Dieter Bohn The end of the Asimo era

Years before Boston Dynamics unsettled people with Big Dog or wowed people with Atlas, Asimo was plodding unhurriedly into our hearts. Asimo’s posture and demeanor was that of a quiet, smart, conscientious fifth grader wearing a too-big backpack. When it fell off the stairs, we felt bad because it looked so helpless and innocent.

Asimo’s fall woke me up to exactly how difficult, interesting, and multivariate the world of robotics is. A world where even walking is beyond our understanding. Growing up believing anything in technology was possible, I needed Asimo to provide me with a reality check: yes, all your dreams can come true, but nothing is easy or given.

Sometimes you’re gonna fall off the stairs.