Robot dossier
ASIMO
Release
Oct 1, 2000
Price
Price TBA
Connectivity
2
Status
Discontinued
Height
130cm
Weight
48kg
Battery
~1 hour (walking/running)
Speed
9 km/h (running), 2.7 km/h (walking)
ASIMO
Honda's iconic humanoid robot, developed over two decades starting from the Honda E series (1986) and P series (1993). ASIMO (Advanced Step in Innovative Mobility) was one of the world's most recognizable humanoid robots, capable of walking, running, climbing stairs, recognizing faces/voices, and interacting with humans. The final 2011 model featured 57 degrees of freedom and could run at 9 km/h. Honda retired ASIMO in March 2022 to focus on avatar-style robotic technology. Inducted into the Carnegie Mellon Robot Hall of Fame in 2004.
Listed price
Price TBA
Not commercially sold (research/demonstration robot)
Release window
Oct 1, 2000
Current status
Discontinued
Honda
Last verified
Mar 30, 2026
Technical overview
Core specifications and system stack
A fast read on the mechanical profile, sensing package, and platform integrations behind ASIMO.
Technical Specifications
Height
130cm
Weight
48kg
Battery Life
~1 hour (walking/running)
Charging Time
3 hours
Max Speed
9 km/h (running), 2.7 km/h (walking)
Tech Components
Sensors (6)
Connectivity (2)
Operational profile
How this robot is configured
Capabilities
11
Connectivity
2
Key capabilities
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Benchmark set
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About the ASIMO
The ASIMO is a Research robot built by Honda. Honda's iconic humanoid robot, developed over two decades starting from the Honda E series (1986) and P series (1993). ASIMO (Advanced Step in Innovative Mobility) was one of the world's most recognizable humanoid robots, capable of walking, running, climbing stairs, recognizing faces/voices, and interacting with humans. The final 2011 model featured 57 degrees of freedom and could run at 9 km/h. Honda retired ASIMO in March 2022 to focus on avatar-style robotic technology. Inducted into the Carnegie Mellon Robot Hall of Fame in 2004.
Pricing has not been publicly disclosed. See all Honda robots on the Honda page.
Spec Breakdown
Detailed specifications for the ASIMO
Height
130cmAt 130cm, the ASIMO is sized for its intended operating environment and use cases.
Weight
48kgWeighing 48kg, the ASIMO balances structural integrity with portability and maneuverability.
Battery Life
~1 hour (walking/running)With a battery life of ~1 hour (walking/running), the ASIMO can operate for sustained periods before requiring a recharge. Battery life is measured under typical operating conditions and may vary based on workload intensity and environmental factors.
Charging Time
3 hoursA charging time of 3 hours means the ratio of operation to downtime is an important consideration for applications requiring near-continuous availability. Some deployments use multiple robots in rotation to maintain uninterrupted service.
Maximum Speed
9 km/h (running), 2.7 km/h (walking)A top speed of 9 km/h (running), 2.7 km/h (walking) is calibrated for the robot's primary operating environment and safety requirements.
The ASIMO uses Honda proprietary 3D processor (stacked dies: processor, signal converter, memory) as its intelligence backbone. This AI platform powers the robot's decision-making, perception processing, and autonomous behavior. The sophistication of the AI stack directly impacts how well the robot handles unexpected situations and adapts to new environments.
ASIMO Sensor Suite
The ASIMO integrates 6 sensor types, forming the perceptual foundation that enables autonomous operation.
This sensor configuration enables the ASIMO to perceive its environment and operate autonomously in its intended use cases. Multiple sensor modalities provide redundancy and more robust perception than any single sensor type alone.
Explore sensor technologies: components glossary · full components directory
ASIMO Use Cases & Applications
Research robots serve as platforms for advancing robotics science and engineering. They enable researchers to test theories about locomotion, manipulation, perception, and human-robot interaction in controlled and real-world environments.
Capabilities That Enable Real-World Use
The ASIMO offers 11 distinct capabilities, each contributing to the robot's practical utility.
