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Honda Updates ASIMO

Posted by samzenpus on from the finally-chasing-speed dept.

kosmicki writes "Honda Motor Co. today announced the development of new technologies for the next-generation ASIMO humanoid robot, targeting a new level of mobility that will better enable ASIMO to function and interact with people by quickly processing information and acting more nimbly in real-world environments."

7 of 232 comments (clear)

  1. I could use these too... by cmeans · · Score: 4, Funny
    From the article:

    Key technologies include:
    1) "Posture Control" technology* making it possible to run in a natural human-like way
    2) "Autonomous Continuous Movement" technology enabling flexible route to destination
    3) Enhanced visual and force sensor technologies enabling smoother interaction with people

    These are all things I need too...maybe I can get an upgrade.

    --
    Give a hand, not a hand-out.
  2. Anyone... by JavaMoose · · Score: 4, Interesting
    Anyone in the Robotics/Automation industry, I have a question.

    Does the ASIMO actually advance the field of robotics? Does it come out with revolutionary advances, or just build on those of others?

    I don't mean to take anything away from the ASIMO, it's pretty slick, but is it a beacon or a distraction for "real" robotics?

    1. Re:Anyone... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Insightful

      I'm someone in the robotics field, and yes it does, the same way everything in all research fields improves: gradually.

      ASIMO provides a solid platform for researching humanoid motion control, mechanisms for humanoid robots, human-robot interaction, and robot-environment interaction. The researchers who work on it make advances in all these areas, just like the researchers who work on the Qrio, or any other robotic platform make advances in their areas.

      Being a handy marketing tool is merely a side benefit of developing all these technologies that will be extremely useful in the future when Honda wants to be a big player in the robotics industry. It's called "thinking longterm."

  3. Videos by r_glen · · Score: 5, Informative

    You can see videos of Asimo in action (including his new "tricks") at the Honda site.

  4. Re:Homework? by Soko · · Score: 4, Funny

    Can it to my homework and clean my room for me yet?

    Sigh.

    I sincerely hope that the new ASIMO also includes a "Smack in the back of the head for being a dumbass" spell checker and a "Put a whuppin' on this kids sorry, lazy ass" module as well.

    Soko

    --
    "Depression is merely anger without enthusiasm." - Anonymous
  5. Re:nice and smooth! by michaeldot · · Score: 4, Funny

    movement of new asimo looks very fluid ... chasing a Japanese chick

    Oh dear, so it's come to this. Geeks don't even bother chasing girls themselves, they program their robots to do it.

  6. I saw ASIMO "in person": it's semi-autonomous by Nomihn0 · · Score: 4, Interesting

    The routine was preprogrammed and triggered remotely from backstage over a broadband wireless connection. Everything was scripted - the floor was plastered in tape to help the human actors perform correctly. A few of the markers were triggers for ASIMO to orient itself with before demonstrating an action. It was explained to the crowd that some half-dozen technicians were working backstage, keeping the thing going the whole time.

    Now, many of the feats (climbing stairs, walking across a see saw, walking in circles, bracing for a fall) were calculated on the fly by ASIMO. You have to give Honda credit for succeeding in that, but overall ASIMO is just an overblown animatronic puppet.

    At least half a year ago, I saw a video of ASIMO jogging. Although the jogging was a joke as a mode of locomotion, it was an interesting demonstration of balance. My question is, how much has ASIMO changed since then? The video of the new ASIMO running looks suspiciously similar to the old one. I have the feeling that this "next-generation" ASIMO is far more capable than these new video demonstrations convey.