Honda's ASIMO robot to conduct Yo-Yo Ma and the Detroit Symphony Orchestra

One of our favorite bots, Honda's versatile ASIMO, will finally spread its wings and embrace the artistic future it's always hoped for. On May 13, the automaton will conduct the Detroit Symphony Orchestra -- and Yo-Yo Ma -- in a performance of Impossible Dream. The DSO and Honda have combined forces to bring music education to children in Detroit, and ASIMO's concert will be the launching point for a number of projects the Japanese monolith will be sponsoring in the industrial city. Sure, this isn't the first time we've seen a robot conducting an orchestra, but we're fairly confident it will be the best... provided the little guy doesn't take any bad steps.

[webon @ Apr 23rd 2008 11:03AM]

will he get pissed if the cello guy starts too early?

[E71 @ Apr 23rd 2008 8:55PM]

Doesn't he have to climb a step or two to get to the conductor's stand? Uh-oh...

[Idlemind @ Apr 23rd 2008 11:04AM]

Hope hes got the latest service pack....

[Frank @ Apr 23rd 2008 11:04AM]

LEAVE ASIMO ALONE! WHY MUST YOU ALWAYS BRING UP THE BAD THINGS!?? [begins weeping] LEAVE ASIMO ALONE!!

[Earl Jr. @ Apr 24th 2008 4:05AM]

Filthy hobbitises!

[Esat Dedezade @ Apr 23rd 2008 11:04AM]

I skim-read that as:

"Honda's ASIMO robot to conduct Yo-Mama and the Detroit Symphony Orchestra"

Turns out I was wrong. You were lucky this time my little robotic friend....

[ugg.tryptophan @ Apr 23rd 2008 6:03PM]

+1 your comment is full of win, best of the day

[NHAnimator @ Apr 23rd 2008 11:05AM]

Someday soon, someone's gonna pull up the little black shield on this guy and reveal his true identity - Kenny Baker!

[Esat Dedezade @ Apr 23rd 2008 11:06AM]

Incidentally, does any one else get the feeling that his eyes bore deep deep into the very nether regions of your soul?

Or is it just me?

[webon @ Apr 23rd 2008 11:38AM]

just you man, and your dancing MaryJane

[John @ Apr 23rd 2008 12:00PM]

well, maybe if he had eyes...

[couchpundit @ Apr 23rd 2008 11:10AM]

I wonder if Asimo will have the ability to glare incredulously at the brass section, bitch about intonation, or throw the baton in anger at the viola section for coming in late?

[compuguy1088 @ Apr 23rd 2008 2:01PM]

Easy onthe Violas! I am a violist and try not to be late. Those 1st and 2nd violins are to blame :D

[chrisaroz @ Apr 23rd 2008 11:14AM]

Oh man, I hope he falls again... silly robot.

[soul7963 @ Apr 23rd 2008 11:15AM]

Stairs are for kids!

[nxtiak @ Apr 23rd 2008 12:36PM]

I was going to write the same thing.
Would be funny if he turns around to bow and he falls over.
Then you see 2-3 people in blue Honday jumpsuits run in front of him with a screen on wheels to cover him up like they do/did at Disneyland and other places when he falls! ROFL.

[Scott K. @ Apr 23rd 2008 11:27AM]

Does anybody else get the irony of a Honda product making headlines in the home city of the Big 3 American car companies?

I know noone cares any longer, but still....

[Mutant @ Apr 23rd 2008 11:34AM]

I don't think anybody in Detroit will notice until ASIMO starts waving that stick at the workers in a GM plant.

Then the human revolution against their robotic overlords will be ON.

[bungsana @ Apr 23rd 2008 11:57AM]

i was thinking the same thing scott. talk about a slap to the face.

btw, GM plants dont need ASIMO to go on strike, mutant. they have the UAW. example you ask? look at their lancing plant.

[Strangely Brown @ Apr 23rd 2008 12:21PM]

Actually, I find it most ironic that they're doing this in a town where many people have actually had their jobs replaced by robots over the years. One more job gone, I guess...

[happy_penguin @ Apr 23rd 2008 12:40PM]

Actually, it'll be more work for those of us who repair the robots. :)

[Geoffrey Sperl @ Apr 23rd 2008 12:59PM]

@Mutant: We'll notice. Not because it's a Honda product but because Yo-Yo Ma is performing.

