Honda Motor Co., Ltd. today announced plans to conduct demonstrations of ASIMO*1, Honda’s bipedal humanoid robot, at Narita International Airport over a one-week period from Monday, March 28 through Sunday, April 3, 2016. This will be the first time*2 for any airport in Japan to hold this type of event in the area prior to where travelers begin the immigration process and formal entry into the country. Honda will showcase its technological strengths by providing ASIMO, an outstanding humanoid robot representing Japan, to welcome and offer its hospitality to travelers who just arrived.
In accordance with the spirit of “using technology to help people,” which Honda has pursued since its founding, the company has been researching and developing robots which can coexist with and help people. On the other hand, Narita International Airport Corporation has been striving to increase the attractiveness of Narita International Airport as a gateway to Japan for air travelers. With a shared passion and interest, the two companies worked to realize this ASIMO demonstration initiative.
During the one-week period, attendants riding the UNI-CUB β*3, Honda’s personal mobility device, will escort travelers arriving on certain flights to the specially-arranged demonstration area, where ASIMO will demonstrate multiple moves such as dancing and kicking a soccer ball and introduce various services the Narita International Airport offers to visitors from outside Japan.
<Demonstration location/schedule>
Location: A specially-arranged area in front of the arrival immigration on 2F of Narita International Airport Terminal 2*4
Date/Time: From Monday, March 28 through Sunday, April 3, 2016
Between 12:00 noon and 16:00
Exact demonstration times will vary based on fight schedules
*1ASIMO is a bipedal humanoid robot Honda has been developing with a goal to develop robots that will coexist with and be useful to people. The first version of ASIMO was introduced in November 2000. The latest version of ASIMO, introduced in November 2011, features not only high physical capability that allows it to make not only various moves such as running, going up and down stairs and kicking a ball, but also an ability to recognize faces/voices of people and take action accordingly and autonomous behavior control such as avoiding obstacles depending on the situation of the surroundings.
*2Internal research by Narita International Airport
*3The UNI-CUB β is a new personal mobility device that features Honda’s proprietary balance control technology which originates from Honda research into humanoid robots and the omni-directional driving wheel system (Honda Omni Traction Drive System: Multiple small-diameter wheels are connected in-line to form one large-diameter wheel, which makes it possible to move forward, backward, laterally and diagonally).
*4It is located within the area prior to immigration clearance and arrival, therefore the access is limited to arrival travelers.
