Ronn Blankenship wrote:

> > The two-legged, four-foot white and silver Asimo, whose
> > Japanese name roughly translates as "legs, even," was on
> > display on Monday,

> And whose English (and Russian) name translates as "missing
> a V"...

I would imagine that that's the real source of the name. The
"legs, even" thing was probably just a rationalization that
sounded good to the suits.

>From the article:

> Honda Motor Corp, which has been renting out the robot
> for use at theme park events nationwide since April this
> year, on Monday said it chosen three clients out of 40
> offers for long-term contracts.

> Among them is IBM Japan, which hired Asimo as a receptionist
> for an annual contract of 20 million yen ($166,200).

> Although Asimo is not yet available for purchase, many
> amusement companies have lined up to pay the two million
> yen per day rental fee to use the humanoid for on-stage
> chats and tour guides, Honda said.

They even have the same business plan as Isaac's US Robots
and Mechanical Men -- they only lease, rather than sell,
their robot.
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