Honda's ASIMO robot controlled with the mind

The Research Institute of Honda has announced that it has just developed the latest version of ASIMO, the company famous robot that can dance, run or even guide people. This version is now equipped with so-called Brain Machine Interface (BMI ), which allows the robot to be directed with the mind. Works with a headset that gets measure brain activity and send signals to the machine. So, to move the robot only need to put the helmet and think about the movement we want to do. Now, the height of laziness. You can see some pictures and a video after the jump.

Honda launches new robot Asimo

Honda has presented its new model society of humanoid robot Asimo, which you see in the picture illustrating the story.
There are many advances that offers:
New features to function in social environments like an office, but can interact with people.
Speed of 6 km / h and 2.7 running on foot.
You can walk hand in hand with a person.
Know to carry objects using a cart.
Thus, Asimo can function in almost work as a receptionist or tour guide.

History of Honda Robots: ASIMO project to E0

Since the Czech writer Karel Capek in 1921 coined the term 'robot' in his play RUR (Rossum's Universal Robots), the evolution of the androids, their usefulness and the place would fill a medium-term future has led to inflamed discussions and has held thousands of pages in numerous books and essays on science fiction.

Almost all the works bet because robots would become part of our lives in a relatively short period of time and were almost done that in the early twenty-first century could be used to perform the toughest jobs and complicated but also for other more how to perform everyday shopping or walking the dog. Unfortunately, their estimates have run into the harsh reality: the evolution of robots is still very slow and costly.

If there is a company that has invested in the development and improvement of the technology needed to create androids has been Honda. Today we all know the ASIMO, a humanoid robot can run, climb stairs, recognize faces of their owners and even perform some simple task, but it should be remembered that this is the fruit of two decades of research that had their beginning in 1986.

It was in that year that Honda created the E0, a very rudimentary prototype biped 5 seconds needed to complete one step and that it lacked the human aspect of that is showing ASIMO, but that was the basis on which cemented further developments.

Searching on the net I just found a video containing images of this model. The lighting is very poor and poor image quality, but gives you an idea of what the E0:
The next generation of robots was formed by the models E1, E2 and E3, developed between 1987 and 1991. This is the aspect that had these three models:
The E1 was able to walk at 0.25 km / h, leading to discern a certain distinction of movement between both legs. Meanwhile, in E2 the Japanese manufacturer was one step further by creating the first model that simulated more or less realistic human walking, although he could only reach 1.2 km / h. This was achieved with the E3, aesthetic improvements that besides making it more pleasing to the eye, I could walk at 3 km / h, the same speed that we develop when we walk.

Honda introduced the second generation of the robot Asimo

Third-largest carmaker, known for his groundbreaking robotic technology, on Tuesday introduced the second generation of Asimo can also push a cart weighing up to 10 kilos, walking straight, sideways or backwards with it. With more joints and flexibility of movement, Asimo can also grip and carry a tray of drinks, and deposit it safely on the table. Demonstrating the latest tricks with video images, Honda introduced the robot than 130 cm tall addressing a mock visitor by name and showing the conference room, while maintaining a steady and natural distance from the guest.
"Welcome, Sato-san," Asimo said, bowing as mandated by the Japanese label.
Preprogrammed visitor's name, place of meeting and other data in an integrated circuit card bearing the visitor upon arrival, a worker can remotely send commands to Asimo, which will pick them up through a reader of the integrated circuit card. After seemingly simple tasks are a large number of advanced sensors, voice and image recognition and other technologies that Honda says it will apply to its automotive business to improve safety and other aspects.

The droid can also run twice as fast (6 kilometers per hour) that the prototype unveiled last December. Honda said it would begin using the new Asimo in research and development unit in Wako, near Tokyo, from spring 2006. Finally will be available for rent.

Saya teacher Robot Japan

Remember Asimo, well ... Now comes "The Japanese robot master." Generates more realistic face expressions. "But the designer says that is not ready to replace human instructors. It's Honda Motors, and can express six basic emotions - surprise, fear, disgust, anger, happiness and sadness - because your skin rubber is pulled from behind by motors and cables around the eyes and mouth. " Thanks to Carlos Neri this information comes to hand. Surely we will soon issue Saya lesson and take the exams!

Humanoid Robot list goes on and scolds Japanese classroom

TOKYO (AP) - The Japanese robot master pass list, smiles and scolds, provoking laughter from the students with realistic face. But its designer says that is not ready to replace human instructors.
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Unlike most mechanical-looking robots like Asimo, Honda Motors, the master robot, called Saya, may express six basic emotions _ surprise, fear, disgust, anger, happiness and sadness because their skin _ of rubber is pulled back from motors and cables around the eyes and mouth.


In a demonstration, the robot's mouth opened, his eyes widened and his eyebrows were arched in the tone of surprise. Saya stretched his lips into a smile and said preprogrammed phrases as "thank you very much, moving lips, to express pleasure.

"The robots seem human that tend to be very dear to children and the elderly," said Wednesday Hiroshi Kobayashi, a professor of science at the University of Tokyo and founder of Saya, the Associated Press. "The children even begin to mourn them when Saya scolds."

Developed initially as a receptionist robot in 2004, Saya was tested in a real classroom in Tokyo this year with a handful of students in fifth and sixth grades, but still can not do much more than roll and shout orders like "Shut up! .

The children enjoyed a lot, Kobayashi recalled, smiling when Saya said their names. Still, it is controlled remotely by a person who observes the interaction by means of cameras, he said.

Japan and other countries have hope that the robot will eventually be a solution for its growing labor shortages, the aging population. But scientists say there is no machine capable of dealing with children and the elderly.