Remember Pleo that Judie and her kitty played with a while back?  Well it appears to be coming out of extinction and is now for sale at the Pleoworld web site!  So if you did not get a chance to order your own life-like dinosaur, then now is your chance!  He’s currently $349.  Continue Reading

Hoya Robot, A South Korean company, is developing a robot that one day might just help save the lives of both victims and firefighters.  The Firefighter’s Assistant Robot can enter burning building and size up the scene as well as check for victims who may be trapped inside.

The unit can operate for up to 30 minutes and withstand temperatures of up to 320 degrees F.  Weighing in at only 3 pounds the robot is water resistant and it can survive falls of up to 6 feet.  It’s small enough that it can fit in the palm of your hand.

The super speedy robot can cover over one foot per second and can be remote controlled from 54 yards away.  It’s meant to quickly enter a fire scene where it can send back information such as data on temperature, smoke and gasses.  Its on-board camera has lights underneath which illuminate the area around it.

About 50 fire stations in South Korea are set to receive 100 test units of the robot and Hoya plans to show off the device at the International Robot Exhibition 2009 (iRex) in Tokyo in November.

Watch the robot in action.

Source:  Fire Link

Kysoh.com has released the new Tux Droid 2.0.  Tux Droid is essentially a Open Source Nabaztag that looks like Tux the Penguin (Tux was originally designed as the Linux mascot by Larry Ewing).  The Tux Droid is wirelessly connected to your computer via its cute fish shaped dongle, which  has a striking resemblance to Tux himself.  What does Tux do?  He’ll do a little dance whenever you get an E-mail, Twitter message or a Facebook messag; he also has a text-to-speech engine, and by interacting with Tux Droid, you can also complete certain tasks on your computer.  If you aren’t right next to him to interact with him, you can use Tux Droid’s remote control.

In the spirit of Linux, Tux Droid is a Open Source device; all of the source code is available for Tux Droid, which means if he doesn’t do something you would like right now, you have the power to change that.

Just head on over to kysoh.com and take a look.  Strangely enough, Tux Droid works on Windows as well as any Linux distro with a 2.4 kernel or better.  Tux Droid is available at ThinkGeek.com and Kysoh.com for $149.99.

The concept of conciousness and awareness has always fascinated me. It was what drew me to science fiction as a kid, and to philosophy as I got older. One of the tropes of science fiction is artificial intelligence, the idea that a computer robot can become sentient and move beyond the limits of its programming.

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Here’s an interesting twist on the boring old web camera. Just like 8 bazillion other web cams this will provide video through an Internet connection. And (yawn) it does so via Wi-Fi. But here’s where things get interesting. This version goes mobile and provides images via 802.11b/g while simultaneously performing 360 degree turns. For a projected cost of only $169 this gizmo’s worth a look. I’m not sure how much or how precisely you can steer – though the literature mentions 360 degree turns.

Spyball can be connected to from many WiFi enabled devices such as PC’s, video game consoles and even cell phones. It comes with a USB cord that takes the user through an easy setup process to configure Spyball for remote access. Spyball is little brother to the self navigating and self recharging Rovio robot.

Spyball has two revolving domes, one per side that act as wheels. The middle section is unmoving and holds the camera. In its closed state, the camera folds down and a balancing wheel tucks into the body. In this state, you can roll the ball along the ground. It has a bottom weight which is used to correct its positioning when it comes to a stop. This orients Spyball into the correct position for the changing to the camera or open state. Once activated electronically the head and balancing wheel pop out to allow you to start driving it again.

WowWee – Spyball – Available Q4 2009 – approximately $169

Oh to be one of those geeks who can effortlessly start up a remote control helicopter and make it fly, but alas. When I play with those type toys I am the one who will almost always immediately crash and burn…assuming I can even get lift off. It’s okay, though; I have found a flying toy which I can operate, and that doesn’t come complete with the same frustration I’ve discovered in others of the type: the WowWee Flytech Bladestar. Built for those who are eight years old and up, it’s even fun for those of us who have hit the big 4-0 (plus one).

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Robert Oschler, the sovereign of all things robotic has just sent his latest email featuring what will likely be one of the holiday’s hottest toys: Elmo Live.

