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ASIMO
ASIMO at the Tokyo Motor Show in 2011
Year of creation	2000

ASIMO stands for Advanced Step in Innovative Mobility. It is a humanoid robot created by the company Honda in 2000. You can see ASIMO at the Miraikan museum in Tokyo, Japan. In 2018, Honda announced they would stop making new ASIMO robots. They wanted to use the technology from ASIMO to build other useful robots. ASIMO's name was chosen to honor Isaac Asimov, a famous science fiction writer. ASIMO made its last public appearance in March 2022. Honda decided to focus on robots that can be controlled remotely, like avatars.

There have been four main models of ASIMO. By 2009, over 100 ASIMO robots existed around the world.

How ASIMO Was Developed
ASIMO's Public Appearances
See also

How ASIMO Was Developed

P3 model (left) compared to ASIMO

Honda started working on robots that look like humans in the 1980s. Their main goal was to create a robot that could walk. The first two-legged robot they made was called E0. This was part of the Honda E series, which were early robots that could walk on their own without wires. This series was made between 1986 and 1993.

After the E-series, Honda developed the Honda P series robots from 1993 to 1997. All the research from these earlier robots helped create ASIMO. Development for ASIMO began in 1999 in Japan. ASIMO was first shown to the public in October 2000. The name ASIMO is an acronym, meaning each letter stands for a word: Advanced Step in Innovative Mobility. In Japanese, "Asi" means 'leg' and "Mo" means 'mobility'. ASIMO is pronounced 'ashimo'.

In 2018, Honda stopped making ASIMO for sale. However, ASIMO is still used for research and sometimes appears in public events.

ASIMO's Design

ASIMO is about 130 cm (4 ft 3 in) (4 feet 3 inches) tall. It weighs 54 kg (119 lb) (119 pounds). Honda found that this height is good for a robot that helps people. It's easy for ASIMO to reach door handles and light switches. ASIMO uses a special rechargeable lithium-ion battery. It can work for about one hour before needing to recharge. An older battery type was replaced in 2004, which helped ASIMO work longer.

ASIMO has a special computer brain made by Honda. This computer helps control all of ASIMO's movements. The main part of the computer is inside the robot's waist. People can control ASIMO using a computer, a wireless controller, or even voice commands.

What ASIMO Can Do

ASIMO has many cool abilities that help it interact with people. It can see and recognize moving objects. It can also understand different hand gestures and the area around it. ASIMO can even hear sounds and recognize faces.

ASIMO has two camera "eyes" in its head. These cameras help it see and figure out how far away things are. This means ASIMO can follow a person or turn to face them when they come near. The robot understands when someone offers a handshake or waves. It can then respond in the right way. ASIMO can also tell the difference between voices and other noises. This helps it know who is talking to it. ASIMO can respond to its name and knows when something falls or crashes. It can answer questions by nodding or speaking in different languages. ASIMO can even recognize about 10 different faces and call them by name.

ASIMO has special sensors to help it move around on its own. The two cameras in its head act as visual sensors to spot obstacles. The lower part of its body has ground sensors. These include a laser sensor and an infrared sensor. The laser sensor checks the ground surface. The infrared sensor helps ASIMO see special floor markings. These markings help the robot know exactly where it is on a map. ASIMO uses this map and the markings to move precisely and adjust its path. It also has front and back ultrasonic sensors to detect things in its way.

ASIMO has sensors to understand its environment, including visual, ground, and ultrasonic sensors.
Two cameras are located inside ASIMO's black visor.
Special black markings on the floor help ASIMO navigate on its own.
The ground and front ultrasonic sensors are at the bottom of ASIMO's body.
This is the sole of ASIMO's left foot, which helps it control its balance.
A view of ASIMO from behind.

ASIMO's Impact and New Technologies

Honda's work with ASIMO has led to other helpful inventions. For example, they developed devices to help people walk better. These include the Stride Management Assist and the Bodyweight Support Assist.

For ASIMO's 10th birthday in 2010, Honda made a fun app for iPhone and Android phones. It was called "Run with ASIMO." Users could learn about ASIMO's development by making the robot "walk" through a race. Then they could share their times online.

