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1237  |
image: 35K |
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| 1237 | Honda Asimo JP 01 2001. This set was available only in Japan. ~55 pieces. Colors: white/black. 2-sided instruction sheet (A4). Instructions for the main model. A promotional set for Honda Motor Co, Ltd's Asimo robot. The set was available at Honda Japan car dealerships. |
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| The ASIMO: | Honda Motor Co, Ltd. makes not just cars like the Civic
or Accord, but also stuff like motorcycles, power generators, lawnmotors,
outboard motors and, well, humanoid robots. Under the guidance of Masato Hirose, Manager and Chief Engineer of Honda R&D's Wako Research Center, Honda started experimenting with robot technology in 1986. Over the next 14 years they produced no less than 10 prototype robots, culminating in November 2000 with the introduction of the ASIMO (Advanced Step in Innovative Mobility). The 1.2m, 52kg humanoid ASIMO is able to walk on two legs using a 3-D walking technology known as iWALK, can pick up simple objects and respond to speech. It is probably the most advanced humanoid robot currently available. | |||||
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The ASIMO |
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Well, sort of available. Unlike Lego Mindstorms or the Sony Aibo. the ASIMO is simply too expensive to purchase. Honda tends to rent it out for promotional duties, like opening a new mall in Japan or ringing the opening bell at the NYSE. |
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Honda Ad: 31K |
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To promote the Open21! Honda Fair, Honda had Lego produce for them a promotional model-the 1237 Asimo-which was only available at Japanese Honda Dealerships starting January 4th, 2001. | ||||||
The 1237: |
Box: labeled for the Honda Open21! Fair. Polybag: labeled Technic 1237. Instruction sheet: 2-sided A4 size. 16 Steps. Sticker Sheet: Several stickers of the Honda and ASIMO logo. ~55 pieces. A high percentage of white elements, including a white 3L friction connector, as well as a number of rounded beams and liftarms. The set was packaged in a polybag by Lego then boxed for distribution in Japan. The set uses standard circa 2001 construction techniques for rounded beams (in fact there are no elements with studs in the set) and, although relatively simple in construction, the result does look like a 1/10 scale ASIMO, in as much as an ~55 piece Technic set can (execpt maybe for the head). The set features movable arms and legs (with significantly less degrees of freedom than the real ASIMO, but it is also significantly cheaper). Lego has a long history of producing promotional models for 3rd parties, dating back to the 60's, but only recently have they begun producing Technic promotional models. These models are typically a generic model, perhaps with a special color or stickers to tie it to the 3rd party. The ASIMO, however, was not generic at all, but specifically designed to be only an ASIMO. |
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| Resources: | Honda Worldwide Site Honda ASIMO Special Site Peeron.com 1237 inventory |
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