The Honda P3 ("Prototype 3"), completed in September 1997, was the third and final robot in Honda's P-series and the first completely independent, fully autonomous bipedal humanoid in a notably more compact, human-scale form. By revising component materials and adopting a distributed control system, Honda achieved significant miniaturization and weight reduction over the P2 — bringing the robot closer to a size practical for human living environments. The P3 was the immediate predecessor to ASIMO.
Availability
The P3 was a research prototype, not a commercial product. It was controlled from a workstation (ASIMO would later add portable controller operation). It represented the final pre-ASIMO step in Honda's humanoid program.
Full Specifications
| Spec | Value |
|---|---|
| Year | September 1997 |
| Height | ~1.60 m |
| Weight | ~130 kg |
| Control | Distributed control system; operated from a workstation |
| Key advance | Miniaturization and weight reduction via revised materials and distributed control |
| Capabilities | Fully autonomous, independent bipedal walking |
Significance
The P3 brought Honda's humanoid down to a size and weight far closer to something that could share human spaces. Its distributed control architecture and material improvements were the engineering steps that made ASIMO — smaller still at 120–130 cm — possible. The P3 is also notable as the basis for the HRP-1, a variant produced under Japan's Humanoid Robotics Project.
P3 vs Related Robots
- P3 vs Honda P2: Same autonomous-walking capability, but the P3 is markedly smaller and lighter — a deliberate step toward human-scale practicality.
- P3 vs Honda ASIMO: ASIMO is the direct successor — smaller again, with the "i-WALK" technology, voice/face recognition, and the ability to run.
- P3 vs HRP-1: The HRP-1, from Japan's national Humanoid Robotics Project, was a variant built on the P3.
Source: Honda
