The humanoid robot Asimo, developed by the Japanese automaker Honda, will officially retire on March 31 after 20 years of dedicated service.
Honda described Asimo as “the most advanced humanoid robot in the world.” (Image: asimo.honda.com).
Since its public debut in 2000, Asimo has become a symbol of pioneering robotic technology in Japan. Asimo is capable of running, hopping, and using sign language with its five fingers. However, in recent years, Honda has ceased development on Asimo following its last upgrade in 2011, which equipped the robot with the ability to autonomously avoid collisions with others.
In September 2021, Honda announced plans to develop avatar robots that would allow users to control them remotely. The company stated that the new robots will be equipped with multi-fingered hands and AI-assisted remote control functions.
As Asimo prepares for retirement, fans, including many parents and children, have visited Honda’s exhibition hall to bid farewell to the child-sized robot (standing 1.2 meters tall and weighing 54 kg). Honda has often referred to Asimo as “the most advanced humanoid robot in the world.”
In 2002, to commemorate Honda’s 25th anniversary of being listed on the New York Stock Exchange, Asimo appeared at the event and rang the bell to open the stock market.
In 2014, during a visit to Japan by then-President Barack Obama, Asimo greeted him in English and performed actions such as kicking a soccer ball and jumping at the National Museum of Emerging Science and Innovation in Tokyo.
In a statement on March 27, Honda announced that it will continue to sell Asimo products even after the robot’s retirement.
