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There's not a single car sold in America that gets 50+ mpg, which does not mean that such cars don't exist or are impossible

12 years ago I zipped all around Japan for a couple weeks in a Honda Today, got something like 60ish MPG, cruised right along at freeway speeds, power windows, AC -- it was a great car.

Here's an example of new minicar:
http://www.honda.co.jp/LIFE/webcatalog/spec/

The base model gets 22km/l (51.7mpg). The turbo 4wd model gets 18km/l (42.3 mpg).

This looks like an interesting microvan:
http://www.honda.co.jp/Nboxplus/

Efficiency range is 18.8 km/l (bigger engine 4wd) to 21.8 km/l (smaller engine FWD).
http://www.honda.co.jp/Nboxplus/webcatalog/spec/

Anyway, the reason we don't have cars with 55 mpg is merely because they aren't sold here. Not because of physics.

There's not a single car sold in America that gets 50+ mpg, which does not mean that such cars don't exist or are impossible

12 years ago I zipped all around Japan for a couple weeks in a Honda Today, got something like 60ish MPG, cruised right along at freeway speeds, power windows, AC -- it was a great car.

Here's an example of new minicar:
http://www.honda.co.jp/LIFE/webcatalog/spec/

The base model gets 22km/l (51.7mpg). The turbo 4wd model gets 18km/l (42.3 mpg).

This looks like an interesting microvan:
http://www.honda.co.jp/Nboxplus/

Efficiency range is 18.8 km/l (bigger engine 4wd) to 21.8 km/l (smaller engine FWD).
http://www.honda.co.jp/Nboxplus/webcatalog/spec/

Anyway, the reason we don't have cars with 55 mpg is merely because they aren't sold here. Not because of physics.

There's not a single car sold in America that gets 50+ mpg, which does not mean that such cars don't exist or are impossible

12 years ago I zipped all around Japan for a couple weeks in a Honda Today, got something like 60ish MPG, cruised right along at freeway speeds, power windows, AC -- it was a great car.

Here's an example of new minicar:
http://www.honda.co.jp/LIFE/webcatalog/spec/

The base model gets 22km/l (51.7mpg). The turbo 4wd model gets 18km/l (42.3 mpg).

This looks like an interesting microvan:
http://www.honda.co.jp/Nboxplus/

Efficiency range is 18.8 km/l (bigger engine 4wd) to 21.8 km/l (smaller engine FWD).
http://www.honda.co.jp/Nboxplus/webcatalog/spec/

Anyway, the reason we don't have cars with 55 mpg is merely because they aren't sold here. Not because of physics.

In Japan, minivans have a much better image (just as hatchbacks have a better image in Europe) than in the US. It helps that the Japanese have some pretty cool minivans that we don't.

http://corporate.honda.com/environment/fuel_cells. aspx?id=fuel_cells_fcx
http://www.honda.co.jp/FCX/ (Flash in Japanese)
http://www.greencarcongress.com/2005/10/hondas_mor e_pow.html (chassis)

http://world.honda.com/news/2005/4050629.html (with family)

http://www.hondanews.com/CatID2045?view=p&page=1&f irstcat=false&kw=05familyfcx (image gallery)

Enjoy!

I'm also curious how they plan to keep solar cars from mixing with general traffic; there has been at least one fatal accident involving a solar car (which came apart like paper mache) a few months ago when a solar vehicle was being tested.

The rules of this race and the World Solar Challenge are similar. (I believe this is deliberate, so a car built for one race can race in the other.) The cars are required to have escort vehicles at all times in the World Solar Challenge. I should imagine the American race would be the same.

Honestly, what was wrong with an enduro race on a closed race circuit? At least then it would be more controllable, and emergency/rescue crews would be barely a minute or two from any participant. There are numerous reasons we do our racing OFF public roads...

What you said is true, but you made it sound like it is a bad thing. Most technology are derived from the need for 'better' entertainment. Where would the game industry and graphic technologies be if people were not interested in making games and enhancing gameplay?

The Japanese do have a genuine interest in robotics. And it is true that the anime and game industries are big factors in Japan's advances in Robotics. Because of mainstream interest in mecha, especially Gundam, advances such as Sony's QRIO and Honda's ASIMO are made. From bioengineering to fire-fighting robots, these advances in robotics are helpful in many aspects of our lives.

There is also a time line for ASIMO at Honda.co.jp(japanese) but you can see a graphical history of it here

Nice sig. I had a cat when Clinton was president. He's dead now. That must be Bush's fault too, eh?

Your "joblessness" couldn't possibly be your own fault. Nor could it be your fault that time you whacked your thumb with that damn Craftsman hammer. Assault hammer, it was. Oughta be a law.

