While visiting Japan on Thursday, President Barack Obama got to spend a little time with the ASIMO, the Honda humanoid robot, and even played a little soccer with it, though not much.
Obama was attending Japan's National Museum of Emerging Science and Innovation, the Miraikan museum, for a tour and photo op when he came face to face with ASIMO, reports ABC News. The humanoid robot spoke to the president in English, saying, "It's nice to meet you."
The robot also declared, "I can kick a soccer ball too." Obama looked amused and watched as ASIMO accurately kicked the ball towards him. The president commented, "How about that, that was pretty impressive."
ASIMO also showed off some hopping skills to Obama before the president moved on to other areas in the Miraikan museum. According to The Washington Post, the president confided in students at the museum about the various robots on display, "the robots were a little scary. They were too lifelike."
Obama also spoke at the museum about the importance of math and science programs and noted that both Japan and the United States were working hard to remain innovative and on the cutting edge of technology breakthroughs.
ABC US News | ABC Business News