Tokyo - October 22, 2007

1. Asimo dancing with music mimicking the lady dancing in the screen

2. Cutaway of reporters

3. Asimo running

4. Asimo exhibit panning to the past Asimos showing the development of the Honda humanoid robot

5. Tilt up of the old Asimo, version P1 made in year 1993

6. Wide shot of and exhibition of historical Japanese robots, called "karakuri" robots

7. Close up of karakuri robot

8. Close of fan and tilt up to the robot

9. Wide shot of screen demonstrating the moves the old robot makes

10. Robot holding a bow and arrow

11. Video demonstration of the old karakuri robot releasing the arrow and hitting target

12. Set up of Kazuyoshi Suzuki, Senior curator of the National Museum of Nature and Science

13. SOUNDBITE (Japanese) Kazuyoshi Suzuki, Senior curator of the National Museum of Nature and Science

"Traditional Japanese robots were made to be like humans. They make mistakes, they trip and fall, they get angry or laugh -- Japanese robots were made in a way to communicate with people ever since the Edo period. That is what is so amusing about Japanese robots."

14. Close up of the curator and fading in the karakuri robot

15. SOUNDBITE (Japanese) Kazuyoshi Suzuki, Senior curator of the National Museum of Nature and Science

"Robots are a fellow friend, and it is a machine that will juggle about according to your will. Other countries have a different perspective. We do not have the idea that people "control" robots. Japanese robotics is about transmitting what you feel to the robot, and the robot understanding the person. Our idea of robots is to communicate to it as if it were a friend."

16. A man being asked to dance by a pink robot, robot asking "Shall we dance?"

17. Close up of the dance robot

18. Man and robot doing ballroom dancing

19. Robot playing football

20. Pan up from leg to head

21. Robot blocking goal and standing on its own (not remotely controlled)

22. Asimo bringing tea to the table

23. Set up of Masato Hirose, Senior Chief Engineer of Honda R&D Co.,Ltd.

24. Asimo to close up of Hirose

25. SOUNDBITE (Japanese) Masato Hirose, Senior Chief Engineer of Honda R&D Co.,Ltd.

"Japanese people, like myself, are more used to the idea of robots and find it an endearing character. That is why I believe that a life with robots will help create a brighter society."

26. Asimo greets and waves its hand

UPSOUND: (English) Asimo

"I am looking forward to be at your homes one day. Thank you for coming today! Bye Bye!"

LEAD IN:

The Japanese consider themselves to be the world leaders in robotics.

Now a new exhibition celebrates Japan's extensive collection of robots, by bringing together some of the best known prototypes.

Honda's latest ASIMO robot can dance, walk and run in a human-like manner.

The little android, which measures 1.30 metres (4.2 feet) and weighs 54 kilogrammes (8.5 stone), can make some impressive moves on the dance floor.

The robot, which looks like a 4-foot-tall child in a space suit, can walk hand-in-hand with a human, balance on one foot, push a tray and run.

The star attraction at the opening of a new exhibition on robotics at Tokyo's National Museum of Nature and Science, Asimo sprinted back and forth for reporters at 6 kilometres per hour (4 mph), double its previous time of 3 kilometres per hour (2 mph).

The new technique demonstrates Asimo's improved balancing technology because both the robot's feet are airborne at the same time in mid-stride.

ASIMO was created in 2000 by Japanese manufactures, Honda.

Honda began developing humanoid robots in 1987 and now has 40 Asimos worldwide.

The name comes from the acronym Advanced Step in Innovative Mobility.

This latest version of the robot made its world debut in Japan on December 13, 2005.

But as the exhibition at the National Museum of Nature and Science, shows, the Japanese have been dabbling in robotics since the 1600s.

Kazuyoshi Suzuki, the senior curator of the National Museum of Nature and Science says there is a tradition in Japan to make robots as lifelike as possible.

He explains that robots and mechanical gadgets have been made in Japan since the Edo period in the 1600's where wind-up dolls were shown to the public eyes in festivals and theatrical shows.

"Karakuri" dolls,are the wind-up robotic dolls, that were often seen in traditional festivals such as the Gion festival of Kyoto.

This 51 centimetre tall doll holds a bow and arrow can hit a target as far as a few metres away.

The doll takes the first arrow, aims the target, and releases it without missing the target.

Suzuki says the development of robots in Japan came from such mechanical dolls that were used to tell a story, thus he says that robots needed to be able to convey mood and feelings.

He says that consequently the Japanese consider robots as a potential friend not a potential threat.

Another interactive robot on display was Tohoku University' s ballroom dancing robot.

The rigid pink PBDR, dancing partner robot glides across the floor by sensing the man's movements and following his lead.

The cognitive censor is able to match the partner's movement using pre-programmed dance steps that are already installed in its computer.

This means it can predicts the steps which the dance partner will take next.

Also on display was the Chiba Institute Technology's football playing "Robocup Humanoid Robot".

This two legged humanoid robot can move around freely in all directions, which allows it to play football.

It can stand on one foot, to score a goal or on automatic mode as goalie it can sense an incoming goal and make a save.

Thus a pair of robots could have a ten minute football match without any human interference.

When the robot falls, it can stand up again without human help.

ASIMO appears again to demonstrate its watering skills, delivering cups of coffee in a professional manner, illustrating how it was conceived as a house appliance rather than for industrial or scientific purposes.

Honda hopes that an enhanced version of ASIMO may be available on the market in fifteen to twenty years time.

Masato Hirose, Senior Chief Engineer of Honda, says that Japanese people are open to the idea of interacting with robots in everyday life.

The company plans to start using Asimo's new receptionist functions at their offices early next year.

Asimo is currently available only for rental, but is important for Honda's image and has appeared at events and TV ads.

The current version can be leased for 20 million yen (US$ 170,000) a year.

The Great Robot Exhibition runs from October 22, 2007 until 27th January of 2008 at Tokyo's National Museum of Nature and Science.

Keyword wacky