Latest ASIMO prototype is made of wood, requires one human
By Donald Melanson 
posted Aug 11th 2009 9:23PM
posted Aug 11th 2009 9:23PM
Honda may have bestowed plenty of improvements on ASIMO over the years, but it looks like an alumni of rival robot maker Waseda University has taken it upon himself to deliver some improvements of his own that make it even more lifelike, though no doubt just as prone to tumbles. The key, it seems, is to ditch the robotics and high-tech materials altogether and instead use something called "wood," which can be fashioned into a shell (or "costume," if you will) that's able to accommodate one slightly uncomfortable human. Either that, or ASIMO has been robot-napped from Honda and is now being held at an undisclosed location. Check out the video after the break to decide for yourself.
Wow its almost as if it was human
Robot Wood?
Obsoletely Fabulous
AWESOM-O!
No worries, since we all found out that stairs will defeat robot overlords.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VTlV0Y5yAww
Bite my wooden splintering a**
bite my matte wooden a$$!
Child Abuse! or Extremely Bored Little People (PC)
Oh, don't worry. After watching that video, I've got plenty of 'wood'.
But will it fall down stairs? It isn't ASIMO unless it freezes and falls down stairs.
That's what they thought regarding the Darleks..
ive loved following asimo's development over the past 10 years or so. it really is an amazing robot when you see it up close.
also, im surprised no one's made an AWESOME-O comment yet...
Yep, major doom for the human race. I can see it now -- one of these things screaming at you that "my logic is undeniable" as its chasing you around the house -- with a laser pistol set to kill.
Best halloween costume ever.
Actually, the singular form of 'alumni' is 'alumnus'.
This is why I have no friends, isn't it?
I thought it was cash cow?
You're right to correct this - You are improving people.
Asimo: "Initiating fart sequence"
Jeeze, how do you go to the bathroom in that thing? Do you have to "lubricate" Bumblebee style?"
I would gladly sacrifice 10 humans to have one of these.
"I AM (not quite) IRON MAN..."