While in Tokyo, Japan on a state visit, President Obama got the opportunity to play soccer with a robot, which he found to be “a little scary.”
Obama was at the National Museum of Emerging Science and Innovation, or Mirikan, to highlight the renewal of a 10-year scientific collaboration between the two countries.
Honda’s humanoid robot ASIMO- an acronym for Advanced Step in Innovative Mobility- was introduced to Obama, while outfitted in an astronaut suit.
“It is a pleasure to meet you,” said the robot as he bowed slightly, with Obama returning the gesture. ASIMO continued on to perform a series of exercises, such as running really fast and jumping up and down.
Bystanders giggled in fascination when the robot got into position and informed that he could “kick a soccer ball, too.”
“We saw some truly amazing robots,” Obama said to a crowd of students. “Although I have to say the robots were a little scary. They were too lifelike. They were amazing.”
He continued to prove the importance of a science and mathematics education, for both in Japan and the U.S. “Young people like you have more technology and more power than even the greatest innovators of previous generations, so there is no limit to what you can achieve.”
