# 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:** 2
**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, 7:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/that-humanoid-robot-built-by-some-car-company-shudder/118630/21 "2002-07-12T19:49:06Z")
Rubes: “B.O.B., get me a beer.” B.O.B." “Yes, master.” [thinking: “Wait till Rubes is drinking beer. Crush his head like can.”] ---
**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, 7:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/that-humanoid-robot-built-by-some-car-company-shudder/118630/22 "2002-07-12T19:50:04Z")
The cool thing about B.O.B. was that he was programmable with BASIC. ---
**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, 8:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/that-humanoid-robot-built-by-some-car-company-shudder/118630/23 "2002-07-12T20:07:03Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Eve \* > \*\*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_. \*\* I agree. The robot part of it wasn’t disturbing, but the tone of the commercial was quite creepy. It doesn’t follow the “annoying jingle, segue into introduction of product” formula. In fact, IIRC correclty there is very little sound other than ambient noise. The robot looks like a child dressed in a costume that’s a cross between a Storm Trooper and a Jawa. It moves silently and waves at the paperboy as if it has enough independent thought to be “cheerful”. With the right kind of introduction, I would have found the robot quite impressive from a technology standpoint. Instead, the commercial gave me a serious case of the creeps! ---
**Author:** ![BraheSilver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ecccb3/32.png) [@BraheSilver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BraheSilver)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2002, 9:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/that-humanoid-robot-built-by-some-car-company-shudder/118630/24 "2002-07-12T21:57:12Z")
The problem is that it’s human-shaped and kid-sized? Would you be more at ease if it was 7 feet tall, rolled around on treads and had glowing red eyes? It’s no more freaky than a Furby. Granted, when there’s a sudden shift in the pile of junk on my dresser and it tumbles to the floor in the middle of the night crowing “Revillie,” I’ll jump, but that’s startling instead of creepy. ---
**Author:** ![mobo85](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b19c9b/32.png) [@mobo85](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mobo85)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2002, 11:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/that-humanoid-robot-built-by-some-car-company-shudder/118630/25 "2002-07-12T23:01:44Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Eve \* > **"Asimo?" What, they couldn’t afford a "v?"** That’s what I thought at first too. Turns out he’s named after a Japanese word meaning “to move” or something like that. He even rang the bell at the NYSE! ---
**Author:** ![Larry\_Mudd](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/f14d63/32.png) [@Larry\_Mudd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Larry_Mudd)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2002, 11:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/that-humanoid-robot-built-by-some-car-company-shudder/118630/26 "2002-07-12T23:11:04Z")
I’m sure it’s a pun, what with the **Three Laws of Robotics** , 'n all. The most impressive clip I’ve seen of it was of someone pushing it over on it’s back-- It is able to right itself in an eerily human way. I like it. Mike Skallas, who maintains a weblog,\* [Everything Isn’t Under Control](http://everythingisnt.com/)\*, and who’s a pretty cool fella besides, usually catches just about _every_ update on the Asimo. As a matter of fact, at the time of this writing, his penultimate entry is a quicktime video of an Asimo playing “tour-guide” for a group of Japanese schoolchildren. Cute. ---
**Author:** ![Arden\_Ranger](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/b487fb/32.png) [@Arden\_Ranger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Arden_Ranger)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2002, 11:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/that-humanoid-robot-built-by-some-car-company-shudder/118630/27 "2002-07-12T23:13:33Z")
Hey. If it does housework, I want one. ---
**Author:** ![shelbo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/3d9bf3/32.png) [@shelbo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/shelbo)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2002, 11:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/that-humanoid-robot-built-by-some-car-company-shudder/118630/28 "2002-07-12T23:28:13Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by BraheSilver \* > \*\*It’s no more freaky than a Furby. \*\* And have you ever had a Furby talk at you on the way to the bathroom in the middle of the night? Maybe not freaky, but definitely heart stoppingly terrifying. ---
**Author:** ![World\_Eater](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/f04885/32.png) [@World\_Eater](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/World_Eater)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2002, 11:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/that-humanoid-robot-built-by-some-car-company-shudder/118630/29 "2002-07-12T23:53:42Z")
I first I thought you guys were nuts, but holy fucking shit Batman, that thing scares the shit out of me! With that cold emotionless astronaut face, and its brisk walk, dear lord humans unite now! ---
**Author:** ![BraheSilver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ecccb3/32.png) [@BraheSilver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BraheSilver)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2002, 12:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/that-humanoid-robot-built-by-some-car-company-shudder/118630/30 "2002-07-13T00:19:57Z")
Well, yes, you’re terrified because it’s sudden. If the robot were programmed to follow me around the house silently and hide in doorways, it’d surprise me too when I turn around to see it standing there. But I wouldn’t live in fear of it. Look at the hands. If the index finger is fully articulated enough to pull a trigger, then you can start worrying. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![DocCathode](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/doccathode/32/18773_2.png) [@DocCathode](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DocCathode)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2002, 12:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/that-humanoid-robot-built-by-some-car-company-shudder/118630/31 "2002-07-13T00:28:36Z")
I want one! But I think they should make them look friendlier. If the robots are child-sized, why not make them look like children? Give them big, blue eyes, red hair, and freckles. And they should be programmed to respond to names like “Chucky”. ---
