Honda: off in robotic directions. The level of technical complexity here is astonishing. But the pick-up, in terms of deployment in Europe or North America, is still virtually zero. I think everyone but the Japanese are freaked out by these guys. It’s like we can’t wrap our heads around the idea of a real humanoid robot. It’s all too Asimov for us, perhaps.

smarterplanet:

“All-new ASIMO”, Honda’s humanoid robot - The Next Web

At just 4′ 3”, the newest ASIMO can run at 9kph forwards, also run backwards, jump up and down and even jump on one foot. IEEE Spectrum points out that ASIMO’s hands are dexterous enough to perform sign language and by combining tactile and visual sensors, he can recognize objects and handle them appropriately, such as taking caps off of bottles and pouring liquid into paper cups without crushing them.

thenextweb: