Later, when media got their turn to ask questions, Wedin explained that the small scale and “cuteness” of ASIMO is a very deliberate aspect of its design. Wedin added that for someone in a wheelchair or bed, the four-foot ASIMO is better to relate to than a six-foot plus robot.
And while a robot doesn’t necessarily have to look or be designed as a “humanoid”, ASIMO was designed so, because of the comfort factor, and because it will need to operate in very “human” environments, like apartments and schools and hospitals.
While ASIMO has been designed to be a “helper of people”, it’s also not doing a bad job of being a “helper of Honda”. ASIMO can’t actually sell you a car, so it’s not exactly a sales rep, but ASIMO is definitely sales savvy. ASIMO has no trouble getting Honda’s technological message out, via appearances all around the globe, and that permanent gig at Disneyland in California. Name me another automotive executive that rub shoulders with Tinkerbell and Mickey?
After its Ontario Science Centre visit, ASIMO will meet and greet the Honourable Sandra Pupatello, the Ontario Minister of Economic Development and Trade at another Toronto-based event, and then travel to Ottawa, to play a prominent role in a Japanese exhibit at the Canadian Museum of Civilization, which opens on May 19.
ASIMO FUN FACTS
And while a robot doesn’t necessarily have to look or be designed as a “humanoid”, ASIMO was designed so, because of the comfort factor, and because it will need to operate in very “human” environments, like apartments and schools and hospitals.
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| Photo: Mike Goetz/Auto123.com |
While ASIMO has been designed to be a “helper of people”, it’s also not doing a bad job of being a “helper of Honda”. ASIMO can’t actually sell you a car, so it’s not exactly a sales rep, but ASIMO is definitely sales savvy. ASIMO has no trouble getting Honda’s technological message out, via appearances all around the globe, and that permanent gig at Disneyland in California. Name me another automotive executive that rub shoulders with Tinkerbell and Mickey?
After its Ontario Science Centre visit, ASIMO will meet and greet the Honourable Sandra Pupatello, the Ontario Minister of Economic Development and Trade at another Toronto-based event, and then travel to Ottawa, to play a prominent role in a Japanese exhibit at the Canadian Museum of Civilization, which opens on May 19.
ASIMO FUN FACTS
- ASIMO stands for Advanced Step in Innovative Mobility
- 4 feet three inches tall, 119 pounds
- 6 km/h (3.6 mph) running speed
- First humanoid robot capable of human-like running
- 2.7 km/h (1.7 mph) walking speed
- Lithium-ion battery good for one hour of operation
- Can exchange information with an IC card device
- Can independently map its environment using camera “eyes” and register stationary objects
- Can recognize and will wait for moving pedestrians to cross its path
- Cannot get back on its feet, though engineers working on that capability
- Can comprehend and carry out tasks based on simple voice commands that have been preprogrammed into its onboard memory
- Not a “he” or a “she” — goes by “it” or “ASIMO”
- No current plans to sell or lease ASIMO
- Will not be employed for any military purpose