Robot star to kick off the capital's festival season

Published on Wednesday 11 February 2009 21:21

IT IS the world's most-advanced robot, with the ability to run, walk forwards and back, climb stairs and even dance.

Despite looking uncannily like an astronaut, Asimo can notch up a running speed of 3.7 miles per hour, walk on uneven slopes and surfaces, carry a tray or push a cart.

Now the 4ft 3in robot – which has entertained crowds at Disneyland and even conducted a symphony orchestra – is set to be the star attraction at the first of this year's Edinburgh festivals.

Asimo, which has been in development for 23 years and has undergone a series of makeovers, will take up residence for two days at Edinburgh University as part of the capital's annual science festival in April.

Other expected highlights include a series of events hosted by the television presenter Richard Wiseman exploring haunting and ghosts, including a guest appearance by the main "spook consultant" on the Harry Potter films.

One of Pixar's leading animators will be visiting Edinburgh to lift the lid on how films such as Ratatouille are made, while the 200th anniversary of the birth of Charles Darwin, Edinburgh University's most famous "drop-out", will be marked with a major exhibition at the Royal Botanic Garden.

New venues at the festival, which is boasting its biggest programme yet, include Edinburgh Zoo, which is hosting a sleepover for children, and the newly-opened gardens in St Andrew Square, which will be hosting an exhibition about the earth and the universe.

The new "home" for the festival, which will feature 170 events across 26 sites, will be the City Art Centre, which will host seven floors of activities, while the festival will also stage a number of major events at Edinburgh University's new informatics complex.