Honda Motor Co., Ltd. unveiled an all-new ASIMO humanoid robot newly equipped with the world’s first1 autonomous behavior control technology. With a further advance in autonomy, the all-new ASIMO moves without being controlled by an operator.
It has significantly improved intelligence and the physical ability to adapt to situations. It is another step (I wonder if the pun was intended by the writers of the press release?) closer to practical use in an office or a public space.
I wonder if it will perform at CES again this year? I’ve enjoyed seeing it in years past.
(NOTE: Honda over stated its claim to having the “world’s first” autonomous behavior control technology.” Perhaps it should read, the world’s most elaborate autonomous controlled humanoid behavior technology.
Loren Heiny, Allan Sullivan, Brian Flamig and several other graduate students in computer science engineering at Arizona State University adapted a wheel chair with autonomous robotic controls in the 1980s.
The team developed controls to assist the dean’s son to increase his mobility. They used off-the-shelf parts, including their professor’s 8080 PC with software that Loren with others wrote and adjusted.
They told the wheel chairt where to go on the floor of their lab and it did so, seeing and learning to avoid unique and continuing obstacles as it moved. They almost mastered it getting on the elevator and selecting the targeted floor before university schedules stopped forther development.
Their autonomous wheelchair had U.S. national media coverage and drew attention at an international conference about robotics held in Colorado.
As I remember, at the time the U.S. military had an experimental autonomous tank that ran over everything in its way to get to its targeted position. They also had an experimental mobile gun that followed a line, such as the edge of a road, to posiion itself.
Some may argue that flying-by-wire and other self-correcting controlled behavior of machines in military and civilian use also preceeded ASIMO by decades.
Loren’s family has the software and frame for his earlier mobile robot he called Mr. E. Layne and Lora worked with him to form the body from styroform and fiberglass.
Loren hand wired its 8080 computer and used off-the-shelf parts from surplus stores in Modesto and from mail order catalogues. We also have Mr. E’s arm and hand with knuckles that he crafted from aluminum tubing.
Allan and Brian continue developing – now without Loren since he died - another part of the autonomous wheelchair project.
I still like the idea of an autonomous wheelchair.)
