Acts of Volition

Humanoid robot displays realistic 'creepy human' behaviour

Posted by Steven Garrity on Sunday, September 29, 2002 - 9 comments

This is old news, but I've been looking for video of this ever since I heard about it a few months ago: Asimo, Honda's "humanoid robot" playing soccer (it's the first video on the page - or download the RealVideo file). It is enormously entertaining.

It's a bit creepy, yes, but the copyright-free musak version of Walkin' on Sunshine sure helps lighten the mood. This is totally worth watching. At about 3:50 into the clip, the robot "raises the roof". Don't miss it.

Oh, and next time a robot rings the opening bell at the New York Stock Exchange, can somebody tell me!

Comments

Andrew - September 29, 2002 11:50 pm

Amazing. Might not be the fastest, or the smartest, yet. But my god. One day these robots could be programmed to replace humans in the battle fields of war, or for search and rescue operations. Maybe even law enforcement, kinda like robo cop.

Steven Garrity - September 30, 2002 12:40 am

Andrew, while I admire your optimism, I tend to imagine a less pleasant outcome. One day these robots could be programmed to replace humans in raising our children, loving our women, and playing soccer with our disembodied heads!

Stephen DesRoches - September 30, 2002 9:36 am

can't get any less pleasant then RoboCop = Terminator = Judgment Day.

Alan - September 30, 2002 9:42 am

I will be long dead before Asimo IIV dives left and flicks the ball driven by a human around the post. Honda, during more than a decade of financial crisis in the homeland, must have some interesting Board of Directors meetings when the budget for this is raised. Must be a lot of Johnny Soko and Giant Robot fans in management there.