Specifications

Specifications
Model	2000, 2001, 2002	2004	2005, 2007	2011
Mass	54 kilograms (119 lb)			48 kilograms (106 lb)
Height	120 centimetres (47 in)	130 centimetres (51 in)
Width	45 centimetres (18 in)
Depth	44 centimetres (17 in)	37 centimetres (15 in)		34 centimetres (13 in)
Walking speed	1.6 kilometres per hour (0.99 mph)	2.5 kilometres per hour (1.6 mph)	2.7 kilometres per hour (1.7 mph)
Running speed	N/A	3 kilometres per hour (1.9 mph)	6 kilometres per hour (3.7 mph) (straight) 5 kilometres per hour (3.1 mph) (circling)	9 kilometres per hour (5.6 mph)
Airborne time (Running motion)	N/A	0.05 seconds	0.08 seconds
Battery	Nickel metal hydride 38.4 V, 10 Ah, 7.7 kilograms (17 lb) 4 hours to fully charge	Lithium ion 51.8 V, 6 kilograms (13 lb) 3 hours to fully charge
Continuous operating time	30 minutes	40 mins to 1 hour (walking)		1 hour (running/walking)
Degrees of Freedom	26 (head: 2, arm: 5×2, hand: 1×2, leg: 6×2)	34 (head: 3, arm: 7×2, hand: 2×2, torso: 1, leg: 6×2)		57 (head: 3, arm: 7×2, hand: 13×2, torso: 2, leg: 6×2)
Languages				English & Japanese
Images

ASIMO's Public Appearances

ASIMO conducting an orchestra

ASIMO dancing in Disneyland

The original ASIMO robot

Since it was first shown in 2000, ASIMO has traveled all over the world. It has performed for many different audiences. ASIMO first appeared in the U.S. in 2002. It even rang the bell to open trading at the New York Stock Exchange. From 2003 to 2005, ASIMO toured the U.S. and Canada. It showed its abilities to over 130,000 people.

ASIMO was part of an educational tour in North America. It visited top science museums and schools. The goal was to encourage students to study science. ASIMO also visited colleges to inspire students to think about careers in science. In 2004, ASIMO was added to the Carnegie Mellon Robot Hall of Fame. In March 2005, ASIMO walked the red carpet at the movie premiere of Robots.

In June 2005, ASIMO became a regular part of a show at Disneyland's Innoventions attraction. This was the only place in North America where you could always see ASIMO. The Innoventions attraction closed in 2015.

ASIMO first visited the United Kingdom in 2003. It gave private shows at the Science Museum in London. ASIMO then continued its world tour. It stopped in countries like Spain, Russia, South Africa, and Australia. In October 2008, ASIMO met Prince Charles at the Miraikan Museum in Tokyo. It performed a seven-minute dance routine for him.

In 2007, Honda showed how several ASIMO robots could work together. They showed ASIMO robots avoiding people and working with each other. They also showed ASIMO knowing when to recharge its battery. ASIMO could even carry a tray and push a cart.

In 2008, ASIMO conducted the Detroit Symphony Orchestra. It performed the song "The Impossible Dream." This event helped bring attention to the orchestra. A giant, 49-foot replica of ASIMO led the 120th Rose Parade. It was made from natural materials like lettuce seeds and flowers. This celebrated Honda's 50 years in the USA. Later that year, ASIMO appeared in Italy at the Genoa Science Festival.

In 2010, Honda released a documentary called "Living With Robots." It showed how people interact with robots like ASIMO. ASIMO also attended the Ars Electronica festival in Austria. Honda used this event to study how humans and robots interact. This helped them improve future robots. In 2011, ASIMO was shown at the FIRST Championship in the U.S. This was to encourage students to study math, science, and engineering. ASIMO was also a big attraction at the first Abu Dhabi Science Festival.

ASIMO visited the Ontario Science Center in Toronto in May 2011. It showed its skills to Canadian students. The robot then traveled to Ottawa for a special exhibit at the Canadian Museum of Civilization.

ASIMO even appeared on the British TV quiz show QI in December 2011. It served water to the host and danced with a comedian. ASIMO actually won the show!

The 2012 movie Robot & Frank was inspired by ASIMO. In the film, a robot helps an older man with his last job as a "cat burglar." The robot in the movie looked like an ASIMO robot.

In April 2014, ASIMO met President Obama at the Miraikan science museum in Tokyo.

On March 24, 2017, Honda showed ASIMO at Disneyland's Autopia attraction.