These capabilities work together with the robot's 6 onboard sensor types and Honda proprietary 3D processor (stacked dies: processor, signal converter, memory) AI platform to deliver practical, real-world performance.
ASIMO Capabilities
11
Capabilities
6
Sensor Types
AI
Honda proprietary 3D process…
Gesture Recognition
Gesture recognition allows the ASIMO to interpret human body language and hand movements as communication signals. Using its camera systems and computer vision algorithms, the robot can detect and interpret pointing gestures, waves, nods, shakes, and other non-verbal cues that form a natural part of human communication. This capability is particularly important for interactive and research applications where natural communication extends beyond spoken language. Gesture recognition complements the ASIMO's conversation capabilities by providing additional context about human intent and emotional state, enabling more nuanced and appropriate responses.
Autonomous Navigation
Autonomous navigation allows the ASIMO to move through its environment without human guidance, planning efficient paths around obstacles and adapting to changes in real time. For a research robot, this involves simultaneous localization and mapping (SLAM) to build and maintain environmental models, path planning algorithms to find efficient routes, and reactive obstacle avoidance for unexpected situations. The complexity of autonomous navigation scales dramatically with the environment — navigating a structured warehouse is substantially different from navigating a cluttered home or outdoor space. The ASIMO's navigation system must handle the specific challenges of its intended deployment scenarios reliably and repeatedly.
Additional Capabilities
Connectivity & Integration
How the ASIMO communicates with your network, smart home devices, cloud services, and companion apps.
Network & Communication Protocols
ASIMO Technology Stack Overview
The ASIMO by Honda integrates 9 distinct technology components across sensing, connectivity, intelligence, and interaction layers. The physical platform features a height of 130cm, a weight of 48kg, a top speed of 9 km/h (running), 2.7 km/h (walking), providing the foundation on which this technology stack operates.
Perception — 6 Sensor Types
The perception layer is built on Stereo Cameras, Laser Sensor, Infrared Sensor, Ultrasonic Sensors (front & rear), Force Sensors, Gyroscope. These work in concert to give the robot a detailed understanding of its operating environment. This multi-sensor approach provides redundancy and enables the robot to function reliably even when individual sensors encounter challenging conditions such as low light, reflective surfaces, or cluttered spaces.
Connectivity — 2 Protocols
For communications, the ASIMO relies on Wi-Fi, Wireless Controller. This connectivity stack ensures the robot can communicate with cloud services, local smart home devices, mobile apps, and other networked systems in its environment.
Intelligence — Honda proprietary 3D processor (stacked dies: processor, signal converter, memory)
Honda proprietary 3D processor (stacked dies: processor, signal converter, memory) serves as the computational brain, processing sensor data, making navigation decisions, and orchestrating the robot's autonomous behaviors. The quality of this AI platform directly influences how well the robot handles novel situations, adapts to changes in its environment, and improves its performance over time through learning.
Who Should Consider the ASIMO?
Target Audience
Research robots are acquired by universities, government labs, and corporate R&D departments. They serve as experimental platforms for developing new algorithms, testing locomotion strategies, and advancing the field of robotics. Some are also used for educational purposes.
Key Considerations
Open-source software compatibility (ROS/ROS 2), sensor modularity, programmability, available SDK/API quality, community support, and published research papers using the platform are key factors. Documentation quality and the ability to modify both hardware and software are essential for research use.
Pricing
Availability
DiscontinuedThe ASIMO has been discontinued by Honda. It may still be available through secondary markets or refurbished channels.
ASIMO: Strengths & Trade-offs
Engineering compromises and where this research robot excels
What the ASIMO does well
Extensive sensor suite
With 6 sensor types onboard, the ASIMO has one of the more comprehensive perception systems in the research category. This multi-modal approach enables robust environmental awareness, redundant obstacle detection, and reliable autonomous operation even in challenging conditions. More sensor diversity generally translates to better real-world adaptability.
Broad capability set
With 11 distinct capabilities, the ASIMO is designed as a versatile platform rather than a single-task device. This breadth means the robot can handle varied scenarios and workflows, reducing the need for multiple specialized robots and increasing its utility across different situations.
