# That Humanoid Robot Built by Some Car Company \[shudder\] **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [July 12, 2002, 2:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/that-humanoid-robot-built-by-some-car-company-shudder/118630 "2002-07-12T14:39:33Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Eve](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/9e8a1a/32.png) [@Eve](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eve)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2002, 2:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/that-humanoid-robot-built-by-some-car-company-shudder/118630/1 "2002-07-12T14:39:33Z")
Did anyone else see the TV commercial for that robot? That white thing that walks like it has really bad jock itch, goes down the front steps, waves at the paper boy, and then goes back up the steps? I wish I could remember what car company invented it so I could provide a link, but I was too freaked out. What the _hell?_ I having _Metropolis_/Bender/crush kill destroy nightmares! Anyone know anything about this, or have links? ---
**Author:** ![lieu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/c2a13f/32.png) [@lieu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lieu)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2002, 2:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/that-humanoid-robot-built-by-some-car-company-shudder/118630/2 "2002-07-12T14:53:27Z")
Honda. I like their Gold Wing better. ---
**Author:** ![Zebra](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/c0e974/32.png) [@Zebra](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zebra)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2002, 2:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/that-humanoid-robot-built-by-some-car-company-shudder/118630/3 "2002-07-12T14:56:08Z")
I think it’s really evil that it is child size. I bet most people would pause a moment before hitting it with a baseball bat but that gives it time to warm up it’s eye lasers and fry you. ---
**Author:** ![Homebrew](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/c89c15/32.png) [@Homebrew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Homebrew)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2002, 2:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/that-humanoid-robot-built-by-some-car-company-shudder/118630/4 "2002-07-12T14:57:18Z")
[Here’s some info.](http://www.androidworld.com/prod01.htm) ---
**Author:** ![Horseflesh](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/horseflesh/32/7502_2.png) [@Horseflesh](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Horseflesh)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2002, 2:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/that-humanoid-robot-built-by-some-car-company-shudder/118630/5 "2002-07-12T14:59:45Z")
Honda’s [Asimo](http://world.honda.com/robot/). There are movies of the robot in action. The one showing it walking up and down the stairs looks quite impressive. ---
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2002, 3:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/that-humanoid-robot-built-by-some-car-company-shudder/118630/6 "2002-07-12T15:05:25Z")
The clip of the robot walking up and down stairs is one of ASIMOs predecessors; ASIMO is quite a lot smaller and really cool, but I still can’t convince my boss that there’s not a human inside it. ---
**Author:** ![Eve](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/9e8a1a/32.png) [@Eve](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eve)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2002, 3:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/that-humanoid-robot-built-by-some-car-company-shudder/118630/7 "2002-07-12T15:08:40Z")
“Asimo?” What, they couldn’t afford a “v?” Doesn’t look “child sized” in the TV commercial. It totters down the steps to this suburban house and picks up the paper. Then it totters back inside, where the smoking remains of the house’s owners smoulder in the living room. “Heh heh heh,” says the robot, as it helps itself to some more beer and checks out the paper for future victims. ---
**Author:** ![lieu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/c2a13f/32.png) [@lieu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lieu)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2002, 3:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/that-humanoid-robot-built-by-some-car-company-shudder/118630/8 "2002-07-12T15:17:37Z")
Asimo? Do the Japanese have a butthair problem I was previously unaware of? ---
**Author:** ![Homebrew](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/c89c15/32.png) [@Homebrew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Homebrew)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2002, 3:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/that-humanoid-robot-built-by-some-car-company-shudder/118630/9 "2002-07-12T15:18:33Z")
After reading you lastest post, **Eve** , I’d recommend you not follow the link I provided above. There is info about several different android projects, with pictures. It might cause too many nightmares for you. ---
**Author:** ![ResIpsaLoquitor](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/b3f665/32.png) [@ResIpsaLoquitor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ResIpsaLoquitor)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2002, 3:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/that-humanoid-robot-built-by-some-car-company-shudder/118630/10 "2002-07-12T15:20:41Z")
Geeze, I’m building a robot. Can I send it to your house to play with you, **Eve**? 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Eats\_Crayons](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/278dde/32.png) [@Eats\_Crayons](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eats_Crayons)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2002, 4:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/that-humanoid-robot-built-by-some-car-company-shudder/118630/11 "2002-07-12T16:46:45Z")
Oh, my God! I saw that commercial and in a panic started asking (speaking to no one in particular) “That’s a joke commercial, right? Just a joke, right? _Right???_. There really isn’t a humanoid robot being advertised on TV like that, right?” Yaaagh! What really freaks me out, is that they didn’t say what it’s _for_. I mean, okay, I think I could deal with it if they said it was to assist the disabled, but this thing makes me think of movies like _Chopping Mall_ (a real cinematic hoeuvre, to be sure). You know the one, “protective” security robot goes haywire, sees humanity as a threat… “Exterminate! Exterminate!” ---
