TOKYO – Honda’s humanoid robot, which can be started up in four minutes, is to be a receptionist at IBM Japan.
Honda has refined its human robot “Asimo” to gracefully walk down stairs, respond to human commands and even work like a receptionist – but without the smile.
The two-legged, 1.2 metre (four-foot) white and silver Asimo, whose Japanese name roughly translates as “legs, even,” was on display on Monday, showing off its new skills.
Unlike Sony’s virtual pet dog Aibo, and Omron’s robo-cat Necor, Asimo does more than please the gadget-loving nation by wagging a tail or purring.
Asked to turn around at a press briefing, Asimo responded in a neutral, if somewhat monotone, voice: “What do you want?” while raising a hand and moving some fingers.
The 52kg product of 15 years of development by Japan’s third largest carmaker, first unveiled a year ago, can now be initialised, or booted, within four minutes — a big leap from a previous 40-minute start-up.
Honda, which has been renting out the robot for use at theme park events nationwide since April this year, on Monday said it chosen three clients out of 40 offers for long-term contracts.
Among them is IBM Japan, which hired Asimo as a receptionist for an annual contract of 20 million yen (US$166,200).
Although Asimo is not yet available for purchase, many amusement companies have lined up to pay the two million yen per day rental fee to use the humanoid for on-stage chats and tour guides, Honda said.
“In terms of costs and attraction, Asimo would rank among the celebrities called on to host events,” said Toshiji Asai, manager of Asimo’s business office.
But unlike many TV talents who are at the mercy of fickle audiences, Honda hopes to keep modifying Asimo so it remains a novelty.
“We hope to have Asimo on sale once it is more user-friedly, when it will be able to fetch things you ask for,” said Makoto Hirose, senior chief engineer at Honda R&D.
