Maestro or machine?

Saturday, May 17, 2008 | 2:05 a.m.

As if stepping out of an episode of “The Jetsons,” ASIMO the robot stepped into the conductor’s spot in front of the Detroit Symphony Orchestra last week and conducted the group in its performance of “The Impossible Dream.”

ASIMO — which stands for Advanced Step in Innovative Mobility — was created by the Honda Motor Co. Its Detroit appearance was a publicity event to highlight Honda’s $1 million gift to the symphony’s music education fund.

Although ASIMO can do only what humans program him — make that “it” — to do, the shiny-white, 4-foot-tall robot made almost humanlike gestures with its arms, hands and faceless head.

It also took a bow and spoke.

“It is absolutely thrilling to perform with the Detroit Symphony Orchestra. This is a magnificent concert hall,” ASIMO said to the audience following the performance.

ASIMO’s movements were programmed to mimic those of Charles Burke, the Detroit Symphony’s education director, who conducted the orchestra in the piece about six months ago.

Certainly, orchestra conductors across the globe have little to worry about in terms of job security where robots are concerned. ASIMO can do only as it is told and cannot actually respond to the music or the musicians.

Yet.

Still, the video clips of this diminutive machine pique the imagination. Could ASIMO also do the laundry, vacuum and take out the trash, as Rosie the robot did for the Jetsons, the 1960s TV family of the future?

It might be worth pursuing — especially if ASIMO could sort the laundry and check the pockets before washing it.