HONDA is playing with robots. Stupid!

I hope  they use their resources for improving their cars not for their robots.
SONY once did that and lost their real jobs.
ASIMO...New version... can run at 6 km/Hr and serve coffee... 

http://news.com.com/2300-11394_3-5993015-1.html

You Japanese people are pretty angst-ridden.

Honda researches robotics so that they can improve the robots they use in their assembly lines.

I used to write software for manufacturing electronics. Robots are everywhere in those plants.

Droid Commander: Destroy all non-Honda vehicles.

Droid: Roger roger.

Droid Commander: And then serve coffee.

Industrial robots make money,
but
humanoid robots waste money!

Not if humanoid robots are used for industrial purposes.  With your line of reasoning you could claim all research is a waste of money--  but it's the only way to make progress.

CannotResolveSymbol wrote:

Not if humanoid robots are used for industrial purposes.  With your line of reasoning you could claim all research is a waste of money--  but it's the only way to make progress.

A humanoid robot is more flexible for industrial use than a fixed robot that you see on an assembly line today.  It could do tasks that current robots can't yet do, and has the advantage of being able to work and communicate with real people.

At any rate, Honda has the resources and experience to work on ASIMO because of their work on industrial robots.  They've been working on the humanoid robot project for about 20 years (the first prototype in the project was released in 1986).

Universities do robotics projects, but they don't have the money, resources, or experience to be able to do this kind of project as quickly or thoroughly as Honda has.

Plus once they are done with perfecting that...they can move this to the home scene...

Yes, in its current incarnation, it is geared entirely for commercial and consumer work (like handing out food, giving tours, operating as a receptionist).  If Honda's research can make this kind of technology affordable, Honda could easily become one of the most profitable companies on the planet (not that it isn't already).

In USA , universities do research, so US has a powerful education.
In Japan, enterprises do research, so Japan has a powerful economy.
In China, only the government do research, so China was already dead in the research area, but it does not mean people of Chinese unable to do research, you know, tons of Chinese did a great work in US.

I think their share holders allow HONDA to spend money for such stupid humanoid robots only when their car business is in good condition. The market of humanoid robots is rather small and won't expand as you think.
We have already many humanoids in our consumer markets but we get bored with them.
Maybe only RTOS venders such as WindRiver will promote the market.

Photos: Tokyo robot-fest | CNET News.com
http://news.com.com/Photos+Tokyo+robot-fest/2300-11394_3-5977169.html

I for one welcome A.W.E.S.O.M.-O. Honda says the technology inside it is going to be implemented in cars, mainly for safety purposes.

Andrei P. wrote:

I for one welcome A.W.E.S.O.M.-O. Honda says the technology inside it is going to be implemented in cars, mainly for safety purposes.

Karim wrote:

I don't think this is stupid at all. Yes, there is a considerable investment in research for these robots, but I am sure they have thought through all the patent/trademark stuff that others are not where they will make a killing once robots become the norm.

I for one would totally dig having an affordable robot to take care of the mundane things in my life (e.g. get the newspaper, make coffee, clean the house, etc.).

Tommy Lee wrote:

I don't think this is stupid at all. Yes, there is a considerable investment in research for these robots, but I am sure they have thought through all the patent/trademark stuff that others are not where they will make a killing once robots become the norm.

I for one would totally dig having an affordable robot to take care of the mundane things in my life (e.g. get the newspaper, make coffee, clean the house, etc.).