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| ASIMO. Picture Source, zdnet.com |
If people who lived
in the 18th century would be made to return to the earth and observe
the type of technology that exist, they would wonder if this is the same earth
where they existed. They will also wonder if the brain the human of today
have is different from the ones had by the people of their generation.
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| The Wright Brothers. Picture Source: dayton.com |
When the wright brothers built airplane, It was thought that that was the pick of human
ingenuity, as it was never imagined that things more sophisticated can be built
today. I am sure that the write brothers themselves would marvel at if they
should enter the same airplane they invented today.
The world’s leading
technology companies have been brainstorming on inventing technologies that
would replace human being in many things. Chief among the reason for this move
is the need to reduce the risks to which human beings are exposed, when they
undertake certain activities. It is therefore considered that if there can be
technology in the form of human beings that can exhibit most of the human
characteristics, it would go a long way in serving as human alternative.
In 1986, Honda, the
great automobile company’s engineers set out to create a walking robot. This
venture means development of technologies that would have legs that could
simulate the walk of a human. This means that the robot must have a stabilized walk
in other words, it should be able to climb stairs. The engineers also considered
that for this robot to actually replace humans, it should have, a head, body
and arms. Apart from this features making the robot properly replace humans, it
would also help it to maintain balance. Having just a robot that has a human
like shape is not enough to make Honda’s dream actualized, there is need to
actually add functionality. Putting all these into consideration, Honda came-up
with its ‘s first humanoid robot, P1.
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| Picture Source zdnet.com |
Later the human
qualities of P1 was improved upon. This improvement culminated in P2 which has
a more friendly design, improved walking, stair climbing/descending, and wireless
automatic movements.
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| Picture Source dailymail.co.uk |
As years pass, The P3
model was developed. The robot was standing 5’ 2” tall and weighed 287 lbs.
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| Picture Source: zdnet.com |
The Honda’s engineers
adventure at last succeeded in the creation of a sophisticvated human Robot
called ASIMO. ASIMO can run comfortably, walk normal, even on an uneven slope
and surfaces. The Robot can turn smoothly, climb stairs, and reach out to grasp
objects offered to it by human beings.
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| ASIMO. Picture Source, angelfire.com |
ASIMO is very intelligent,
it can comprehend instructions and respond promptly to a number of human voice commands.
The robot can be programmed to recognize human faces. It has camera eyes that
enables it to map its environment and register stationary objects. When in
motion, ASIMO can recognize and avoid moving obstacles.
It is projected by
Honda that in the near future, ASIMO would become the eyes, ears, hands and
legs for all kinds of disabled persons and people in need. Finally, it is
believed that ASIMO WOULD replace humans in the performance of certain tasks
that are dangerous to humans, such as war, fire fighting, dangerous rescues,
mining and cleaning up toxic spills.
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