Today in 2000, ASIMO (Advanced Step in Innovative Mobility), a humanoid robot designed and developed by Honda as a multi-functional mobile assistant, was introduced.
Karakuri puppets are traditional Japanese mechanized puppets, made from the 17th century to the 19th century. The word karakuri is used to describe any device that evokes a sense of awe through concealment of its inner workings.
ASIMO made its first public appearance in the U.S. in February 2002. To mark the 25th anniversary of Honda's listing on the New York Stock Exchange, it rang the bell to open the trading session. It made its last active appearance in March 2022, as Honda announced that they are retiring the robot to concentrate on remote-controlled, avatar-style, robotic technology.
Isaac Asimov: “People who think they know everything are a great annoyance to those of us who do.”