ASIMO (アシモ) is a Robot humanoïde developed by Honda. Asimo is the Acronyme of “ has dvanced S Mtoe in I nnovative MO bility”; pronounced “ ashimo ” (“ of the legs also ”) in Japanese. Its name accidentally recalls that of the writer Isaac Asimov, author of many books of Science-fiction on the topic of the Robotique and creator of the Three laws of robotics.

The design of this robot is turned towards a utility goal, contrary to the robots of Sony whose objective is above all to create robots of company (Aibo, Qrio). Asimo is a robot of research, it is thus not marketed. Nevertheless, it was already lent for some public events. It was also rented by large companies like IBM, in order to fill the task of host of reception.

In the long term, Asimo will have to be able to come to assistance of the handicapped, old or sick people. It will be able to also carry out dangerous tasks for the human ones.

Technological innovations

One of the technological principal innovations of this robot is the fact that it is able to modify its trajectory while going, contrary to the robots of old generations constrained to stop their walk before carrying out a rotation on the spot. In the same way, it is possible for him to detect the movements of the objects, like their trajectory. Moreover, It is also able to assemble and go down from the staircases, to recognize faces, to include/understand the human word, to analyze its environment, to keep its balance on moving surfaces, etc Three versions of this robot have for the moment, considering the day.

Predecessors of Asimo

Honda began its research on the robots humanoïdes in 1986. Initially, the engineers sought to control walk Bipède. Thus, the first robots were only one simple pair of articulated legs. It is then that he was added arms and a true body. Asimo corresponds thus to the result of this research on the mechanical level. Today, the searchs for Honda are focused more on the improvement of the Artificial intelligence of the robot.

One can notice very the high speed to which the technology of these robots improved. In the same way, their weight and their size did not cease decreasing with the wire of the new models, if one takes into account the robots of series P-X.

Contrary to its predecessors who were only of simple experiments in the field of robotics, then prototypes, Asimo is the first model of test, aiming at a future marketing.

The series " Ex"

The letter " E" series E-X indicates “Experimental Model”. This first series of robots consists of Bipède S stripped of arm and being able to move only on surfaces punts.

  • E0 : 1986 (? km/h)

  • E1: 1987-1991 (0,25 km/h)
  • E2: 1987-1991 (1,20 km/h)
  • E3: 1987-1991 (3 km/h)
  • E4: 1991-1993 (4,7 km/h)
  • E5: 1991-1993 (? km/h)
  • E6: 1991-1993 (? km/h)

The series " Px"

The series of robot P-X or “Prototype Model” is provided with hinged jibs.

P1

P1 is the first robot humanoïde of Honda created in 1993. It has legs which enable him to go at fallback speed and of the arms. It is very different from Asimo.


P2

P2 was presented in December 1996. Honda indicated to have spent 100 million dollars on this project. This robot with the characteristic to be the first biped robot has to be able to go up and go down from the staircases.


P3

P3 was finalized in September 1997, but it marketed forever because it was only about one prototype of study.


1st version of Asimo

The development of Asimo began in the year 2000. Much smaller than its predecessors, his size is adapted better to the human environment. Moreover, one can note that the amplitude of movement was improved. Thus, the arms of Asimo can form an angle of 105°, whereas P3 could form only one angle of 90°. In the same way, the amplitude on the level of the shoulders was increased by 15%. Its freedom of movement is such as it is possible for him to dance.

Asimo has also a great manual ability. Indeed, the pressure in its fingers is of 0,5 kg, and its inch opposed to its four other fingers, enable him to carry as complex objects to handle as a newspaper or a telephone portable.
The body of Asimo consists of an alloy of Magnésium covered by a plastic resin. The computer enabling him to calculate the movements of Asimo and to answer the external évênements, is located in its back, a such backpack.


2nd version of Asimo (Next-Generation ASIMO)

The December 15th 2004, Honda presents a new generation of its Asimo robot. Thus, the Asimo robot now has the possibility of running at a speed of 3 km/h, by leaving the ground during intervals of 0,05 second. Moreover, its design slightly was re-examined and refined. Lastly, the artificial intelligence was improved on many points:

  • memory;
  • capacities of calculation;
  • identification of the mobile objects;
  • identification of the gestures
  • it is possible for him to tighten the hand of a person when this one requests it, while managing her force

  • voice recognition (possibility of distinguishing the voices and unwanted noise);

  • recognition of the faces and the human beings (to follow a person, to greet a person which approaches, to address itself to a person by its name);
  • connection to Internet (Asimo can be connected to Internet and thus reach last information).

On the plan of the design, the bulky central processing unit that it carries in its back was miniaturized and its integration was improved. Lastly, its articulations were refined (in particular on the level of the arms), and even more types of movements allow him. But it is more on the level of its capacities of interactions with the human beings that the efforts of the engineers were focused, Asimo being intended before very adapting to the human environment.


3rd version of Asimo (New ASIMO)

The December 13rd 2005, Honda launches a new generation of its Asimo robot.

In its third version, the Asimo robot with the possibility of running at a speed of 6 km/h, by leaving the ground during intervals of 0,08 second, and without none of its legs touching the ground whereas it advances over a length of 50 Misters Il him is also from now on possible to run to 5 km/h while following a circular trajectory of ray 2,5 Mr.

The most important modifications touch its artificial intelligence, which was improved with an aim of making it more interactive with its environment:

  • Capacity to fill the task of receptionist or guide of information
  • Capacity to hold somebody by the hand and to move in synchronism with it
  • Capacity to operate and correct the trajectory of a carriage whose weight can go up to 10 kg. In the same way, it can transport a tray meal by keeping its arms perfectly to the horizontal one.

According to the engineers of Honda, Asimo would have at this stage, a level of intelligence comparable with a three year old child and a physical skill of a ten year old child. Moreover, even if it is still not marketed, Asimo is available per annum in hiring in this 3rd version for a price of approximately 170.000 US dollars.


See too

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  • SHINPO - the robot humanoïde of company TMSUK
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  • Nao, the project of robot humanoïde French, the company Aldebaran Robotics
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External bonds

  • Official site of the robot Asimo
  • official Gate of the robot Asimo

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