Stardate 20020214.2138

(On Screen): ASIMO is a humanoid robot which has been created by Honda. It is shaped vaguely human; it's 120 centimeters tall (4 feet tall) and weights 43 kilograms (just shy of 100 pounds).

What's remarkable about ASIMO is that it can walk, and climb stairs, and turn corners. I don't know if ASIMO has a vision system or if it walks a predetermined course, but even what they have accomplished is remarkable. Keeping balance while in bipedal locomotion is an extremely difficult job. (You may not think so, but you have many very well tuned feedback systems which make it work.)

One reason this is interesting is that the technology can be adapted to create powered braces for paraplegics to help them walk. It may also point the way towards powered prosthetics for amputees.

This is a tremendous achievement. Honda's engineers deserve great respect.