Honda Asimo Humanoid Robot

[Luke_Wilbur]

ASIMO (アシモ, ashimo?) is a humanoid robot created by Honda Motor Company. Standing at 130 centimeters (4 feet 3 inches) and weighing 54 kilograms (119 pounds), the robot resembles a small astronaut wearing a backpack and can walk on two feet at speeds up to 6 km/h (3.7 mph). ASIMO was created at Honda's Research & Development Wako Fundamental Technical Research Center in Japan. It is the current model in a line of eleven that began in 1986 with E0.

 

Officially, the name is an acronym for "Advanced Step in Innovative Mobility". Honda's official statements[2] indicate that the robot's name is not a reference to science fiction writer and inventor of the Three Laws of Robotics, Isaac Asimov. In Japanese, the name is pronounced ashimo and, not coincidentally, means "legs also" (from Japanese 足も).

 

The robot's size was chosen to allow it to operate freely in the human living space and to make it people-friendly. This size allows the robot to operate light switches and door knobs, and work at tables and work benches. Its eyes are located at the level of an adult's eyes when the adult is sitting in a chair. A height of 120cm makes it easy to communicate with.

Honda feels that a robot height between 120cm and that of an adult is ideal for operating in the human living space.

 

http://world.honda.com/HDTV/ASIMO/

 

Honda Motor Co., Ltd. has further advanced intelligence technologies enabling its advanced humanoid robot ASIMO to act autonomously and perform uninterrupted service to office guests.

 

Honda developed an intelligence technology that enhances smooth movement by enabling ASIMO to choose between stepping back and yielding the right-of-way or continuing to walk based on the predicted movement of oncoming people. Honda also developed a new intelligence technology related to ASIMO’s ability to perform tasks such as carrying a tray and pushing a cart. In addition, a newly added function enables ASIMO to automatically charge its battery when its remaining battery level falls below a certain level. Furthermore, a new comprehensive system was developed so that multiple ASIMOs can share tasks by adjusting to the situation and work together in coordination to provide uninterrupted service. For example, if one ASIMO is idled while recharging, other ASIMO robots will step in and perform assigned tasks.

 

Since introducing an all-new ASIMO in 2005, with more advanced physical and intelligence capabilities, Honda has focused its R&D efforts more on the area of intelligence technologies. The newly developed technologies, which enable ASIMO to operate in an environment with people and other ASIMOs, bring Honda one step closer to the development of a humanoid robot that can be put to practical use in a real world environment requiring coexistence with people.

 

ASIMO is the world’s first humanoid robot to exhibit such a broad range of intelligent capabilities.

 

1. Recognition of moving objects

2. Posture/gesture recognition

3. Environment recognition

4. Sound recognition

5. Face recognition.

 

Using the visual information captured by the camera mounted in its head, ASIMO can detect the movements of multiple objects, assessing distance and direction

 

Specifically, ASIMO can:

: follow the movements of people with its camera;

: follow a person;

: greet a person when he or she approaches.

 

 

Based on visual information, ASIMO can interpret the positioning and movement of a hand, recognizing postures and gestures. Thus ASIMO can react not only to voice commands, but also to the natural movements of human beings.

 

For example, ASIMO can:

: recognize an indicated location and move to that location (posture recognition);

: shake a person's hand when a handshake is offered (posture recognition);

: respond to a wave by waving back (gesture recognition).

 

ASIMO is able to assess its immediate environment, recognizing the position of obstacles and avoiding them to prevent collisions.

 

Specifically, ASIMO can:

: stop and start to avoid a human being or other moving object which suddenly appears in its path;

: recognize immobile objects in its path and move around them.

 

For example, ASIMO can:

: recognize when its name is called, and turn to face the source of the sound;

: look at the face of the person speaking, and respond;

: recognize sudden, unusual sounds, such as that of a falling object or a collision, and face in that direction.

 

ASIMO has the ability to recognize faces, even when ASIMO or the human being is moving.

 

For example, ASIMO can:

: recognize the faces of people which have been pre-registered, addressing them by name, communicating messages to them, and guiding them;

: recognize approximately ten different people.

 

 

ASIMO can:

: execute functions appropriately based on the user's customer data;

: greet visitors, informing personnel of the visitor's arrival by transmitting messages and pictures of the visitor's face;

: guide visitors to a predetermined location, etc.

 

Accessing information via the Internet, ASIMO can become a provider of news and weather updates, for example, ready to answer people's questions, etc.

 

Watch the video. It is quite Amazing how far in technology we have progressed.