Honda Asimo takes a nasty fall

You know how you're watching those hidden camera or funny home video shows and someone gets hurt real bad, and you're laughing at them and pitying them simultaneously? That's how we felt when we saw Asimo fall down a set of stairs during a demo. It's ugly, man. Aismo turns its head and falls back, seized up like a clenched fist as sparks fly -- and yet it keeps on chattering away to the audience as robo-medics rush to the scene. One day we're going to pay for this. Video after the break.

[Via Pink Tentacle]

[TexRob @ Dec 11th 2006 2:20PM]

Karma man, not just for humans. You see how he got all cocky and did the whole "Look Ma, no hands" by looking at the audience as he strolled up the stairs? Showboating got him what he deserved.

[some person @ Dec 11th 2006 5:23PM]

well it's supposed to have sensors somewhere between the legs, but it looked like it just froze up, nothing bad (unless you count freezing the movement program it bad), but still, what happened? how did it happen? does anyone know what ASIMO is saying when it took the fall (does anyone speak japanese)?

[David @ May 16th 2008 5:43PM]

Oh man...why couldn't he fall over like that while he was conducting the Detroit Symphony? I woulda paid extra money for the front row seats to THAT show! ... unless he fell on me...then I'd sue Honda for the psychological damages caused from being crushed by a failure-of-a-humanoid-robot-conductor.

[NJ Brideau @ Dec 11th 2006 2:22PM]

yeah I laughed because it makes a smug robot face when it turns to the audience and continues to walk up the stairs. Probably saying "look what I can do" - oops.

[12vunion @ Dec 11th 2006 2:23PM]

While Asimo is still far from being "humanoid", it CAN do a damn fine Gerald Ford impersonation.

[Smeagol @ Dec 11th 2006 2:23PM]

One day, when we're being used as a fuel source by his descendants, we'll be the ones walking up stairs on stage for a robotic audience.

[Manuel @ Dec 11th 2006 2:25PM]

now they have fallen but one day , the machines will arise and judgment day will overcome upon us .

[Josh @ Dec 11th 2006 2:28PM]

I dunno, Satan took one fall and never recovered. Ok so he doomed us all to die (see Paradise Lost). Dang. My argument falls apart. Oh, the irony.

[Richard Lai @ Dec 11th 2006 2:31PM]

Why can't they just make robots fly?

[suv4x4 @ Dec 11th 2007 5:08AM]

It takes a lot more energy to make something fly, than balance on solid ground.

It's more complex computationally as an algorithm, but when we get that algorithm right, it'll pay off multiple times, compared to a flying robot.

[Richard Lai @ Dec 11th 2007 6:11AM]

suv4x4: well done, Einstein! Really well fucking done! Want a cookie for that?

[SgtSpike @ Apr 24th 2008 12:15AM]

Uhm, UAV anyone? They're pretty much flying robots with all the automation packed in them, I don't know what else you'd call them.

[Wirelessdeo @ Dec 11th 2006 2:32PM]

I've fallen and can't get up!

[PreGHz @ Dec 11th 2006 2:34PM]

Fine, I'll be the one to say it.

I, for one, welcome our ascension-incapable, smug overlords.

[Chris @ Dec 11th 2006 5:16PM]

The reason it took so long to be said is because it's just not that funny anymore.

[spil @ Dec 11th 2006 9:56PM]

The moral of the story is when robots take over the earth, just go up a flight of stairs, and you will be safe.

[Jim D @ Dec 11th 2006 2:35PM]

It appears as though one of the motors (or hydraulics, whichever it may be) failed in the leg as the Asimo took the third step. If you watch the video, the leg appears to give right out from under the weight of the machine. Looks like nothing more than a part failure to me.

These things are still pretty impressive in my opinion.

[Richard Lai @ Dec 11th 2006 2:50PM]

You're right. At first I thought it missed a step, but it actually does look like one of the motors has failed.

[tiuk @ Dec 11th 2006 4:03PM]

Does it matter? I don't think people care why it happened, it's just funny to see a robot (or anything, for that matter) face plant.

[Jim @ Dec 11th 2006 2:36PM]

"You can tell Awesom-O all your secrets..."

This would have never happened to Awesom-O. Lame.

[Cameron Campbell @ Dec 11th 2006 2:36PM]

Which one is the robot again? The white suited dude or the woman who never really deviates from her assigned task no matter what?

