wow, that, is, a, ma,zing.

I'm not sure it is technically "running".. more like power walking. I can't slow down the flash thingy, but it does not look like both feet are off the ground at the same time.

Still, insanely hard control problem to solve. I know guys who have done their whole PhD on simpler running/jumping/ etc type problems.

they can make fast robots that run liek said, both feet leaving the ground,
but it can't stop properly, lol

@joe: As the woman in the video (and news accounts) explain, both of his feet leave the ground for about .08 seconds per stride, which she claims is "similar to the amount of time that we humans' feet are off the ground while running."

The robot's run reminds me of how a robber would creep up on something.

I would call that fast walking, not running. Feets at not off the ground at the same time! But it's certanly a groundbreaking event. I'll be impressed as soon as i can se a robot run and jump similar to a human! It's probably gonna be a long wait!

@smiley - I don't work for Honda, nor am I a particularly big fan of Asimo (except when he's keeping us amused with his tumbling antics), but I have to point out that both of his feet are off the ground as he "runs" (see my comment above, or watch the video again and listen to the explanation). It does look funny and unhuman, but he is running.

I run like that when I have to make an "Emergency" dash to the bathroom after a Taco Bell Binge

Is it just me, or does she call him awesome-o?

On the subject of running i would have expected the field of robotics to have come up with better things than this by now. I love the movies of the 3d biped from MIT; a discontinued project. Check out the awesome somersault.

Its easy to make a robot to do a particular task but the point of Asimo is that everything is integrated, so there is a lot of stuff that needs to be put in there. Its not surprising that we haven't got further considering the difficulty of emulating human motions. Running is especially difficult because without any feet on the ground you have to judge your balance much more carefully. Its a natural instinct for us but it is much more difficult to program a robot to do all of that.

It's a shame he's not lifting his feet/body up more, i wonder if the actuators either don't have enough power or lose accuracy at higher speed. So maybe he's running in safe-mode (pun-intended).
I still want to see more somersaults! i'm a sucker for somersaults : P