WhereIsAtlas · Robotics

Honda ASIMO

Honda's celebrated humanoid robot that astonished the world — retired after a landmark run

Concluded — ASIMO, Honda's humanoid robot, was revealed in 2000 and became one of the most famous humanoid robots in history for its remarkable ability to walk, climb stairs and interact with people. Honda retired it in 2018, redirecting its research toward more practical technologies.

ASIMO — short for Advanced Step in Innovative Mobility — was unveiled by Honda in 2000. It was a humanoid robot that could walk smoothly, climb stairs, and later run and recognize faces. It was one of the most celebrated robots of its era.

ASIMO was the culmination of decades of Honda research into humanoid locomotion, building on earlier prototypes like the P2. It became a global symbol of Japanese robotics, appearing in exhibitions, on stages and alongside world leaders, charming audiences with its ability to walk like a person.

In 2018, after nearly two decades, Honda announced it would stop developing ASIMO, redirecting its robotics research toward more practical applications. The robot was a landmark of the humanoid-robot lineage — a celebrated predecessor to the machines of today, and a contemporary branch in the family tree that traces back to pioneers like WABOT-1.

Quick facts

Revealed

2000

Developer

Honda

Name meaning

Advanced Step in Innovative Mobility

Capabilities

Walk, climb stairs, run, recognize faces

Heritage

Built on earlier Honda humanoid prototypes (like the P2)

Discontinued

2018

Legacy

A global symbol of humanoid robotics; a contemporary of the modern lineage

Sources

1. ASIMO - Wikipedia — Wikipedia (2026-09-05)
2. Honda halts ASIMO development — The Next Web / reporting (2026-09-05)

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