people in need.”
The main concept behind Honda’s robot R&D was to create a more viable mobility that allows robots to help and live in harmony with people. Research began by envisioning the ideal robot form for use in human society.
The robot would need to be able to manoeuvre between objects in a room and be able to go up and down stairs. For this reason it had to have two legs, just like a person. In addition, if two-legged walking technology could be established, the robot would need to be able to walk on uneven ground and be able to function in a wide range of environments.
Although considered extremely difficult at the time, Honda set itself this ambitious goal and developed revolutionary new technology to create a two-legged walking robot.
ASIMO was conceived to function in an actual human living environment in the near future. It is easy to operate, has a convenient size and weight and can move freely within the human living environment, all with a people-friendly design.
By providing ASIMO with the ability to recognise the surrounding environment through its visual sensors, floor surface sensor, ultrasonic sensor, and by an IC Tele-interaction Communication Card worn by a person, ASIMO can more autonomously interact with people. Through the coordinated use of its eye cameras in the head and the force (kinaesthetic) sensors on its wrists, ASIMO can give and receive an object such as a tray. And by using these force sensors, ASIMO can hold the hand of the person and move in sync with them.
ASIMO is now capable of handling a trolley freely while maintaining an appropriate distance by adjusting the force of its right and left arms to push the trolley using the force sensors on its wrists. Even when the movement of the trolley is disturbed, ASIMO can continue manoeuvring by taking flexible actions such as slowing down or changing directions.
Through proactive control of ASIMO’s posture while both feet are off the ground, ASIMO can run at upto 6 km/h. In addition, running in a circular pattern at a high speed was achieved by tilting the centre of gravity of ASIMO’s body inside of the circle to maintain balance with the amount of centrifugal force experienced.
Honda continues ASIMO’s development with the goal of one day producing a robot capable of assisting those who lack full mobility and of working in environments dangerous for humans. And you’ll be able to see this remarkable little fella live and in action at the Dubai Motor Show.
