This is a new version of Honda's P3. I got two emails from a friend in Japan this morning about this. I'll include below a few paragraphs which might give some insight for those of us who can't read Japanese.
From what I've heard, Honda is interested in developing a market for robots to take care of the elderly. Making the robot lighter is a good step in that direction. (You don't want your robot to stumble and crush you.) This new robot is walking a lot more fluidly. I think the weight reduction has a lot to do with that. Sony, on the other, is interested in bipeds simply for the entertainment value. The Sony videos are great.
(Here are the emails)
***
Yesterday in Japan, there was a sensational press release of the Honda's new humanoid called "ASIMO" which stands for "Adaptive Step in Innovative Mobility." This robot is a new version of Honda's humanoid robot P3. According to the newspaper article, its height is 120cm and weight is 43kg. Specifically, the weight is significantly reduced compared to the previous one. It is equipped with tendon-driven five-fingerd hands. In addition to straight walk, it is even capable of walk on a figure eight by changing direction without stopping.
***
Sony also developed a small biped robot called "SDR-3X." The height is 50cm and its weight is only 5kg, and this robot has 24 joints. This robot is capable of walking at the speed of 0.9km/h (15m/min), turning aroud, standing up, balancing on one leg, dancing, and kicking a ball. Basically, this humanoid robot uses the same computer architecture as used in AIBO. However, they developed new actuators and motion control architecture for biped walking.
It seems that they are thinking of selling the robot in the entertainment market in the near future at the price of a compact car.
Slashdot Mirror
This is a new version of Honda's P3. I got two emails from a friend in Japan this morning about this. I'll include below a few paragraphs which might give some insight for those of us who can't read Japanese.
From what I've heard, Honda is interested in developing a market for robots to take care of the elderly. Making the robot lighter is a good step in that direction. (You don't want your robot to stumble and crush you.) This new robot is walking a lot more fluidly. I think the weight reduction has a lot to do with that. Sony, on the other, is interested in bipeds simply for the entertainment value. The Sony videos are great.
(Here are the emails)
***
Yesterday in Japan, there was a sensational press release of the Honda's new humanoid called "ASIMO" which stands for "Adaptive Step in Innovative Mobility." This robot is a new version of Honda's humanoid robot P3. According to the newspaper article, its height is 120cm and weight is 43kg. Specifically, the weight is significantly reduced compared to the previous one. It is equipped with tendon-driven five-fingerd hands. In addition to straight walk, it is even capable of walk on a figure eight by changing direction without stopping.
***
Sony also developed a small biped robot called "SDR-3X." The height is 50cm and its weight is only 5kg, and this robot has 24 joints. This robot is capable of walking at the speed of 0.9km/h (15m/min), turning aroud, standing up, balancing on one leg, dancing, and kicking a ball. Basically, this humanoid robot uses the same computer architecture as used in AIBO. However, they developed new actuators and motion control architecture for biped walking.
It seems that they are thinking of selling the robot in the entertainment market in the near future at the price of a compact car.