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December 12, 2007 | Comments: (0)
Honda's Asimo robot demonstrates advanced intelligence
Robotics has got to be simultaneously one of the most exciting and ignored high tech stories on the planet.
I’m not talking about robotics in manufacturing which is currently being used worldwide across many industries, especially among the automakers.
Rather the humanoid robots like the one Honda Motors is now showing off called Asimo.
Asimo takes your drink order, fetches the drink tray and delivers it.
It can also work in conjunction with a robot partner so that each doesn’t get in the way of the other and each takes on a different part of a task.
There are those short-sighted folks who think this kind of humanoid behavior is a useless pursuit and not worth the millions of dollars in R &D nor the retail price should these robots ever be sold to the public.
But think of all the things this machine has to be able to do in order to deliver a tray of drinks.
Asimo must understand—suddenly robotics renders ordinary language insufficient because the word 'understanding' is usually the domain of humans and a few high level species and implies intelligence—in order to take a person’s drink order, walk to where the drinks are located while discerning objects that might be blocking its path, work with the objects, like cups and saucers, and deliver the drink in a manner gentle enough so that not a drop is spilled.
Years ago I suggested creating a robotic bomb sniffing dog, with a chemical analyzer placed in its nose that could be sent into areas too dangerous for humans.
The U.S. Army actually has robots, they look like small tanks rather than dogs, that can disarm or at least blow itself and the bomb up before it detonates in a populated area.
There are also more peaceful uses for robots. Those that can recreate human or animal behavior might be used to serve as companions or as aides to the infirm.
Robotics was definitely one of the most underreported stories of the 20th Century. Personally I hope it will earn its rightful place as one of the great game changing technologies of the 21st Century.
Posted by Ephraim Schwartz on December 12, 2007 01:57 PM
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Yes, Asimo is the briliant robot that I never seen.
The advance innovation Honda developtment team. Not only serve drink it can walk upstairs. Mr.Schawartz
robotic bomb sniffing dog is the good idea but nowadays it like tank as you said. But I don't know about chemical analyzer. I think if it is bombs. It maybe metal detector. However chemical analyzer is useful when we need sniff drug.^^
I'm really surprised that I haven't heard more comment on the name of Honda's robot.
"Asimo" is only 1 letter away from "Asimov".
I can't think of a name more closely associated with humanoid robots.
Posted by: Kotts at December 19, 2007 12:50 PMAsimo? Asimov?
Duh! Everyone gets this. That's why there were no comments, friend. Everyone already gets it. Everyone thought that. Let me tell something that no one knows.
The sky. Have you noticed?
It's BLUE!
Posted by: sloan at December 22, 2007 01:50 PMRubbish. Asmo's *programmers are demonstrating advanced intelligence. Although, when I need a drink, frankly I'd prefer a waitress to some slow pile of plastic.
Posted by: Rich at December 26, 2007 03:57 PMThere is a difference between "understanding" and calculating. What the robot does is calculate. It doesn't understand anything about what it is doing. Understanding implies consciousness.
Posted by: Rob at December 27, 2007 10:15 AMHmmm, It's surprise that they name the intelligent robot honor for novelist instead of inventor. However, Asimov's writing is very interest. "I-robot" is the superb scientific novel include muvie.
Posted by: Thanapan at January 16, 2008 02:14 AMSo when are we going to see the first restaurant with an entirely robotic wait staff?
Posted by: Onanong at February 19, 2008 02:23 AMSo when are we going to see the first restaurant with an entirely robotic wait staff?
Posted by: Onanong at February 19, 2008 02:39 AMI don't know about wait staffs, but I expect service to improve when these things start jockeying cash registers at fast food restaurants. The places will probably be cleaner too.
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