A few decades ago, interactive robots with human-like motion capabilities were only a figment of imagination, but technology has progressed quiet a distance since then. During his visit to Japan, U.S. President Barack Obama saw this firsthand after meeting up with Honda’s humanoid robot ASIMO at Tokyo’s National Museum of Emerging Science and Innovation (known as “Miraikan”).

ASIMO, which stands for Advanced Step in Innovative Mobility, greeted the president in English: “Mr. President, I am ASIMO, a humanoid robot. It is a pleasure to meet you.”

And that’s not all, as ASIMO chit-chatted and even kicked a soccer ball to President Obama who said he was “impressed” with the robot – though, from the CNN video, it does seem that ASIMO’s jumping act was a little bit…awkward.

“I keep training every day so that someday in the future I can help people in their homes,” ASIMO told the president.

By John Halas

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