ASIMO - The Honda Humanoid Robot
The main concept behind Honda's robot was to create a more viable mobility that allows robots to help and live in harmony with people.
Although considered extremely difficult at the time, Honda set itself this ambitious goal and developed revolutionary new technology to create a two-legged walking robot.
Honda engineers created ASIMO with 26 Degrees of Freedom that help it walk and perform tasks much like a human, like assisting an elderly person, or getting medicine for someone confined to a bed or a wheelchair.
ASIMO has two Degrees of Freedom on its neck, six on each arm and six on each leg. Lightweight materials, like a magnesium alloy structure, combined with powerful computers in its backpack and 26 servo motors throughout its body help ASIMO walk and move smoothly with ease.
ASIMO may also someday be helpful in dangerous work environments such as moving harmful chemicals or fighting fires.
The latest Key Specification
Running speed |
3km/hour (airborne time: 0.05 second) |
Normal walking speed |
2.5km/h (current model: 1.6km/h) |
Height |
130cm (current model: 120cm) |
Weight |
54kg (current model: 52kg) |
Continuous operating time |
1 hour (current model: 30 min) |
Operating degrees of freedom |
Total 34 degrees of freedom (current model: Total 26) |
Hip rotational joint |
Increased walking speed was achieved by the proactive rotation of the hips in addition to swinging of the arms, which cancel the reaction force generated when the legs swing forward during running or walking. |
Wrist bending joint |
Due to two additional axes in each wrist, the movement of the wrist area is more flexible |
Thumb joint |
Previously, one motor operated all five fingers. With addition of a motor that operates the thumb independently, ASIMO can now hold objects of various shapes. |
Neck joint |
With an additional axis added to its neck joint, ASIMO's expressiveness has been enhanced. |
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KEY TECHNOLOGIES AND ACHIEVEMENTS |
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| i-WALK = Intelligent, Real-Time, Flexible Walking |
| Using Stairs |
| Intelligence = Voice, Face, Posture/Gesture, Environment Recognition |
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i-Walk
When human beings walk straight ahead and start to turn a corner, they shift their center of gravity toward the inside of the turn. ASIMO on the other hand can predict its next movement in real time and shift its center of gravity in anticipation. The i-walk technology allows ASIMO to combine stored walking patterns and walking patterns generated in real time. This advanced, two-legged walking technology permits more flexible walking by allowing ASIMO to walk continuously while changing directions and by giving ASIMO even more stability in response to sudden movements. In addition, the speed, stride (time per step) and turning angle of ASIMO's steps can be changed freely, making ASIMO's movements much more smooth and natural. ASIMO has a walking speed of up to 1 mile per hour and can easily walk on slopes and uneven surfaces up to a maximum 30 degree incline or decline.
This technological development will allow robots of the future to work in harmony with people while avoiding obstructions on their own.
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Climbing/Descending Stairs
A 6-axis force sensor in each foot detects stable foot placement on each step. Combined with data from its torso-mount19-Feb-2007ematical algorithms that allow it to negotiate stairs, successfully climbing and descending with ease.
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Intelligence
Voice Recognition
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; then, recognize sudden, unusual sounds, such as that of a falling object or a collision, and face in that direction.
Face recognition
ASIMO relies on facial mapping, recording the topographical features of a person's face and electronically storing the data in its internal memory. When ASIMO sees a face, it compares what it sees with the data in its memory to try to identify a match. If a match is found, ASIMO will respond with a unique greeting for that person 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.
Posture/gesture recognition
ASIMO is capable of interpreting the postures and gestures of humans and moving independently in response. By recognizing the hand movements such as the waving, ASIMO can then greet the person, following him/her, move in the direction they indicated.
Environment recognition
ASIMO is able to assess its immediate environment, recognizing the position of obstacles and avoiding them to prevent collisions. Using the visual information captured by the camera mounted in its head, ASIMO can detect the movements of multiple objects, assessing distance and direction.
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