The Asimo robot is ready to work

The famous Japanese Asimo robot on December 13 has been upgraded from entertainment to practical use with the world's first walking robot expected to be a receptionist next year.

The latest Asimo prototype introduced in Tokyo can guide guests to the meeting room, hold a tray to serve coffee and push a trolley on it to sign 10 items.

The new Asimo looks like a child wearing a white astronaut's outfit that has doubled his running speed to 6km / hour and can now run in a circle and chi-shaped pattern. Satoshi Shigemi, a Honda official in charge of developing robots, said: ' Asimo can automatically serve as a receptionist or guide information '.

At the introductory press conference, the new 130cm Asimo, 54 kg in weight, ran at full speed on the catwalk and then held a tray on it with four cups to a coffee table.

Q.HONG