Japan’s other Astro Boy was born in 2000 as Honda’s “Advanced Step in Innovative Mobility” and will become an endearing 18-year-old teenager in 2018.
On 20 November 2000, Honda Motor Co. announced the development of a new small, lightweight humanoid robot named Asimo that employs Honda’s new robotic walking technology to achieve an unprecedented human-like ability to walk. Asimo’s unique capabilities were demonstrated at Honda’s global headquarters in Tokyo.
Honda’s basic research and development in humanoid robotics began in 1986 with the goal of developing an autonomous walking robot that could be helpful to individuals as well as of practical use in society. In 1996, Honda’s prototype robot P2 made its debut, followed by the more advanced P3 in 1997.
Asimo – which stands for Advanced Step in Innovative Mobility – is a further evolved version of the P3 in an endearing, people-friendly size that enables it to actually perform tasks within the realm of a human living environment. Honda’s new robotic walking technology adds a sophisticated “predicted movement control” feature to the walking control technology of earlier Honda robots. As a result, Asimo walks more smoothly, more flexibly and more naturally, with instant response to sudden movements. The range of movement of its arms has also been significantly increased, while a new portable controller enables easier operation.
Compared to the P3, Asimo’s height has been reduced from 160cm to 120cm and its weight from 130kg to 43kg. Asimo’s height of 120cm was chosen because it was considered the optimum for operating household switches, reaching doorknobs, and performing tasks at tables and benches. Asimo was also made much more compact and lightweight through the redesign of its skeletal frame, reducing the frame’s wall thickness and specially designing the control unit.
Predicted Movement Control (for predicting the robot’s next move and shifting the centre of gravity accordingly) was combined with existing walking control know-how to create intelligent real-time flexible walking technology, permitting smooth changes of direction. Because Asimo walks like a human, with instant response to sudden movements, its gait is natural and very stable.
To improve the operation of the robot, a flexible walking control and button operation (for gestures and hand movements) can be carried out from either a workstation or a handy portable controller.
By designing Asimo’s shoulders 20 degrees higher than those of the P3, elbow movement has been increased to 15 degrees over horizontal, enabling a wider range of work capability. Asimo’s range of vertical arm movement has also been increased to 105 degrees, compared to the P3’s 90-degree range.
In addition to its compact size, Asimo features an attractive, people-friendly design.
“Honda has taken up a new challenge in mobility,” said Hiroyuki Yoshino, president and CEO of Honda Motor Co., at the introduction of Asimo. “With this development of a two-legged humanoid robot that can walk, Honda hopes to create a partner for people, a new kind of robot with a positive function in society.”
Japan’s other Astro Boy was born in 2000 as Honda’s “Advanced Step in Innovative Mobility” and will become an endearing 18-year-old teenager in 2018.
Check out Toyota’s T-HR3, a Japanese humanoid robot that rivals Honda’s Asimo.
Check out Nissan’s Pitch-R, an autonomous robot that draws football fields.
