The rise of the machines

Thursday, 08 December 2005 00:00 Written by Patrick Heske

Honda`s Asimo is designed to dazzle and inspire HONDA`S Asimo humanoid robot is something of a celebrity in science circles, opening conferences and science fairs around the world. Standing 120cm tall, Asimo is Honda`s global technology ambassador, tasked with encouraging students to study and pursue careers in the sciences.

Last month saw Asimo open the European Commission`s `Communicating European Research` conference in Brussels. In October, it attended the opening ceremony of this year`s Science Festival in Luxembourg.

Asimo now has a new home in the Honda Asimo Theatre in Disneyland, at the Innoventions park. It stars in its own live science show, "Say Hello to Honda`s Asimo", part of the theme park`s 50th anniversary celebration.

According to Honda, constructing Asimo was a mammoth task. The robot is a combination of computers and complex software, designed on the back of years of research in fields ranging from mathematics and physics to anatomy. Asimo`s primary function is to help humans. It can reach for things, pick them up, navigate floors, sidewalks and stairs, and respond to voice commands.

Asimo also has `intelligence` and is able to read human postures and gestures, recognise and greet people, follow them around, respond to voice commands and provide information such as news and weather updates via the Internet.

For more info on the humanoid robot, take a look at: http://asimo.honda.com

Tags: Fastforward:  Humanoids  

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