A robot which talks, climbs stairs and serves drinks has been shown to the public at the Moscow Motor Show. Experts say machines are ready to start working with people. The trouble is – they have an image problem.
Asimo recognizes faces and understands questions. Its computer backpack can be programmed to fetch coffee. Makers, Honda, claim Asimo's the only humanoid robot in the world who climbs stairs.
The developers see old and sick people as first users according to Jean-Luc de Krahe, Events Coordinator at Asimo Studio.
Robots have worked in industry since 1961 but were thought too expensive and dangerous to put among humans. Now IRobot's already sold millions of these $200 home cleaners. Sergey Apresov, Editor in Chief at Popular Mechanics says the next step is direct work with humans, and the only barrier is psychological.
Asimo's already used to carry paper round Japanese offices. Developers are now teaching it human-style learning-by-experience. Show it a spoon and cup, through trial and error it learns to put one in the other. Robots are on the verge of critical mass in three key areas, that's price, looks and safety. That means their time has almost come, in the home, office and TV studio.