I can't help wondering if you're one of the reasons why I can't buy a new Honda ATC.

Honda does make models:

Honda Origami Here
and here

No motorcycles from hat I can find.

Honda does make models:

Honda Origami Here
and here

No motorcycles from hat I can find.

the japanese might take offense and built 20ft asimo to wreak havoc on tokyo disneyland

This is great news if there is water on Mars but i believe one of the major stumbling blocks on a manned mission to Mars and sustaining him isn't so much water
but getting people there alive.

Astronauts just on the journey (180 days each way + 550 days for return journey planetary alignment) would be exposed to lethal doses of radiation meaning when they got to Mars they would already be too ill and poisoned to be of any use to science let alone come home, i don't really feel that comfortable in sending (volunteers) to die a horrible slow death from radiation sickness under the guise of "research"

NASA have did do some research in 1998 on using dirt for shielding on any base but this doesnt answer the journey time radiation exposure problem

I think we forget in our own insignificance that the ISS and the shuttle fly close enough to the Earth's magnetic field and our atmostphere to be protected from the worst effects of our Sun (radiation,flares,magnetic bursts,uv, etc) but once we leave for Mars we will be exposed to the Suns full destructivness and we still havent developed protective materials/shields (short of 6ft thick lead) that will protect us long enough not to kill us in the 915 day exposure of such a mission.

I am still suprised that we think we can send people there after water when so far all we have sent is a glorified "remote control car" instead of an advanced humanoid type robots like this into space ,so maybe we could get a better idea of how we might perform if/when we get to the surface to mine this water.

What we need no is a WWF smack down between the Sony SDX and Honda's ASIMO. Or at least an appearance on Robot wars.

In any case, as soon as I get my first ASIMO, I'm going to program him to kill my neighbor's Aibo, if he comes in my yard again. That little robot dog's turds have wrecked my lawn mower three times now.

Ok, Here's the link to the new Honda Asimo -- THe page is in Japanese, but the photos are good.

Link to the movie clips.

You can see Asimo climbing down the stairs at the most recent event here

Here is the link to Honda site mentioned:
Asimo Special Site.

No matter how smart they get, we can still outrun them .

• Asimo
• Asimo
• Asimo Movies
• Honda P3
• Honda P3 & Asimo

• Asimo
• Asimo
• Asimo Movies
• Honda P3
• Honda P3 & Asimo

Okay, this RealVid shows the intermediate forms I wanted. But I still think there's some sleight of hand going on, making it look much more competent than it really is.

This is awesome, you've gotta watch these two clips. One shows old footage of their research, older models; and the second one is a fabulous bit with the robots playing soccer!!!

1. http://www.honda.co.jp/realse rve r/video/robot64.rm

2. http://www.honda.co.jp/re als erver/video/robocupdown.rm

later,
Jak Din

This is awesome, you've gotta watch these two clips. One shows old footage of their research, older models; and the second one is a fabulous bit with the robots playing soccer!!!

1. http://www.honda.co.jp/realse rve r/video/robot64.rm

2. http://www.honda.co.jp/re als erver/video/robocupdown.rm

later,
Jak Din

Sorry....this robot has no connection to Issac Asimov....ASIMO stands for:

"Advanced Step in Innovative Mobility"

Don't believe me? Check out this image:
http://www.honda.co.jp/ASIMO /e nqu ete/image/dv_s.jpg

Jak Din

Hm. Lessee... I've been submitting this story for how many years now? 3? AND it looks to have run before? What's the diff? Near as I can tell, it's in english this time. Big whoop. If ya want MORE info, go see the original source: http://www.honda.co.jp/robot/or do a quick search on Yahoo for Honda Humanoid. Didn't get anything new out of this. -- Xiphos - yeah, bite me.
--

by using a wireless ethernet system for a battery.

(Yes, I know)

And their webpage has more information and less fluff. The P3 is just having a holiday an Germany at the moment and stopping in at a trade show while it's there. It's about time they started on the P4 I reckon, I wanna see the thing _run_. Or perhaps hop. Yeah, hopping would probably look funnier......

Yes, according to the Japanese site which contains more info and less fluff the P3 was completed in September 1997. It just seems to be going to Germany for a short holiday in the near future.

There are a couple of reasons why using a five-fingered, human sized configuration makes good sense.

As Lister of Smeg mentioned, it allows for more intuitive control of the robot using VR glove type interfaces.

However, there is a more important reason: if its roughly the same size and configuration of a normal human (in terms of hands, etc), then it should be capable of using and manipulating standard tools. This way only one set of tools needs to be taken up into space - rather than having to take a set designed for human and a set designed for robotic use. The Honda Humanoid Robot was designed with this concept in mind.