@Scott K.: It really doesn't matter that much any longer. I think the blue collar workers around here would jump at the chance to work for any auto manufacturer, domestic or not, so even a little interest from Honda (or any automaker) might make them very happy.

[Lowest Ranked @ Apr 23rd 2008 1:26PM]

@Happy Penguin:

That is, until, the repairbots replace your job.

Which can only be succeeded by self-repairable robots, rendering the repairbots obsolete.

[severdia @ Apr 23rd 2008 11:42AM]

Yeah... whatever.... Disney did this almost 70 years ago...

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fantasia_(film)

[Jeremy K. @ Apr 23rd 2008 11:52AM]

haha pwnt.

[anodynewake @ Apr 23rd 2008 12:43PM]

Wait... why??? Oh, never mind...

[Phillip Donley @ Apr 23rd 2008 12:36PM]

I don't know the exact cost of Asimo, but you could just buy a metronome if you need something to keep time for you.

IT'S SO REAL!!!! WOW!!!

[Gaz @ Apr 23rd 2008 1:32PM]

Asimo does it 'FAIL' style all the time quite literally and by accident. Send it to Mars I say where it will spend the rest of its MTBF alone on the face of the red planet trying to pick itself up whilst stuck in a reboot loop. Spirit and Opportunity will laugh at it!

[Terpy @ Apr 23rd 2008 1:43PM]

Do you hear that, its not music but the sound of impending doom!

[Stem $ell @ Apr 23rd 2008 1:50PM]

Bach to the future?

[doggabone @ May 29th 2008 4:31PM]

You are a bad person. =P

[xtreker15 @ Apr 23rd 2008 2:46PM]

So, this robot made by Honda is going to be in Detroit? doesn't honda know that it might not be a good idea considering the big 3 automakers are around? i can see this being put in a car crusher.

[Prestwick @ Apr 23rd 2008 3:19PM]

Wait...Detroit can afford a Symphony Orchestra?

Who is it made up of? Hobos, failed hip hoppers and unemployed car workers?

[compuguy1088 @ Apr 23rd 2008 3:34PM]

They've had a symphony orchestra for quite a long time..it was founded in 1914!

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Detroit_Symphony_Orchestra

[Wwhat @ Apr 23rd 2008 4:45PM]

For compuguy1088:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sarcasm
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sense_of_humour

No thanks needed :)

[cz @ Apr 23rd 2008 3:06PM]

This is cool, and would be even cooler if they were doing Jeff Mills' Blue Potential. ;)

-frank . count zero
http://www.deejaycountzero.com

[Kmccizzle @ Apr 23rd 2008 4:37PM]

Does the Detroit Symphony Orchestra have a gunfire section?

[happy_penguin @ Apr 23rd 2008 6:25PM]

Yeah, we do. And if you don't clap we'll bust a cap in 'yo ass.

[Wwhat @ Apr 23rd 2008 4:43PM]

I'd so mess that piece up if I was in that orchestra, fighting for the humans, and of course to prevent sony getting into this and starting to fucking DRM live (classical) music.

[Rocko @ Apr 23rd 2008 7:42PM]

seriously Honda, you've been flaunting that ASIMO crap for like 8 years now, HOW MUCH LONGER UNTIL WE CAN BUY ONE?!?!?

[Kakkoii @ Apr 23rd 2008 9:41PM]

ASIMO sucks. Plain and simple.


Of all the work that's constantly being done on him.. There hasn't really been much damn improvement over the years.


Sony's "QRIO" was a HELL OF A LOT better then Asimo.

It's sad that Sony discontinued Qrio. Insane almost.

QRIO had so much better balance capabilities, running capabilities. (In the Guinness world book for running.)

Advanced face recognition and learning capabilities. You could talk to it and it would learn from you. And be able to have conversations with people.

It was.. dare I say.. "FUCKING AMAZING" lol.

Hopefully Sony has something secret planned for the future tho.(Hopefully.......)

[r3loaded @ Apr 24th 2008 4:52AM]

I, for one, welcome our orchestra-conducting robotic overlords.

Sorry..