Honda Motor Co., Ltd. announced that its P2 bipedal humanoid robot, introduced in 1996, has been honored as an official IEEE (Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers) Milestone.
The commemoration ceremony was held at Honda Wako Building in Saitama, Japan, with the milestone plaque presented by Professor Toshio Fukuda, Professor Emeritus of Nagoya University, who served as the 2020 IEEE President and CEO.
Honda developed the P2 as the second-generation prototype of an autonomous humanoid bipedal robot, for which the company began research in 1986. Unlike the “static walking (shuffling gait)” then commonly used for bipedal robots, the P2 realized more natural, human-like walking motion using a walking control algorithm developed independently by Honda.
Original Honda control technology capable of estimating various road surface conditions and external forces contributed to the enhancement of posture stability. With the real-time generation of leg movements, the P2 achieved the ability to walk on uneven floors and slopes, as well as ascend and descend stairs.
The technologies amassed through the research and development of P2 were carried forward into ASIMO, a humanoid robot Honda announced in 2000, which enabled more natural and smoother walking that closely resembles human gait, as well as the ability to perform tasks and provide assistance while blending into people’s daily lives.
“We would like to express our sincere gratitude for recognizing the Honda P2 autonomous humanoid bipedal robot, as a prestigious IEEE Milestone,” Honda Global CEO Toshihiro Mibe said. “Going forward, Honda will continue to take on challenges in difficult technological development, serving people worldwide with the ‘joy of expanding their life’s potential.”
The U.S.-based IEEE is a non-profit organization of technical professionals in the areas of electrical, electronics, information and communication and includes over 530,000 members in more than 190 countries. With the IEEE Milestones program, IEEE honors innovations that are at least 25 years old and have made a significant contribution to the advancement of society and industry. The organization has honored 293 milestones since 1983.
P2's achievement marks the second time that Honda received recognition as an IEEE Milestone, following its Electro Gyrocator in 2017.
