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Kickin' Asimo While He's Down — Parallax Forums

Kickin' Asimo While He's Down

ercoerco Posts: 20,256
edited 2012-01-27 12:05 in Robotics
I just did a quickie Ebay search on Honda Asimo: http://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_from=R40&_trksid=m570.l2736&_nkw=honda+asimo and was surprised that everything is fairly expensive, like $60+ for a non-motorized poseable figure. And $30 each for your choice of a mug or a cheap windup walking keychain. Plus shipping from Japan.

Or $69 for a TOWEL! Shipping included, natch: http://www.ebay.com/itm/ASIMO-Sports-Towel-Honda-Robot-Character-Goods-/150723620075?pt=Bath_Towels_Washcloths&hash=item2317d3eceb

What's the huge appeal? Just to say you have a static model of the robot that sorta runs but hasn't mastered stairs? :)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6dKPkL2oto0 new one

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cZeseJBzuF4 original & best

Comments

  • Martin_HMartin_H Posts: 4,051
    edited 2012-01-17 07:39
    Those face plants are painful to watch. I feel slightly bad for Asimo even though I know it doesn't feel pain. I feel worse for the engineers because demo failures really stink. There's usually so much work behind the demo and some glitch fouls the whole thing up.
  • graffixgraffix Posts: 389
    edited 2012-01-17 08:02
    The new one video is dated 2006?
    The other is dated 2007?
  • mindrobotsmindrobots Posts: 6,506
    edited 2012-01-17 08:33
    I like how they put the screen around him after he falls.......so they can get the little person out of the Asimo costume???

    I agree the faceplant does hurt to watch.....
  • TLCTLC Posts: 74
    edited 2012-01-17 11:27
    I watched 6 different Asimo demos at AirVenture last summer. I was more impressed than I expected to be. They had him walking up and down stairs, and kicking a soccer ball. I usually go to AirVenture 2 or 3 days early and roam the grounds. I was able to sneak in while the young woman was practicing with Asimo and I heard, which I later confirmed during actual demos, that there were some pretty explicit word sequences that prefixed each part of the demo. Not sure if it was for Asimo's benefit or the Japanese engineer behind the curtains.

    Anyway, it was cool to see him and I got lots of photos.
  • ercoerco Posts: 20,256
    edited 2012-01-27 09:23
    One way to make a million dollars:

    1) Buy this costume: http://www.japantrendshop.com/asimo-robot-costume-suit-p-1322.html?utm_source=Japan+Trend+Shop&utm_campaign=a0b16598aa-JTS_01_27_2012&utm_medium=email
    2) Practice waving, jogging slowly and falling down stairs
    3) Book yourself in trade shows for a year
  • Martin_HMartin_H Posts: 4,051
    edited 2012-01-27 11:30
    I like the cut of your jib. That's the kind of creative entrepreneurship opportunity people need in these tough economic times.
  • Duane DegnDuane Degn Posts: 10,588
    edited 2012-01-27 11:38
    erco wrote: »
    3) Book yourself in trade shows for a year

    Maybe you could get a job removing radioactive material too.
  • ercoerco Posts: 20,256
    edited 2012-01-27 12:00
    Duane Degn wrote: »
    Maybe you could get a job removing radioactive material too.

    Yikes, an unintentional but grim reminder of the "Atomic Samurai" at Japan's Fukushima power plant: http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/news/3489875/First-pictures-from-Fukushima-nuclear-plant-show-Japans-Atomic-Samurai.html

    On March 11, it will be a year since the tsunami. It's not headline news anymore, but there's still years of cleanup and radiation danger ahead.

    God bless the Atomic Samurai!
  • Duane DegnDuane Degn Posts: 10,588
    edited 2012-01-27 12:05
    erco wrote: »
    Yikes, an unintentional but grim reminder of the "Atomic Samurai" at Japan's Fukushima power plant: http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/news/3489875/First-pictures-from-Fukushima-nuclear-plant-show-Japans-Atomic-Samurai.html

    On March 11, it will be a year since the tsunami. It's not headline news anymore, but there's still years of cleanup and radiation danger ahead.

    God bless the Atomic Samurai!

    It too bad we don't have robots capable of taking their place yet. I think it's pretty obvious our current robots are pretty limited compared with the dexterity of a human.
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