There already are walking robots. The Honda P3, probably the most advanced robot in the world. It's not exactly agile, but it does walk on 2 legs without exterior support, and it can even walk up and down stairs.

to be at a party when this guy walks thru the room carrying a tray of drinks and hor's dourves ?

Boojum

You can make a killing by suing Honda. They are trying to capitalize on your invention. Of course, the rest of us are using your method in a not-for-profit context.
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Yes, there are at least two:

Honda made a pair of bipedal robots, the P2 and P3, that ar capable of walking, including up and down stairs, and pushing a cart around. The Robot page is in Japanese, so I can't tell too much more about it. (Sorry, my Japanese is REALLY bad.) Watching it walk is kind of eerie, it looks just like a human walking, just slightly hunched over. They both can walk 2 km/h (about 1.25 mph.)

The P2 is 1820mm tall (5'11.6") and weighs 210 kg (463 lbs), and the P3 is 1600mm tall (5'3") and weighs 130 kg (286.5 lbs.)

The P2 has a large, boxy head and a huge, boxy "backpack", whereas the P3 has a round head and a much smaller "backpack".

There is a page with a bunch of video clips (2 RealVideo, 5 embedded QuickTimes.) Warning, it's a BIG page for modem users. (Hooray for ADSL!)

Also see this page for information on it from a researcher at Cal Tech.

Oops... After writing all that, I noticed an English version of the robot info page... Sorry, I'm too lazy to go back and edit all those URLS.

Yes, there are at least two:

Honda made a pair of bipedal robots, the P2 and P3, that ar capable of walking, including up and down stairs, and pushing a cart around. The Robot page is in Japanese, so I can't tell too much more about it. (Sorry, my Japanese is REALLY bad.) Watching it walk is kind of eerie, it looks just like a human walking, just slightly hunched over. They both can walk 2 km/h (about 1.25 mph.)

The P2 is 1820mm tall (5'11.6") and weighs 210 kg (463 lbs), and the P3 is 1600mm tall (5'3") and weighs 130 kg (286.5 lbs.)

The P2 has a large, boxy head and a huge, boxy "backpack", whereas the P3 has a round head and a much smaller "backpack".

There is a page with a bunch of video clips (2 RealVideo, 5 embedded QuickTimes.) Warning, it's a BIG page for modem users. (Hooray for ADSL!)

Also see this page for information on it from a researcher at Cal Tech.

Oops... After writing all that, I noticed an English version of the robot info page... Sorry, I'm too lazy to go back and edit all those URLS.

Yes, there are at least two:

Honda made a pair of bipedal robots, the P2 and P3, that ar capable of walking, including up and down stairs, and pushing a cart around. The Robot page is in Japanese, so I can't tell too much more about it. (Sorry, my Japanese is REALLY bad.) Watching it walk is kind of eerie, it looks just like a human walking, just slightly hunched over. They both can walk 2 km/h (about 1.25 mph.)

The P2 is 1820mm tall (5'11.6") and weighs 210 kg (463 lbs), and the P3 is 1600mm tall (5'3") and weighs 130 kg (286.5 lbs.)

The P2 has a large, boxy head and a huge, boxy "backpack", whereas the P3 has a round head and a much smaller "backpack".

There is a page with a bunch of video clips (2 RealVideo, 5 embedded QuickTimes.) Warning, it's a BIG page for modem users. (Hooray for ADSL!)

Also see this page for information on it from a researcher at Cal Tech.

Oops... After writing all that, I noticed an English version of the robot info page... Sorry, I'm too lazy to go back and edit all those URLS.

Yes, there are at least two:

Honda made a pair of bipedal robots, the P2 and P3, that ar capable of walking, including up and down stairs, and pushing a cart around. The Robot page is in Japanese, so I can't tell too much more about it. (Sorry, my Japanese is REALLY bad.) Watching it walk is kind of eerie, it looks just like a human walking, just slightly hunched over. They both can walk 2 km/h (about 1.25 mph.)

The P2 is 1820mm tall (5'11.6") and weighs 210 kg (463 lbs), and the P3 is 1600mm tall (5'3") and weighs 130 kg (286.5 lbs.)

The P2 has a large, boxy head and a huge, boxy "backpack", whereas the P3 has a round head and a much smaller "backpack".

There is a page with a bunch of video clips (2 RealVideo, 5 embedded QuickTimes.) Warning, it's a BIG page for modem users. (Hooray for ADSL!)

Also see this page for information on it from a researcher at Cal Tech.

Oops... After writing all that, I noticed an English version of the robot info page... Sorry, I'm too lazy to go back and edit all those URLS.

Is it this fellow's best friend?