Asimo

To read an article on Asimo in the Times, please click here.

To read an article on Asimo in the Sun newspaper, click here.

Meet ASIMO at the Science Festival, when it visits Scotland for the very first time. ASIMO stands for ‘advanced step in innovative mobility’. It’s the only robot in the world that walks on two legs, runs, climbs up steps, shakes your hand, dances, recognises people – and speaks. ASIMO is the result of 22 years of persistent research, study, trial and error – which is still continuing. One day, Honda’s humanoid might even become so advanced, it could live alongside us, acting as eyes, ears and legs for people in need.

We’re delighted to provide this rare opportunity to see ASIMO ‘in the flesh’ in a spectacular curtain-raiser to the 2009 Science Festival. See ASIMO walk, run, climb steps, dance… and more.

The show also looks back at how science fiction writers like Philip K Dick and Isaac Asimov gave us the early idea of a ‘robot’ as a walking, talking substitute for a human. Although these ideas are now decades old, it has been surprisingly difficult for scientists and technologists to get close to building the machines these visionaries dreamed of.

Through a series of live stage demonstrations involving the audience, a dancer and exciting scientific props, TV presenter Fran Robinson and Edinburgh University Professor of Robotics Sethu Vijayakumar will reveal the breakthroughs that have made it possible to create ASIMO, and where the future of robotics may take us.This show will delight anyone bitten by the robot bug – from those with a serious interest in robotics, to small children (age 5+), to adult science fiction fans.

Duration: 40 minutes

Presented by the Edinburgh International Science Festival and the University of Edinburgh School of Informatics, with the generous support of Honda

Advance sales for Sunday 5 April's Asimo events are now closed. Tickets can be bought on the door at McEwan Hall for the 10am and 4pm (limited) performances.

Please note that the 11.30am, 1pm, and 2.30pm performances have sold out.