**Author:** ![Horseflesh](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/horseflesh/32/7502_2.png) [@Horseflesh](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Horseflesh)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2002, 5:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/that-humanoid-robot-built-by-some-car-company-shudder/118630/12 "2002-07-12T17:04:49Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Charmian \* > **What really freaks me out, is that they didn’t say what it’s _for_. I mean, okay, I think I could deal with it if they said it was to assist the disabled, but this thing makes me think of movies like _Chopping Mall_ (a real cinematic hoeuvre, to be sure). You know the one, “protective” security robot goes haywire, sees humanity as a threat…** “Cool! My very own Terminator!” or “No Atomo… I Superman” ---
**Author:** ![Crispy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e47774/32.png) [@Crispy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crispy)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2002, 5:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/that-humanoid-robot-built-by-some-car-company-shudder/118630/13 "2002-07-12T17:10:43Z")
Count me in as “Dear Lord, I hope that commercial was a joke.” **Chairman** it did say something about helping the disabled on the commercial, but I was to busy having the heebie-jeebies to pay much attention. The worst part was when it waved. _shudder_ ---
**Author:** ![Bryan\_Ekers](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bryan_ekers/32/183_2.png) [@Bryan\_Ekers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bryan_Ekers)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2002, 5:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/that-humanoid-robot-built-by-some-car-company-shudder/118630/14 "2002-07-12T17:19:15Z")
Hell, I’ve been reading about Asimo for years in _Popular Science_ and whatnot. It’s no more shocking than any car commercial that showcases a concept model never meant for production. For maximum impact, though, the robot should have been walking one of those Aibo dogs. ---
**Author:** ![Papermache\_Prince](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/f05b48/32.png) [@Papermache\_Prince](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Papermache_Prince)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2002, 6:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/that-humanoid-robot-built-by-some-car-company-shudder/118630/15 "2002-07-12T18:15:08Z")
**Kismet** at MIT. “Kismet is an autonomous robot designed for social interactions with humans.” You can see the range of [Kismet’s](http://www.ai.mit.edu/projects/humanoid-robotics-group/kismet/kismet.html) facial expressions here. You can choose [Kismet’s](http://www.ai.mit.edu/projects/sociable/facial-expression.html) facial expression here. ---
**Author:** ![Eats\_Crayons](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/278dde/32.png) [@Eats\_Crayons](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eats_Crayons)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2002, 6:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/that-humanoid-robot-built-by-some-car-company-shudder/118630/16 "2002-07-12T18:29:24Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Crispy \* > \*\* it did say something about helping the disabled on the commercial, but I was to busy having the heebie-jeebies to pay much attention. > > The worst part was when it waved. _shudder_ \*\* Oh, well that makes me feel a bit better (though now I have visions of Short Circuit’s Number 5 trying to “fix” the broken human. Brrrrrr…) Oo! And the wave… [Here’s more info on the little creep.](http://world.honda.com/robot/) ---
**Author:** ![Eve](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/9e8a1a/32.png) [@Eve](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eve)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2002, 6:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/that-humanoid-robot-built-by-some-car-company-shudder/118630/17 "2002-07-12T18:30:59Z")
Thanks for the Kismet link. Nightmare fodder for a good week or two . . . Nah, **Bryan** , for maximum impact, the robot should have been carrying a bloody knife in one hand and the severed head of its owner in the other. “Crush—kill—destroy!” ---
**Author:** ![fallom](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/a88e57/32.png) [@fallom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fallom)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2002, 6:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/that-humanoid-robot-built-by-some-car-company-shudder/118630/18 "2002-07-12T18:57:16Z")
Are you people actually freaking out over a walking robot? Sheesh! ---
**Author:** ![Eve](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/9e8a1a/32.png) [@Eve](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eve)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2002, 7:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/that-humanoid-robot-built-by-some-car-company-shudder/118630/19 "2002-07-12T19:33:00Z")
It’s not so much just the “walking robot” concept. But the _Twilight Zone_osity of the TV spot. This thing meanders (walking like J.J. Walker with diaper rash) out of a suburban home. It waves hello to the paper boy. It catches the paper, then walks back into the house. No explanation. No backstory. It’s just . . . _creepy_. ---
**Author:** ![rubes](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/b782af/32.png) [@rubes](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rubes)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2002, 7:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/that-humanoid-robot-built-by-some-car-company-shudder/118630/20 "2002-07-12T19:44:55Z")
Get a grip people. Back in the 80’s Nolan Bushnel (spelling?) who was head of ATARI in its heyday left to design commercially available robots such as TOPO and B.O.B (Brains on Board) B.O.B had speech recognition and was touted as to be able to fetch a 12 ounce can on refreshment from a specially designed fridge. I almost bought one off of e-bay, but couldn’t swing it. I am waiting for the day that my digital servant arrives. B.O.B., get me a beer. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/that-humanoid-robot-built-by-some-car-company-shudder/118630.md?page=2)