Jan 1, 2009

Honda Tests 49-Foot Robot

Honda has just tested a 49-foot robot, but it is doubtful the robot will go into mass production. In fact the only production the robot will appear in is the 120th Rose Parade, which will step off January 1 in Pasadena, California. Honda's Rose Parade float, a colossal replica of Honda's ASIMO humanoid robot, plus the parade's first-ever hydrogen-powered fuel cell pace car, the Honda FCX Clarity, will lead the parade as well as kick off Honda's 50th anniversary of U.S. operations.

In front of the millions of viewers, many hungover and in their bathrobes, Honda's float will evolve from an opening ceremony stage into an animated replica of Honda's ASIMO (Advanced Step in Innovative Mobility), standing about 12 times the height of the actual ASIMO humanoid robot. Honda's float creation called "Hats Off in Celebration" will be completed with natural materials like lettuce seed, rice, carnations and strawflower. The float will be joined by the Prairie View A&M University Marching Band, a past participant in the Honda Battle of the Bands which features the music programs of historically black colleges and universities. A few members of the band will ride on the float, which will be immediately followed by the entire marching band. In addition, during the parade the FCX Clarity pace car will be accompanied by the Honda Super Cub motorcycle, the first model sold in the United States.

The Honda float includes a variety of flowers, plants and seeds that will later be ground up for mulch after the parade activities are concluded. The surface of ASIMO will be covered with super fine ground white rice and super fine ground everlasting; it is accented by fine cut blue statice and fine cut red statice as well as silverleaf to create accents and "shadows." Fine cut everlasting, whole red carnations and white chrysanthemums will bring vivid color to Honda's 50th anniversary logos. Honda is one of the parade's longest-running corporate sponsors, and its Rose Parade entries have captured major awards in 13 out of the last 14 years. Honda is also the official Tournament of Roses vehicle. This year, the company will provide 115 vehicles, including the Honda FCX Clarity pace car; 166 Metropolitan scooters; and, 12 generators for use by Tournament of Roses personnel.