Re:Re-inventing the wheel again (Score 1)

If you've had a look at the internals of the Nasa bot, you would have a better idea of it's sophistication. IIRC, they didn't start from scratch with their designs.

They actually got the basic mechanical architecture from a very old roboticist named Leonardo da Vinci. He had very detailed drawings of how to build a machine that could replicate much of human motion sketched out here and there in his famous notebooks.

After improving his designs and adding the motorized bits, they are far ahead of where the Honda team is with Asimo. The hands and arms are far closer to the human range of motion and capability. If they had to send Asimo to do the work, it would be easier to just throw a human out the air lock.

I'm not saying this to dis Honda, their job is quite impresive as well. But the Nasa team packed a lot more sophistication into their leaner and meaner package.

Oh, and yes, I think they did put Boba Fett's helmet on the robot to give it a little personality.