Honda ASIMO

Honda's ASIMO (Advanced Step in Innovative Mobility) stands as one of the most influential humanoid robots in history, representing four decades of research that shaped the entire field. First introduced in 2000 and making its final appearance in March 2022, ASIMO demonstrated what was possible in bipedal locomotion and human-robot interaction.

At 130 cm tall and 54 kg, ASIMO was designed at child-like proportions to appear non-threatening. The final version featured 57 degrees of freedom (23 more than the previous model), running at up to 9 km/h, and dexterous hands capable of sign language and handling objects like pouring liquids without crushing paper cups. Powered by a 51.8V lithium-ion battery, ASIMO operated for approximately one hour per charge.

ASIMO's development began in 1986 with Honda's E-series walking robots, evolved through the P-series prototypes, and culminated in the 2011 'all-new ASIMO' capable of running backwards, continuously jumping, and hopping on one foot. Over its operational period, ASIMO took over 33 million steps and walked nearly 7,907 kilometers.

Though never commercially sold, ASIMO's influence extends to virtually every modern humanoid. Tesla's Optimus, Boston Dynamics' Atlas, and Agility's Digit all build on walking algorithms and principles ASIMO helped establish. In a fitting tribute, Honda announced at CES 2025 that its first in-house software system for the upcoming 0 Series electric vehicles will be called 'Asimo OS,' honoring the robot's legacy in the company's next-generation products.