ASIMO amuses visitors at auto expo
Zakki Hakim, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta
"It's cool! ASIMO is like a real human. Too bad its movement is so limited," said Ino, a 12-year-old spectator at the presentation of Honda's humanoid robot, ASIMO, on Friday, at the Jakarta Convention Center, Senayan, Central Jakarta.
The Japan-based car manufacturer showcased ASIMO, (standing for Advanced Step in Innovative Mobility), at the 12th Gaikindo Auto Expo, which was officially opened by Vice President Hamzah Haz.
Ino, a second grade student at Don Bosco junior high school in Pulo Mas, East Jakarta, was standing in the front row of the crowd, gathered in awe of ASIMO.
Ino said that he had hoped to see ASIMO make more movements, particularly everyday activities like opening the door, climbing steps or holding a glass.
Nevertheless, he was satisfied with the demonstration.
"It would be fun to have one in my house to be a friend to play with," he said wistfully.
During the show ASIMO walked, waved, clapped and even shook hands with Kenji Otaka, vice president of PT Honda Prospect Motor. The climax of the show was the robot dancing Poco-poco, a folk dance from North Sulawesi, with two volunteers from the audience.
In the Poco-poco -- which requires dancers to move in all directions with their hands following the rhythm of the music-- ASIMO led the dance, slowly but impressively.
Otaka said, at the opening of the show, that Honda hoped ASIMO would be an inspiration for Indonesians, encouraging them to follow their dreams and become more innovative and creative.
ASIMO will be on display to the public from July 19 to July 22, with demonstrations three times a day at 1 p.m., 3:30 p.m. and 6 p.m.
Siriporn Ounkham, team leader of ASIMO's technicians told The Jakarta Post that the robot was built as a result of Honda's dream: to create a partner for people, a new kind of a robot that functions in society.
Maybe one day ASIMO could help people with their household activities or even taking care of the elderly, she said.
"It's a dream that maybe ASIMO could replace humans in defusing bombs."
Honda has developed various prototypes of the two-legged robot over the past 14 years, and on Oct. 31, 2000, ASIMO was launched.
Jonfis Fandy, Honda's General Manager for Sales and Marketing, told the Post that ASIMO traveled here on a special plane and under a high level of security.
"We might have spent hundreds of millions of rupiah bringing the robot to the expo," he said, adding that Indonesia was the fifth country in the Asia Pacific region to welcome ASIMO.
One visitor wondered why Honda implemented such high-level of security in bringing the robot here. His friend laughed, "Maybe they don't want to find the pirated version of ASIMO in Glodok next week."