ASIMO

Since the appearance of the first computers, the human always dreamed, with the day when these computers can learn, think, reason like a human been, or better than human intelligence. In one way or another we think that machine can overcome the human, Alan Turing said “Instead of trying to produce a programme to simulate the adult mind, why not rather try to produce one which simulates the child's? If this were then subjected to an appropriate course of education one would obtain the adult brain.”

However ever had existed anyone skeptic who doesn’t believe this is possible, for example Daniel Crevier, he said “In activities other than purely logical thought, our minds function much faster than any computer yet devised”.

 Honda has tried of approximate to this dream, introducing on 21 October 2000, the robot called  ASIMO (Advanced Step in Innovative Mobility), however Honda has been working with similar robot’s since the eighties. One of the most striking features of the ASIMO is the similitude with the human. It is equipped with joints which resemble the human body.

The main features of the ASIMO are: a total weight of 48 kilograms, an height of 130 centimeters, also it can reach speeds up 9 kilometer per hour when it run. It is integrated with a special battery that lasts on average 3 hours.

ASIMO has the ability to recognize moving objects, postures, gestures, its surrounding environment, sounds and faces, which enables interact with humans. This robot placed its legs  on the ground like a human, relying on its heel and its toe, also it has the ability to walk over uneven terrain with rocks and deformities, it has hands allowing it to hold a cup and fill it with water without spilling a drop.

Although its name has some similarity with the creator of the laws of robotics Ivan Asimov, Honda says that the name wasn’t based on Asimov to name their robot, but it was a coincidence

Among the activities in which ASIMO has participated may be mentioned:

·         In 2002 when it rang the bell to open trade sessions for the New York Stock Exchange

·         In 2008, ASIMO conducted the Detroit Symphony Orchestra in a performance of "The Impossible Dream"

ASIMO can be one of the firsts stone in the robotics world; someday these robots will be able to meet many of the tasks currently humans done.

 Questions:

1. Is possible for a robot to think like a human?
2. When is will this possible?
3. Do you think that a robot can get to replace to a human being?