I'm sure you've all seen the advert from Honda with their Asimo robot in it?
I've been following the progress of this invention for some time now as I find it all truly fascinating. If you stop to think for a minute, can you imagine the sheer amount of math calculations going on just to enable this thing to stand on two legs, never mind walk? Or run round corners??
For it to get up stairs, without putting two feet on the same step, is utterly amazing. Not only that, but it can run properly, both feet literally off the floor type running!
Can I recommend this 4min long movie clip which demonstrates some pretty impressive stuff:
http://asimo.honda.com/movie/wm_stre...e_tech_300.wmv
And some video clips of Asimo running, doing a slalom round some cones, and walking hand in hand (awww, so cute!):
http://asimo.honda.com/movie/wm_stre...bility_300.wmv
For those of you who wish to know more about Asimo in general, check out the official site:
http://asimo.honda.com/
Well, maybe I need to get out more (like these 260 owners who know FAR too much in depth stuff about their cars engineering
) but I think the technology here is a major breakthrough and we're all just that one step nearer to a robot in the home becoming a reality.
Roll on the next 10 years of Asimo advancement!
(and yes, I want one)