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I've quoted many people in almost 30 years as a journalist, but I've never quoted a machine before. But there's a first time for everything and such was the case with Honda's awe-inspiring ASIMO robot, which is doing the rounds of Australia at the moment.
ASIMO walks and talks, can recognise faces and respond to simple pre-programed commands. It is even able to run at speeds of up to 6 km/h and can kick a soccer ball.
“On top of that I'm a dancing machine,” ASIMO told rapt school children at Sydney's Darling Harbour demonstrating some funky moves.
Wow!
This was no movie but the real thing.
No trick photography, no one operating a remote control and no little man inside the suit.
But what I hear you ask has a robot got to do with cars?
Well, much of the technology that has gone into the creation of ASIMO, billed as the world's most advanced humanoid robot, could be coming to a Honda motor vehicle near you soon.
The inspiration for the robot was the Japanese anime Astro Boy.
Just like Astro Boy's creator Dr Elefun, designers wanted to build a robot with 'a little soul.'
In creating ASIMO, whose name stands for Advanced Step in Innovative Mobility, Honda engineers have been able to apply what they have learned about human movement to the construction of crash dummies.
The same stabilty control system used in cars allows the robot to run with both feet leaving the ground between steps.
The radar ASIMO uses to move around is being adapted for use in Honda cars as 'Night Vision' and for detecting and avoiding pedestrians.
The 54kg, 1.3 metre tall, white moon-suited robot, is powered by a 52 volt lithium ion battery and can operate for up to 60 minutes on a single charge.
Eye cameras allow the robot to recognise surroundings, register stationary objects and avoid moving obstacles as it moves around.
Sensors in its wrists allow the robot to push carts and give and receive objects, such as a tray of drinks.
After falling down stairs last year however this particular feat has been excluded from the demonstration.
ASIMO is the culmination of 21 years of research and development, with engineering teams in Japan, Thailand, Europe and the US dedicated to the robot's ongoing development.
Seeing ASIMO on screen is one thing but seeing the robot 'live' is a reality challenging experience.
The white-suited robot looks a miniature version of the astronauts that landed on the Moon.
Its strangely stilted movements though impressive are somewhat comical at the same time and in fact oddly reminiscent of singer Michael Jackson's 'moon-walking' dance moves.
On a more serious note Honda says in future, ASIMO might also perform tasks that are dangerous to humans, such as fighting fires or cleaning up toxic spills.
Our ASIMO is one of three travelling the world and will be in Sydney until 2 December, 2007 before the tour moves to Brisbane and then Melbourne.