**Author:** ![Larry\_Mudd](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/f14d63/32.png) [@Larry\_Mudd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Larry_Mudd)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2002, 1:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/that-humanoid-robot-built-by-some-car-company-shudder/118630/32 "2002-07-13T01:00:49Z")
> [@](#): > > But I think they should make them look friendlier. Honda is [way ahead of you](http://www.larrytaylor.wox.org/miscpics/new_asimo.gif), **Doc**. Well, maybe not. I think they were _trying_ for friendlier, but something went horribly _wrong_. The combination of the blank eyes, the wide grin, and the jaunty cap gives me the willies. [sup](Pic via the aforementioned Mike Skallas)[/sup] ---
**Author:** ![a35362](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/3da27b/32.png) [@a35362](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/a35362)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2002, 1:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/that-humanoid-robot-built-by-some-car-company-shudder/118630/33 "2002-07-13T01:30:00Z")
They look like Lego people. ---
**Author:** ![Michael\_Ellis](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/977dab/32.png) [@Michael\_Ellis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Michael_Ellis)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2002, 2:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/that-humanoid-robot-built-by-some-car-company-shudder/118630/34 "2002-07-13T02:31:15Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Charmian \* > \*\*“Exterminate! Exterminate!” \*\* Well climb some stairs then. ---
**Author:** ![Tuckerfan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/eada6e/32.png) [@Tuckerfan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tuckerfan)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2002, 3:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/that-humanoid-robot-built-by-some-car-company-shudder/118630/35 "2002-07-13T03:27:43Z")
Ya know, I used to think that Asimov was nuts when he wrote his robot stories that featured humans going after robots like they were Frankenstein’s monster, apparently he wasn’t so far off-base after all. This thing’s got less than thirty minutes of life unhooked from its battery charger and ya’ll are in hysterics over it? It’s top speed is 2 kilometers per hour, ya can _walk_ faster than that! Jeez, folks, get a grip! If this thing were to suddenly go into a murderous rage and start killing people, even a two year old could outrun the damn thing! I bet that thing’s not even waterproof! Ya could throw a pan of water on it or turn the hose on it and the sucker’d prolly short out! Ya guys are acting like you’ve just been dropped into the middle of [_Westworld_](http://us.imdb.com/Title?0070909) or something! ---
**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 13, 2002, 3:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/that-humanoid-robot-built-by-some-car-company-shudder/118630/36 "2002-07-13T03:30:42Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by DocCathode \* > \*\*But I think they should make them look friendlier. > If the robots are child-sized, why not make them look like children? > \*\* Maybe it’s creepy because it’s _faceless_. Maybe if it looked more like Twiki from Buck Rogers, it wouldn’t bug me so much… maybe. And becausee it’s so silent in the commercial. It probably makes a reassuring “whir-click” noise when it walks around, and talks like: “Bee-dee-bee-dee-bee-dee-Hi Buck!” ---
**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 13, 2002, 4:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/that-humanoid-robot-built-by-some-car-company-shudder/118630/37 "2002-07-13T04:16:53Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Tuckerfan \* > \*\*… > This thing’s got less than thirty minutes of life unhooked from its battery charger and ya’ll are in hysterics over it? It’s top speed is 2 kilometers per hour, ya can _walk_ faster than that! > > \*\* Oh, yeah, smart guy. What if they’re riding **Sedgeways** , huh!! Betcha didn’t think of that. An army of robots mounted on Sedgeways, clearing the streets of humanity. ---
**Author:** ![Tuckerfan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/eada6e/32.png) [@Tuckerfan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tuckerfan)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2002, 4:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/that-humanoid-robot-built-by-some-car-company-shudder/118630/38 "2002-07-13T04:32:13Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Papermache Prince \* > \*\* > Oh, yeah, smart guy. What if they’re riding **Sedgeways** , huh!! Betcha didn’t think of that. An army of robots mounted on Sedgeways, clearing the streets of humanity. \*\* Why would they ride **Segways** when they’re built by Honda? Don’t you think that they’d ride Goldwings? Besides, your army of terror would look pretty silly once it conked out after only _25 minutes_! Sheesh! Anyone who’s read the [Evil Overlord list](http://www.eviloverlord.com/) knows you don’t send a crappy army out to dominate the world! The Japanese are waaaay smarter than this, and you can bet their robots are too! ---
**Author:** ![Homebrew](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/c89c15/32.png) [@Homebrew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Homebrew)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2002, 4:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/that-humanoid-robot-built-by-some-car-company-shudder/118630/39 "2002-07-13T04:38:15Z")
> [@](#): > > _Originally posted by Tuckerfan \* > \*\* Ya could throw a pan of water on it or turn the hose on it …_\* I’m melting, I’m mel… oh, wait. I’m shorting out! I’m shorting out! ---
**Author:** ![Ranchoth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ranchoth/32/1066_2.png) [@Ranchoth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ranchoth)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2002, 7:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/that-humanoid-robot-built-by-some-car-company-shudder/118630/40 "2002-07-13T07:08:46Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by rubes \* > **[snip]robots such as TOPO and B.O.B (Brains on Board)** I thought “B.O.B.” stood for **B** i **O** sanitation **B** attalion…😃 Though as Robots go, I don’t think Asimo can even come CLOSE to the Abraham Lincoln at Disneyland…:shudder: Oh, and **World Eater**? I have just one thing to say to you…remember the scene in the movie _E.T._ right after Elliot’s mom tries to run out of the house after seeing E.T. in the bathroom? I thought you would. 😉 Ranchoth [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/that-humanoid-robot-built-by-some-car-company-shudder/118630.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/that-humanoid-robot-built-by-some-car-company-shudder/118630.md?page=3)