ASIMO Robot Turns 10, Honda Bakes a Cake

Honda’s ASIMO (Advanced Step in Innovative Mobility) humanoid robot celebrates its tenth anniversary this year on October 31, the Japanese automaker announced today. In order to mark the occasion - and aside from baking a birthday cake as we can see in the adjacent image - Honda has launched a dedicated website that hosts films and photographs detailing ASIMO’s evolution over the past 10 years.

A ‘Run with ASIMO’ smartphone and iPhone app has also been produced to allow users to interact with a virtual version of the robot on their phone. The app will reportedly be available to download from mid November.

“ASIMO was created 10 years ago as part of Honda’s programme of research and development into robotics and human mobility. After 10 years of innovation, ASIMO can now run and walk on uneven slopes and surfaces, climb stairs, and reach for and grasp objects. ASIMO can also comprehend and respond to simple voice commands, recognise faces and even avoid moving obstacles as it runs,” a company statement reads.

Since its European unveiling at the Technical University of Darmstadt in June 2003, ASIMO has visited science museums around Europe, met royalty and heads of state and even visited the European Parliament.

Honda’s humanoid robot has lead to breakthroughs in mobility technology, but Honda’s ultimate goal is to is to develop a robot that will be able to help people in their everyday lives, both by performing daily tasks, and work too dangerous for a human, such as firefighting and cleaning up toxic spills.

The Japanese manufacturer is now focusing its research on the development of ASIMO’s intelligence, as well as exploring the scope for interaction between humans and humanoid robots.