Humanoid Robots

Guess which one is the Robot?

During his visit to Tokyo, President Obama had a chance to meet “ASIMO”, a Japanese humanoid robot.

ASIMO, an acronym for “Advanced Step in Innovative Mobility,” exchanged “bows” with the president.

The voice was slightly halting, childlike. “Welcome to Miraikan, Mr. President, it is a pleasure to meet you.”

His greeter, after all, was a 55-inch-tall, give or take, “humanoid robot” with the look of a diminutive “Star Wars” storm trooper.

“It’s nice to meet you, too,” Obama said, pausing to watch the robot “perform” during a tour of the National Museum of Emerging Science and Innovation.

Asimo, made by Honda, announced “I can really run fast” before loping toward a soccer ball and informing Obama, “I can kick a soccer ball, too.”

The robot delivered a well-aimed ball at Obama who “trapped” it with his foot. For its final demonstration, the robot declared, “Recently I have learned how to jump.” It then proceeded to hop, first on one foot, then on two.

Curious, Obama then asked Mamoru Mohri, chief executive director of Miraikan, the “stupid” question whether the robot was “remote” controlled.

Yes, Mohri replied, but the robot can act “autonomously”, too.

Obama also witnessed “demonstrations” of other robots, including one designed by Japanese technicians and partially financed by the “U.S. Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency” that was developed to help with “disaster” response.

“How about that, that was pretty impressive,” Obama marveled after the demonstration.

Later, during a meeting with students Obama mentioned his meeting with ASIMO. “We saw some truly amazing robots, although I have to say the robots were a little scary,” he said. “They were too lifelike. They were amazing.”

Rumor has it that Obama is considering an order of 200 to 300 million “ASIMO”units to replace current US population over time.

“They will only be added to voter rolls on an as needed basis”, he said later.

“If you like your current neighbor, you can keep your current neighbor. Period!”

Where were the “Secret Service” agents? You’re just going to let the leader of the free world get that close to a “foreign robot” endangering his safety?

What if this prototype “killer robot army” are the next wave of “murderous assassins” replacing global terrorist.