Strong mobility performance
A top speed of 9 km/h (running), 2.7 km/h (walking) provides the ASIMO with the agility to cover ground efficiently. This is particularly valuable for applications that require rapid response, large-area coverage, or keeping pace with human movement in shared environments.
What to consider carefully
Limited battery runtime
A battery life of ~1 hour (walking/running) means shorter operational windows between charges. For applications requiring continuous or extended operation, this may necessitate scheduling around charge cycles or deploying multiple units in rotation. Evaluate whether the runtime meets your minimum session requirements before committing.
Charging time exceeds runtime
With a charging time of 3 hours compared to a battery life of ~1 hour (walking/running), the ASIMO spends more time charging than operating. This ratio is common in high-performance robotics but is an important factor for planning continuous-availability deployments.
Undisclosed pricing
Honda has not published a public price for the ASIMO. While common for enterprise-class robotics, the absence of transparent pricing can complicate budgeting and comparison shopping. Prospective buyers will need to engage directly with the manufacturer for quotes, which may vary by configuration and volume.
Limited ecosystem integration info
No specific smart home or ecosystem compatibility is listed for the ASIMO. This does not necessarily mean the robot lacks integration options — the information may not yet be published — but buyers who rely on specific platforms (Apple HomeKit, Google Home, Amazon Alexa, etc.) should verify compatibility before purchasing.
Discontinued product
The ASIMO has been discontinued by Honda. This means no new units are being manufactured, software updates may become infrequent or stop entirely, and replacement parts availability will eventually decline. Consider long-term support viability carefully if evaluating this robot through secondary markets.
Note: This strengths and trade-offs assessment is based on the ASIMO's documented specifications as tracked in the ui44 database. Real-world performance depends on deployment conditions, firmware maturity, and environmental factors. For the most current information, check the Honda manufacturer page or visit the official product page. Use the comparison tool to evaluate these trade-offs against competing robots in the same category.
How Research Robot Technology Works
Understanding the engineering behind this category
Research robots serve a fundamentally different purpose than commercial or consumer models. They are platforms for discovery — enabling scientists and engineers to test theories, develop algorithms, and push the boundaries of what robots can do. The technology in research robots prioritizes openness, flexibility, and access to raw data over consumer-friendly packaging or commercial reliability. Understanding this distinction is important for anyone considering a research robot platform.
Navigation & Mobility
Research robots typically expose their navigation systems at a much lower level than commercial products. Researchers can access raw sensor data, modify SLAM algorithms, implement custom path planners, and test novel navigation approaches. ROS (Robot Operating System) and ROS 2 compatibility is standard, providing a common framework for sharing navigation modules across the research community. This openness enables rapid iteration — a researcher can swap between different SLAM implementations, test new obstacle avoidance strategies, or develop entirely novel navigation paradigms without being locked into a vendor's proprietary stack.
The Role of AI
Research robots serve as physical testbeds for AI algorithms that may eventually appear in commercial products years later. Reinforcement learning, imitation learning, few-shot task learning, and human-robot interaction studies all require robot platforms that can execute AI-generated commands in the physical world. The gap between simulation (where training is cheap and fast) and reality (where physics is unforgiving) makes physical robot platforms essential for validating AI approaches. Research robots must support rapid deployment of new AI models without extensive integration work.
Sensor Fusion & Perception
Research platforms prioritize sensor modularity and data access. Standard mounting interfaces allow researchers to attach custom sensors alongside built-in ones. Raw sensor data streams (not just processed results) are accessible for developing novel perception algorithms. Precise time-stamping and synchronization across sensor streams enable accurate multi-modal fusion research. Many research robots include more sensors than strictly necessary for any single application, providing researchers with rich datasets for developing and testing new algorithms.
Power & Battery Management
Research robots balance operational runtime with practical lab use. Sessions of one to four hours are typical, with quick charging between experiments. Some research setups use tethered power for long-running experiments where battery limitations would interrupt data collection. Power monitoring and logging capabilities help researchers understand the energy costs of different behaviors and algorithms — important for developing efficient approaches that will eventually run on battery-constrained commercial systems.
