KUN0010 4 GEN 0274 KUWAIT /KUNA-AQB3 ECO-JAPAN-HONDA-ROBOT Honda reveals world's first humanoid robot able to run (With Photo) TOKYO, Dec 15 (KUNA) -- Honda Motor Co. announced Wednesday the next-generation Asimo humanoid robot that can run at speeds of 3km per hour, making it the world's first humanoid robot capable of running. In order to realize "running," Honda used a new posture control technology that enables Asimo to bend or twist the upper part of its body to maintain its balance. When a human runs, the step cycle is 0.2 to 0.4 and when both feet are off the ground, it varies between 0.05 to 0.1 seconds. The step cycle of Asimo is 0.36 seconds with an airborne time of 0.05 seconds, which are equivalent to that of a person jogging. The latest Asimo can also walk at 2.5km per hour, much faster than the 1. 6km for the previous model. With a newly developed high-speed processing circuit and high-power motor drive unit, the robot's feet can make the necessary adjustments while moving or absorbing shock. The new robot can also independently navigate courses and circumvent obstacles without stopping by using prestored map data and an array of sensors. By detecting peoples movements through visual sensors which have been newly added to its wrists, Asimo can now shake hands more smoothly and step forward or backward. Japanese firms are world leaders in the field of commercial-use robots. The robot market in Japan, now estimated to be worth about JPY 500 billion (USD 4. 7 billion), is forecast to expand further because robots are likely to be used more and more at work with the continued graying of society. (end) mk.bn KUNA 151112 Dec 04NNNN