Question
A Robot in the House
The world's first real-life, walking, talking robot, ASIMO, wins unveiled to the world in 2000, when is
makers look il on a two-year lour of the Uniled Slales and Canada. Everywhere it went, people lined up to
get a glimpse of this polite, 119-pound, four-fool-tall mechanical helper that could easily be mistaken for a
child in a white, plastic spacesuit. The idea of human-like robots is not unique throughouf history, but arily
in modem times has technology caught up with science fiction enough to allow sclentists and engineers fo
make robols a reality.
ASIMO has been in the works since 1986, Its inventors at the Japanese company Honda wented to
design a robot thal could move like a human in order lo have it interact with scole and help them in
multple ways. They have largely succeeded. ASIMO can walk backward and forward on two legs, climb
stairs, dance, and kick. With its human-like hands, it can open and close doors, tum light switches on and
oll, carry trays, and even greet a person with a handshake. ASIMO can recognize faces and answer
simple questions. It can obey hand signals and verbal commands, and it can also be programmed to give
information. ASIMO even once quest-conduced the Detroit Sympliony Orchestra in a performance of lie
song "The Impossible Dream."
ASIMO's makers hope that its abilities may someday enable ASiMO to assist disabled people and
senior citizens. The robol would deliver medicines and meals, help people in and out of chairs or beds.
and call for help if needed. It may also be able to perlorn simple jobs in offices and other businesses. So
far, ASIMO has one major drawback. Unlike a huntan, it cannot work an eight hour shift. After only 60
minutes, it has to walk over to its wall-mounted battery charger and dock itself for at least three hours.
Question 12 (1 point)
What is the main reason ASIMO was built?
0.
0.
to entertain audiences
to dance with people
to help people get work done
to tour the world
Answer
To help people in multiple ways.