Safety by Design
Research environments present unique safety challenges because robots are constantly being programmed with untested behaviors. Hardware safety limits (joint speed caps, force limits, emergency stops) must be robust regardless of software commands. Safety-rated monitored stop and speed monitoring ensure the robot cannot exceed safe operating parameters even when running experimental code. Collaborative operation standards apply when researchers work alongside the robot during experiments. Many labs implement layered safety with physical barriers for high-speed testing and open-area operation restricted to validated, lower-risk behaviors.
What's Next for Research Robots
Research robot platforms are becoming more accessible and capable. Cloud robotics enables remote experiment execution and shared datasets. Digital twins and high-fidelity simulators reduce the need for physical hardware time while improving sim-to-real transfer. Standardized benchmarks and open datasets enable fair comparison of results across labs. The democratization of robotics research — through lower-cost platforms, open-source software, and cloud infrastructure — is expanding who can contribute to advancing the field.
The ASIMO by Honda incorporates many of these technology pillars. For a detailed look at the specific sensors and components used in the ASIMO, see the sensor analysis and connectivity sections above, or browse the complete components glossary for explanations of every technology used across the robotics industry.
ASIMO in the Research Market
How this robot compares in the research landscape
Honda has not publicly disclosed pricing for the ASIMO, which is typical for enterprise-focused robotics platforms that offer customized solutions and direct-sales relationships.
With 6 sensor types, the ASIMO has an extensive sensor suite. This comprehensive sensing capability places it among the more perception-capable robots in the research category, enabling more robust autonomous operation in varied conditions.
Head-to-Head Comparisons
Side-by-side specs, capability overlap analysis, and key differentiators.
For the full picture of Honda's portfolio and market strategy, visit the Honda manufacturer page.
Owning the ASIMO: Setup, Maintenance & Tips
Practical guide from day one through years of ownership
Initial Setup
Research robot setup combines hardware assembly with software environment configuration. Unpack and assemble the platform following the manufacturer's documentation. Install the development framework — typically ROS or ROS 2 — and verify sensor connectivity. Calibrate all sensors using the manufacturer's tools and procedures. Set up the simulation environment (Gazebo, Isaac Sim, or equivalent) alongside the physical platform for parallel development. Establish version control for your experiment code and configuration. Document the initial calibration values and system state as your baseline for future reference. Plan network and computing infrastructure to handle the data rates your sensors will generate.
Ongoing Maintenance
Research robots need maintenance that preserves the precision required for valid experimental results. Regularly verify sensor calibration — drift in camera intrinsics or IMU biases can invalidate experiment data. Maintain clean workspace conditions to protect optical sensors. Document any hardware modifications or maintenance performed, as these can affect experimental reproducibility. Update software dependencies carefully, documenting versions used for each experiment. Joint and actuator wear in research robots that perform repetitive tasks should be monitored and factored into experimental design.
Software Updates & Long-Term Support
Research robot software updates require careful management to maintain experiment reproducibility. Document the exact software versions used for each experiment. Test updates in a separate environment before applying to your experiment platform. Contribute bug fixes and improvements back to the community when using open-source frameworks. Be aware that ROS and other framework updates may require code changes in your custom packages — budget time for integration testing after major framework updates.
Maximizing Longevity
Research robots often have longer productive lives than commercial products because they can be upgraded and repurposed. Extend your investment by maintaining clean mechanical and electrical systems, documenting all modifications for future lab members, and keeping spare parts for common wear items. When specific components become obsolete, community forums and lab networks can be valuable sources for replacements. Consider the platform's modularity when planning future research directions — a platform that can accept new sensors and actuators adapts to evolving research questions.
For Honda-specific support resources and documentation, visit the Honda page on ui44 or check the manufacturer's official website at Honda's product page.
Frequently Asked Questions
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Data Integrity
All ASIMO data on ui44 is verified against official Honda sources, including spec sheets, product pages, and press releases. Last verified: 2026-03-30. Official source: Honda product page. If you find outdated or incorrect information, please let us know — accuracy is our top priority.
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