Building a Working Robot Step-by-Step

Thanks to its ability to see and understand its environment, Asimo is surprisingly aware of its immediate surroundings and can react effectively to them. With its camera eyes, the robot can detect and track movement, recognize faces to greet friends, and interpret hand motions such as obeying the “stop” hand gesture. It can even recognize when it is being offered a hand to shake or when someone is waving at it.

Asimo can also interpret its surroundings and act in a manner that is safest for both it and nearby humans. It will recognize potential hazards, like stairs, and react accordingly to them. For instance, it will stop and start to avoid colliding with humans and other moving objects.