honda - faqjapan.com

Today I have a meetingwith a robot. I take the Tokyo Metro Ginza Line to Aoyama-itchme Station. My destination is theHonda Cafe in the Honda Aoyama Building. I arrive an hour early, so I decide to wanderfor a bit. I head to the NHK building but it doesnt looklike its for tourists, so I leave. I walk the length of Aoyama Cemetery. I kill time in the park. Eventually, it is 3 oclock, robot time!nI enter the Honda caf. The ground floor of thebuilding features a small stage and a display of cars and motorcycles. As I wander around, every member of staff greets me with a cheery, Hello, and an overly practised smile. TheHonda Aoyama Building is free of charge to enter. There is a small shop selling surprisingly cheap drinks, the coffee is just 200 a cup, and hot too!nPublic Exhibition Number OnenI take a seat five minutesbefore the exhibition is to begin. I am the only person here that isnt wearinga business suit. There are thirty chairs, but morethan half are empty. A factory construction line of a car being built is shown on a large screen. I wait eagerly for it to end. When it finally does, a woman appears, a door opens, and a strange machine drives itself onto the centre of the stage.nnnnThe women speaks only in Japanese, but thankfullythe display screen features English text. What I am seeing is a new Honda product called, Uni-Cub. The Uni-Cub is a mobility device that travels at 6km/h. The machinedrives around the stage for a while, before the woman givingthe talk takes a seat on the device to demonstrate its ability.nI am not sure how she is controlling it, she just appears to tilt her body in a general direction, and the thing moves. It is quite impressive and I want one. I take a few photographs, but the other people here dont seem to pay it much interest; I imagine they are only here for the main event. After the Uni-Cub is paraded for a while, the woman drives off the stage and into a doorway, before disappearing into the darkness. The video screen displays some information about the Uni-Cub. Two minutes later,ASIMO appears.nnPartly Mechanical, HardlyHumannASIMO is an acronym that stands for Advanced Step in Innovative MObility. He is a humanoid robot, with Artificial Intelligence. ASIMO was created as a way to help people. A way for robots and humans tocoexistence in harmony. A concept drawing appears on the screen showing a robot carrying boxes up some stairs. A helper robot. It is all part of the vision that Honda have; their advertising sloganbeing, The Power of Dreams. Unfortunately, The Power of Dreams doesnt quite stretch to seating. The chairI am sitting in during thisdemonstration is the most uncomfortable seat I have ever experienced.nASIMO shows off some of his skills. He can dance, stand on one leg, jump with both feetoff the ground, and can run, fast. Hiswalking speed is 7km/h, which is slightly faster than the Uni-Cub. I learn that they are both built using the same technology. ASIMO weighs just 50 kilograms and stands 130 centimetres tall.nThe presentation continues in Japanese. Honda startedto build robotic technology that is useful to people back in 1986. The earlier models E1, E2, and E3 were focused on creating a robot that could walk like a human being. E4, E5, and E6 were focused on stair climbing. Next, a body, arms, and a head were added and Hondas first humanoid robot, P1, was born. Further development lead to P2 and P3, where they focused on minor improvements and automation. Finally, in October 2000, ASIMO was unveiled for the first time.nA Wish called HondanAfter some more talking and things on the screen, ASIMO decides to sing for us. ASIMO has the incredible ability to communicate in sign language, and today he sings for us hisoriginal sign language song, Making Dreams Come True.nnThe sky looks lovely today, The clouds flying lightly above.I wonder, will tomorrows sky will [sic] be just as nice?And how will our skylook in the future?Lets cherish our dreams today,and fulfil our dreams tomorrow.Lets combine our strength,and achieve our dreams together!nAfter his song, ASIMOwaves at us and says, Thank you. There is then an opportunity for me to have my photograph taken with him. He stands and makes human movements with his head and occasionally speaks. He seems to be able to recognise if people are Japanese or not. When a Japanese person goes up to have a photograph taken, he addresses them in Japanese. When I go up, he addresses me in English. Smile, smile, he says, 3 2 1 His English voice sounds like Pinocchio, the Disney character.nnThe whole presentation lasted a total of twenty-fiveminutes.I am pleased to have finallyseen one of the most advanced robots in existence. After the presentation, I check out the small souvenir shop.It sells ASIMO stuffed toys, key rings, and other assorted junk.nOn the train ride back to Asakusa, I think about the future of robotics. I really hope that somedayin the near future, Iwill be cruising around on my Uni-Cub with my very own ASIMO running alongside me.nWeekday showtimes:13:30, 15:00, and 16:30n Weekend and public holidays:11:00, 13:30, 15:00, and 16:30n All performances at 16:30 can be enjoyed in English.nAddress:Honda Welcome Plaza,2-1-1 Minamiaoyama, Minato-ku, Tokyon Telephone:03-3423-4118n Website:https://www.honda.co.jp/welcome-plaza/contents/guide/asimo/

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