A famous writer once wrote, “Fiction reveals truths that reality obscures”. And it seems that Honda takes this statement very seriously. Honda motors were founded in 1948. Initially, into manufacturing Piston Rings, Honda then tried their luck in manufacturing motorcycles. In 1949, the first Honda motorcycle was manufactured which proved to be a great success and after that there was no looking back.

Honda apart from their core automobile and motorcycle businesses also manufactures garden equipment, marine engines, personal watercraft and power generators, etc. Honda has also ventured into aerospace with the establishment of GE Honda Aero Engines in 2004. Since 1986, Honda has been involved with artificial intelligence/robotics research and released their ASIMO robot in 2000.

ASIMO stands for Advanced Step in Innovative Mobility which means advanced innovative mobility for new era. According to the ASIMO Web site, ASIMO is the first humanoid robot in the world that can walk independently and climb stairs.

The idea behind ASIMO was to create a robot that can function in an actual human living environment. It is easy to operate, has a convenient size and weight and can move freely within the human living environment, all with a people-friendly design.

ASIMO has the following features:

It is compact and lightweight

It has a more advanced walking technology

It has wider arm operating parameters

It is easy to operate

It has a friendly design

ASIMO is another milestone of Honda’s advanced technology. ASIMO is an achievement in the evolution of ‘Human Walk’ technology. This technology, called i-WALK, enables ASIMO to move back and forth, vary its pace, step right and left and walk along an ’8′ shape path. ASIMO can also move in more complex ways, such as waving its hands while walking. Furthermore, ASIMO is capable of carrying a tray and handling a cart.

Introduction of Intelligence Technology: Honda has added Intelligence Technology to ASIMO.

ASIMO can now recognise moving objects and it does not trip over objects.

ASIMO can also recognise different postures and gestures that enable it to interact and respond appropriately.

ASIMO is also capable of recognising the surrounding environment and can give valuable information about the environment.

ASIMO is also capable of distinguishing sounds and because of the face recognition technology; it can differentiate between different people around itself.

Apart from the above new features ASIMO can execute functions appropriately based on the user’s customer data. It can greet visitors, informing personnel of the visitor’s arrival by transmitting messages and pictures of the visitor’s face. It can also guide visitors to a predetermined location, etc. Moreover, it can access information via the Internet, i.e. ASIMO can become a provider of news and weather updates.

This humanoid robot has put Honda at the front of cutting edge technology that promises to improve the quality of our lives.