Honda's iconic robot celebrates its ninth birthday.

TOKYO, JAPAN (OCTOBER 31, 2009) REUTERS - Japan's iconic robot Asimo held its ninth birthday party in Tokyo on Saturday (October 31).
Surrounded by about 200 fans and friends, the 1.3 metre (4.2 foot) tall, 54 kilo (119 pound) Asimo was welcomed at the Honda headquarters, the same place where it was first unveiled nine years ago.

Asimo's name is an abbreviation of "Advanced Step in Innovative Mobility". It was a development over the larger and heavier P3 models that preceded it.

And as it ages, compared to its earlier versions, Asimo is now faster, more agile and generally more versatile.

Cost-cutting meant Asimo's birthday cake this year was made out of cardboard, but that did not dampen the humanoid's enthusiasm as it danced in appreciation of the party thrown in its honour.

Asimo's fans certainly were appreciative and wished the robot many happy returns.

"Happy birthday Asimo!" six-year-old Saya Utagawa said.

"This is the first time I see this and it was great," said 46-year-old Toshiya Shimizu, father to Ayumi who came dressed up for the occasion.

"It was fun watching it run," eight-year-old Ayumi added.

The robot's parents, including Honda Executive Chief Engineer Masato Hirose, hope the robot grows up to be a useful member of cyber-society.

"It's a happy moment to be able to celebrate Asimo's ninth birthday. However, we'd like to see it grow up into a robot that will be able to be used in partnership with humans and evolve to be useful among humans," Hirose told Reuters.

Japan's third-biggest auto maker, known for its cutting-edge robot technology, is believed to have spent hundreds of millions of dollars in trying to create the perfect humanoid robot that one day make replace humans in, at least, simple chores.