# Honda Robot. **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [April 13, 2003, 7:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/honda-robot/168487 "2003-04-13T19:41:11Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 13\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![CelraySoda](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e36b37/32.png) [@CelraySoda](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CelraySoda)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2003, 7:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/honda-robot/168487/1 "2003-04-13T19:41:11Z")
Anybody know what it can do? Are they using them right now…I remember seeing a conceptual commercial for it back in like 1994 and they finally made it. So, when can I buy my own? -M ---
**Author:** ![that\_darn\_cat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/59ef9b/32.png) [@that\_darn\_cat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/that_darn_cat)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2003, 8:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/honda-robot/168487/2 "2003-04-13T20:32:26Z")
I haven’t read much about **Asima** since a _Popular Sceince_ article a few years back. IIRC, all it cold do was stand up and walk around a bit without falling down. It’s next big challenge was climbing stairs. Don’t know how much better it’s gotten since then. Still pretty neat. ---
**Author:** ![that\_darn\_cat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/59ef9b/32.png) [@that\_darn\_cat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/that_darn_cat)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2003, 8:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/honda-robot/168487/3 "2003-04-13T20:33:31Z")
It can probably code better than me, though. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![CelraySoda](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e36b37/32.png) [@CelraySoda](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CelraySoda)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2003, 8:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/honda-robot/168487/4 "2003-04-13T20:34:31Z")
Ok…looks like I found some info on ASIMO. You can download movies of it and other things there too. As well as rent him in Japan, woo hoo! -M > **[Honda Global | Honda Motor Co.,Ltd.](https://global.honda/)** > > Honda Motor Co.,Ltd. Honda Global Site - The official Honda global web site for information on Honda Motor and its subsidiaries and affiliates. ---
**Author:** ![CelraySoda](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e36b37/32.png) [@CelraySoda](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CelraySoda)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2003, 8:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/honda-robot/168487/5 "2003-04-13T20:41:17Z")
And this is a direct link to the ASIMO World Tour. It has an eerie look to it. The robot handing flowers to a human child in an offering of peace and friendship. I saw that Stephen King movie, and Chopping Mall, too. I don’t trust him. -M [http://asimo.honda.com/](http://asimo.honda.com/) ---
**Author:** ![BuckleberryFerry](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/5f9b8f/32.png) [@BuckleberryFerry](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BuckleberryFerry)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2003, 10:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/honda-robot/168487/6 "2003-04-13T22:01:52Z")
Am I the only one genuinely scared of this thing? ::shudders:: I don’t like things that can move without a central nervous system!!! ---
**Author:** ![BuckleberryFerry](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/5f9b8f/32.png) [@BuckleberryFerry](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BuckleberryFerry)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2003, 10:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/honda-robot/168487/7 "2003-04-13T22:04:43Z")
Oops, sorry **CelraySoda** , I see we’re in the same boat. ---
**Author:** ![CelraySoda](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e36b37/32.png) [@CelraySoda](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CelraySoda)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2003, 10:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/honda-robot/168487/8 "2003-04-13T22:10:48Z")
In the commercial, he waves at the paperboy from the driveway of some nucleur family. Maybe Honda has some sort of Terminator 2 plan in the midsts? The day they sell these things as security systems in the US, that’s when I become a Canadian. He has no face, that’s a little spooky, eh? -M ---
**Author:** ![BuckleberryFerry](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/5f9b8f/32.png) [@BuckleberryFerry](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BuckleberryFerry)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2003, 10:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/honda-robot/168487/9 "2003-04-13T22:25:51Z")
More than a little. I can see a few malfuntions coming this way. Remember that Cabbage Patch doll that ate kid’s hair? Betcha ASIMO can eat kids whole. :nods: ---
**Author:** ![cainxinth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/7bcc69/32.png) [@cainxinth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cainxinth)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2003, 10:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/honda-robot/168487/10 "2003-04-13T22:39:54Z")
I like ASIMO and the Sony humanoid [robot](http://www.tokyodv.com/news/RoboDex2002SDR-3XSonybot.html). I think it would great to have a little guy to bring me drinks and read me my email while I’m on the couch. And if they could program him to call me boss and say “de plane, de plane!,” all would be right in the world. ---
**Author:** ![Tuckerfan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/eada6e/32.png) [@Tuckerfan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tuckerfan)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2003, 11:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/honda-robot/168487/11 "2003-04-13T23:17:59Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by cainxinth \* > \*\*I like ASIMO and the Sony humanoid [robot](http://www.tokyodv.com/news/RoboDex2002SDR-3XSonybot.html). > > I think it would great to have a little guy to bring me drinks and read me my email while I’m on the couch. And if they could program him to call me boss and say “de plane, de plane!,” all would be right in the world. \*\* No, no, no! He needs to preface everything he says with “Bedebebede” and wear what looks to be a neon clock around his neck. ---
**Author:** ![Sam\_Stone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecccb3/32.png) [@Sam\_Stone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sam_Stone)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2003, 2:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/honda-robot/168487/12 "2003-04-14T02:40:40Z")
At this point in his life, I’ll bet Asimo’s best trick is being able to convert large stacks of money into small stacks of money. But it sure is cool. ---
**Author:** ![Nanoda](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/ce73a5/32.png) [@Nanoda](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nanoda)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2003, 7:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/honda-robot/168487/13 "2003-04-14T07:09:13Z")
AFAIK, the whole japanese/robot thing is because they have a serious [problem](http://www.pacificafund.com/blog/2003/01/09.html) brewing in that they have an aging population set to peak in 2007 or so, and not enough people to sustain a work force, provide home care, etc. (Heh. I saw this [anime movie](http://www.anime-dvd-movies.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=products.details&product_id=1535) once where this old guy… but anyhow). Honda expects Japan to NEED this stuff soon - that’s what all the $$$ is about. P.S. - If you find ASIMO creepy, you won’t wanna download any of the movies from [The Animatrix](http://www.intothematrix.com/)