What we can learn about the future of robotics from the Asimo period
ASIMO (Advanced Step in Innovative Mobility) was once the most well-known advanced humanoid
robot in the world. However, the abbreviation was taken from the Japanese word "asi," which
means "foot" or "leg."
Asimo even played football with the President of the United States. At a running pace of
9 km/h, it would have been more difficult to outrun Zizou or bend it like Beckham.
Honda's bipedal humanoid robot, on the other hand, was a charming innovation that held
a lot of potential. It had a hefty price tag of 2.5 million dollars in the realm of robots
built for assisted living. But why did Honda put a halt to production?
Throughout the 1980s, Honda experimented with the concept of prototype humanoids. A dozen
prototypes were created during the next two decades. Honda debuted their first prototype
humanoid, the P1, in 1993, a hefty machine with a height of 190 cm and a weight of roughly
175 kg.
Finally, in 2000, the Asimo was released, and it quickly became known for its human-like
mobility. It was honored into Carnegie Mellon's Robot Hall of Fame as the first robot to display
such abilities not long after that. An "all-new Asimo" was released in November 2011 with
an upgraded design and a one-hour battery life. As a result, in June 2018, all production
was halted.
What could Asimo possibly do?
With the use of sensors, it could understand spoken orders, human gestures, and navigate
around human environments. It would have been a strong contender for the DARPA Robotics
Challenge, but Honda could have done without it. They were well aware that their robot
was exceptional.
It was capable of recognizing a wide range of moving objects and faces. Asimo was 130
cm tall and weighed 48 kg in 2011. It was built at this height to accommodate anyone
in a wheelchair. The Asimo was built for a variety of purposes.
Also, it must have elicited public pity when it collapsed while attempting to walk up a
flight of steps. I believe that Asimo's notoriety brought robotics to the public's attention.
Honda employees also considered developing a humanoid robot that could move and walk
like a human. That is exactly what they did.
How important was Asimo to Honda's present strategy?
Honda put a lot of effort into the research for Asimo. From 1986 through 2011, they continued
to develop and test. Asimo was able to perform all of the difficult tasks, including hopping
on one foot, climbing stairs, and running.
To say that Asimo is currently a little behind the pack is an understatement. Boston Dynamics
has delivered humanoid robots with talents that Asimo will not be able to match any time
soon.
Asimo was, without a doubt, a valuable chance for Honda to showcase its robotics brand.
But it was a long-term commitment, and they had to stick to it if they wanted to give
their robotics division greater attention. And with a shift in their strategy, they might
be able to do this.
What was Honda's decision regarding Asimo?
It was a choice between continuing to create new generations of Asimo and failing numerous
times. Or do you accept the truth that robots technologies provide a more realistic solution?
Asimo was a remarkable feat in humanoid robotics, although it was purely for show. And getting
ready for demos required a lot of time. A two-minute demo, for example, would take around
six months to prepare. As a result, Honda determined that Asimo's technology might be
improved.
Asimo's Future and Robotics
They'd been making the transition since July 2013, when they were working on an Asimo-based
disaster response robot. Even though Asimo foretold the robots future, he was not practical
enough in and of himself.
Asimo accomplished several impressive feats, but robotics is now about moving away from
latency and toward actual capabilities. And Honda recognizes that Asimo's technology may
be used for the greater good of humanity, not only for brand value.
The technology created for Asimo would later be applied to considerably more practical
applications in nursing and transportation. Honda would then concentrate on developing
new robots. There were, however, a number of aspects of the Asimo robot that stood out.
The technology created for Asimo would later be applied to considerably more practical
applications in nursing and transportation. Honda would then concentrate on developing
new robots. The Asimo robot, on the other hand, had a number of attributes that would
serve as a model for future improvements. For the time being, the Asimo has been put
on hold.