Tag Archives: asimo

Honda’s Adorable Asimo Robot Is Retiring

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I remember when Honda’s humanoid robot Asimo seemed to be everywhere. The public loved him. We saw him at trade shows, on television programs, at amusement parks and even in concert halls. He was the face of robots, making us fear the robot apocalypse just a bit less. And now we have word that Honda’s robotic research project has been halted. Yes, it looks like Asimo is retiring.

The technology that went into Asimo gave rise to all kinds of other robots. Asimo was one of the first robots who could recognize human waving as a gesture and wave back. However, Asimo’s appearances have grown fewer in recent years, and Honda’s official Asimo site hasn’t been updated in a year. Honda’s research team will shift their focus to other things now, but they won’t have Asimo’s character.

So let’s raise a glass to Asimo, or an oil can, and wish him well wherever he is. We will always remember you, buddy. There will never be a robot quite like you, ever again. I like to think that he’s reading this and giving us a slow wave goodbye from whatever the equivalent of an old age home is for robots. We will miss you, buddy.

[via Hack A Day]

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Humanoid Robot Pepper Reading Emotions Goes on Sale in Japan

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TOKYO (AP) — Softbank Corp. is entering the robotics business with its cooing, gesturing and sympathetic Pepper humanoid-on-wheels that it says is designed for companionship and can decipher human...

Honda’s ASIMO Humanoid Robot Shows Signs of Evolution

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Honda ASIMO Humanoid Robot

The Japanese company’s humanoid robot proved recently that its behavior can be even closer to the ones of humans. ASIMO’s latest movement patterns are a clear sign of evolution, considering that the same robot could barely walk across a stage ten years ago.

Honda exhibited these days the latest version of ASIMO (Advanced Step in
Innovative Mobility), and there’s no doubt that the company is proud of the latest achievements of its engineers. The humanoid robot moves swiftly now, and it’s even ready for sports or dancing. The Japanese roboticists equipped the 4 feet tall, 115-pound robot with five dextrous fingers on each hand, and added force feedback sensors to the configuration.

While not exactly a vehicle, ASIMO is made by a company that is best known as an automaker, so it shouldn’t surprise anyone that Honda decided to showcase the latest version of its humanoid robot at International Auto Show in New York. Needless to say, the bipedal robot was quite the sensation at the show, as it demonstrated how good it is with its new hands. After carefully picking up a sealed box containing orange juice and unscrewing the cap, ASIMO proceeded to pouring juice in a paper cup. Right after that, it placed the box and the cup on the table, without spilling any juice from either. All this was achieved with the help of two camera eyes and the sensors in its hands.

Honda’s ASIMO also danced a bit like John Travolta (even though I’m not certain whether it was in the style of Vincent Vega from Pulp Fiction or Danny from Grease), went up and down a flight of stairs, kicked a football, jumped up and down like an excited kid, and shook hands of people.

The fluent moves and the great number of different patterns prove that ASIMO is just about ready to live among humans. In 2003, when Honda first exhibited him, engineers used to remote control him from the backstage. Now, it has pre-programmed task, and from here one, ASIMO can rely on his sensors to perform the rest of the tasks.

In terms of autonomy, ASIMO’s battery is not that great, as it can only keep the robot moving for 40 minutes, but there will definitely be some advancements in this field, as well. I wonder what Honda has in store for us in the future, considering how great this version of ASIMO really is.

Be social! Follow Walyou on Facebook and Twitter, and read more related stories about Honda ASIMO’s tour of Canada and the Honda ASIMO replica.

Asimo Gets Confused, Makes Robots Look Bad

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You have to feel a bit sad for Asimo. Years ago, when he was new, people loved him. Despite recent upgrades, he is old news and people have moved on to newer and cooler robot spectacles. To add insult to injury, the robot recently embarrassed itself (again).

In a demonstration at Tokyo’s National Museum of Emerging Science and Innovation this week ASIMO kept mistaking reporters phones for their hands. It just kept asking “Who wants to ask ASIMO a question?” But no one did. They were just trying to take his picture with their phones. Sad. Poor ASIMO.

The idea was that ASIMO was going to perform a neat trick at a Q&A. It would use it’s computer brain to know which reporter raised their hand first. The problem was that reporters tried to take cell phone pictures of ASIMO, which the robot mistook that action for someone raising their hand to ask a question. Yes, it was not ASIMO’s finest hour (again.)

[via The Verge via Geekosystem]

HUBO 2 has articulated hands, can walk 2 km on a charge: yours for $400k

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HUBO 2 has articulated hands, can walk 2 km on a charge: yours for $400k

HUBO has come so far from mastering the basics of mobility. The latest from KAIST is HUBO 2, a robot with flexible limbs that allow it to bend down and even do push-ups. The HUBO 2's hands are another big improvement, now allowing the humanoid to open car doors, operate a gear shift and hold up to 7 kg. KAIST used "individually actuated" fingers that adapt to the shape of whatever HUBO 2 is holding, a la Honda's new ASIMO. The robot can walk 2 km on a charge, and it looks like it's a little less of a slow poke now, too: KAIST increased its running speed to 4 kph from 3 kph. Check out the source link and video below to see the HUBO 2 in action -- if you're impressed, it can be yours for a cool $400,000.

Continue reading HUBO 2 has articulated hands, can walk 2 km on a charge: yours for $400k

HUBO 2 has articulated hands, can walk 2 km on a charge: yours for $400k originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 03 Jun 2012 11:13:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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