[poxtomod @ Dec 11th 2006 3:12PM]

I am only wondering why they put up that blocking screen. I am beginning to think that there is a small japanese boy stuck in that retro-spaceman suit. Let the conspiracy theories begin.

[CTG @ Dec 11th 2006 2:40PM]

LMFAO!!!!!

[NHAnimator @ Dec 11th 2006 2:43PM]

I love the response of the robot paramedics - sliding out the security blind to shield the eyes of the ghastly sight that is a robotic horizontality.

[oobitsa @ Dec 11th 2006 2:47PM]

What the f*ck is up with the Japanese and women dressed like schoolgirls? This was a Honda presentation, not softcore porn.

[Joseph @ Dec 11th 2006 2:47PM]

Asipwned!

[KC @ Dec 11th 2006 2:49PM]

It said, "Help, I've fallen down, and I can't get up" in Japanese.

I agree with Jim D. It looked like the right leg malfunctioned.

[some person @ Dec 11th 2006 5:33PM]

but what do you think caused the failure?

[alex @ Dec 11th 2006 2:53PM]

now you know what to do if robots are ever chasing you. go upstairs.

[Reginald @ Dec 11th 2006 6:13PM]

Didn't this also happen in a RoboCop movie where the evil Mech-Warrior like robot simply fell downstairs rendering him helpless?

Hmm, seems foreboding.

[Matt B @ Dec 11th 2006 2:56PM]

To me, it looked like he was to far to one side of the steps to begin with. It could have been a moto fail I guess.

[SA @ Dec 23rd 2006 7:10AM]

actually, that isnt possivle. the right knee gave away, so it couldnt have fallen off the stairway, becasue otherwise it would have fallen to the left, because the left leg was th one closest to the side. however, it fell to the right and backwards, indicating a simple faliure. in my professional opinion, the servo in his right knee failed at that precise moment. if you look closely, you can actually see him (it) start to wobble on his right knee on the first step, but then it seems to corect itself until... asimo takes a great big fall and all honda's workers and all honda's men, couldn't put asimo together again!

[emor8t @ Dec 11th 2006 2:58PM]

Looks like Johnny 5 is going back to the drawing boards.

[Farris @ Dec 11th 2006 2:58PM]

Translation, anyone? I would like to know what the joke that she made was...

[Tomas @ Dec 11th 2006 2:59PM]

That's hirarious!

[jasonkaplan77 @ Dec 11th 2006 3:09PM]

just rub some dirt on it and walk it off!!!

[Ray-- @ Dec 11th 2006 3:10PM]

someone who speaks japanese needs to translate what the robot is saying while its lying on the ground... im curious to know what was being said during this event...

[Chuckles McGee @ Dec 11th 2006 3:15PM]

Our robot overlords will not pity those humans who laughed at their grandfather. Then again, they won't pity anyone (they'll become self-aware before gaining the ability to feel mercy) so laugh away.

[Rob W @ Dec 11th 2006 3:15PM]

I would have forgiven the fact that it fell if it had the ability to stand itself back up, say "my bad...", and try again.

[some person @ Dec 11th 2006 5:31PM]

but that's the thing honda didn't think to put in ASIMO

[RamJaw @ Dec 11th 2006 3:18PM]

Footage of the first robotic cardiac arrest. They even ran to cover the robot after he died. How respectful.

[cap'n @ Dec 11th 2006 3:19PM]

it would have been much more entertaining to see the fembot accidentally strip herself of clothes

[Steve Jobs @ Dec 11th 2006 3:23PM]

Hiro would have helped if he wasn't stuck in NY.

[chenry @ Dec 11th 2006 3:26PM]

get a robo-stretcher!

[lee @ Dec 11th 2006 3:26PM]

I say there's a dwarf in the astrosuit and he was pissed.

[Evan @ Dec 11th 2006 3:35PM]

Oho I didn't know they fell like a two pound toy thats cheap-

They put up that screen because they didn't want no one to see the rest of the damage.

R.I.P poor little Friend

[Meat Lightning @ Dec 11th 2006 3:37PM]

Yeah, translation pulleeeze!

[Nando @ Dec 11th 2006 3:42PM]

OH MAN! It should have used an elevator. LOL!!!!!!!

[duckhunt @ Dec 11th 2006 3:46PM]

poor thing :(

[Jim @ Dec 11th 2006 3:48PM]

"All your base are belong to us, unless it has stairs."