ASIMO (Advanced Step in Innovative Mobility) is the most famous humanoid robot ever built — Honda's flagship robot, introduced in 2000 and developed until its retirement was announced in 2022. ASIMO was the public face of humanoid robotics for two decades: a child-sized, friendly robot that could walk, run, climb stairs, hop, kick a ball, recognize faces and voices, and interact with people. It was the culmination of Honda's E-series and P-series research, and for most of the 2000s and 2010s it was considered the world's most advanced humanoid robot.
Availability
ASIMO was never sold. Honda built a limited number of units and used them for demonstrations, research, and as corporate ambassadors — ASIMO famously rang the opening bell at the New York Stock Exchange and toured science museums worldwide. Some units were leased for events. Honda retired ASIMO in 2022, redirecting the underlying technology toward other mobility and robotics projects. There is no price and no purchasing path.
Full Specifications
Specs reflect later-generation ASIMO (the design evolved across versions; the most advanced was shown in 2011).
| Spec | Value |
|---|---|
| Years active | 2000–2022 |
| Height | ~1.20–1.30 m (child-sized, by design) |
| Walking technology | "i-WALK" predictive movement control |
| Capabilities | Walking, running, climbing stairs and slopes, hopping, kicking; face and voice recognition; gesture recognition; multi-person interaction |
| Control | Portable controller; increasing autonomy in later versions |
| Design intent | Human-friendly, adaptable to human environments, engineering-feasible |
Significance
ASIMO did more than any other robot to put a friendly, capable face on humanoid robotics in the public imagination. Its child-sized stature was a deliberate choice — practical for engineering and non-threatening for interacting with seated people. While ASIMO was never commercialized and was eventually overtaken by more dynamic robots (Boston Dynamics' Atlas, and the current wave of commercial humanoids), its technology fed into Honda's later work, and its two-decade run shaped public and industry expectations of what a humanoid could be.
ASIMO vs Related Robots
- ASIMO vs Honda P3: ASIMO is the direct successor — smaller, with i-WALK, running ability, and far better interaction.
- ASIMO vs Boston Dynamics Atlas: Atlas eventually far exceeded ASIMO in dynamic agility (parkour, backflips); ASIMO emphasized smooth, safe, human-friendly motion.
- ASIMO vs today's commercial humanoids: ASIMO was a demonstration robot, never for sale; the current generation (Figure, Optimus, Unitree) targets real deployment and purchase — a shift ASIMO's era set the stage for.
Source: Honda