According to the Fisher Price site, “In this truly life-like creation, for the first time ever, Elmo seems to actually be speaking as his mouth opens and closes just like the real muppet, Elmo, from Sesame Street. His mannerisms are right on target as his head moves back and forth as he speaks. He waves his arms, sits and stands, even crosses his legs all the while telling stories and jokes, singing songs and playing games. Children can activate the magic with a tickle or a squeeze of Elmo’s foot, tummy, back or nose.”

Stay tuned for the cuteness overload…

Hello Judie,

Here’s the latest:

First hands-on review of the Fisher Price Elmo Live Doll, straight out of its retail packaging. The video highlights Elmo Live’s interactive touch sensors, play along stories, singing and dancing, tilt sensor (Elmo knows when he’s fallen over), battery saving mode, and more. Also contains a cameo appearance by Cookie Monster. In conclusion, it’s a smash hit:

Here is a URL to our information page on the Elmo Live and the review video that includes tips on how to play with Elmo Live and how to save big bucks on batteries:

Thanks,
Robert Oschler
RobotsRule.com

Robert’s at it again; today he has information on Mr. Personality, WowWee’s new omni-directional entertainment robot. Why might you want one? Read on…

Hello Judie,

Reminiscent of one of the robots at the robot carnival in the movie A.I., Mr. Personality is a unique interactive robot companion that talks up a storm. He’s a natural joke teller, a fortune teller, and will even give you whimsical answers about your future. Instead of a featureless face Mr. Personality has an animated face which is displayed via a head mounted full color LCD.

Features

* Can move in all directions using a unique three wheeled mobile base
* Tells stories, jokes, and fortunes and will talk to you too
* Full color head mounted LCD screen display an animated face with synchronized facial expressions and sounds
* Has several distinct play modes including: Bits, Crystal Ball, Fortune Cookies, Demo and others.
* Detects and avoids obstacles and will let you know if he has fallen over or if his batteries are getting low on juice

Official WowWee YouTube video:

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Being a kid these days is getting way too cool; not only can you cuddle with a robotic pet lion, you can even own a mountable baby dinosaur! Granted, Kota the Triceratops will not take your child (ages 3+) for a ride around his or her room, but Kota does provide the most realistic baby dinosaur experience anyone has had in the last 65 million years. Since people weren’t around when real dinos were last roaming, who’s to say that I’m wrong?

Kindle your child’s curiosity for prehistoric creatures and make-believe adventures with his very own life-sized baby dinosaur. You may have seen “talking” and “moving” toys before, but chances are your dino-loving toddler has never seen a prehistoric “pet” that comes to “life” with realistic electronic sounds and motion. It’s fossil-sized fun standing just over three feet tall. A hidden handle helps kids hold on once they climb onto the dinosaur’s back. Realistic stomping sounds add to the make-believe fun as kids bounce in place on the spring seat. Talk to KOTA the Triceratops and he roars back with expressive tail, head, eye, mouth and horn movements. Hold out your hand and KOTA “sniffs” it! In fact, it’s easy to trigger all of his sensitive spots – try tickling his belly or chin to make KOTA “laugh”. And when you think this pretend dinosaur has worked up an appetite, be sure to “feed” KOTA his leafy snack – it really sounds like he’s munching on it! Four different adventure-themed tunes set the mood for your child’s wild imagination as he embarks on a dino-filled daydream. But don’t worry! A convenient volume control switch lets you adjust the level or turn it off. KOTA the Triceratops may look thick-skinned, but just one stroke on his scaly-like fabric “hide” will prove he’s really a soft and snuggable playmate who’s ready for all of your child’s dino-roarin’ escapades. Dinosaur figure comes with leafy snack and instructions.

photo and descriptive quotes from Amazon

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Moe information has just come in from Robert concerning the new WowWee Rovio spy cam robot. After watching these new videos, you may decide that Rovio is exactly what you need for keeping an eye on things when you can’t be home…

Hello Judie in BFE, [Ed note: you see how he is?! ]

WowWee is pulling out all the stops with their new Rovio spy cam robot. Instead of the usual toy style videos they have already produced and published 3 gloss high quality teaser style videos that are high in information content and devoid of fluff. The 3 short TV style videos just published to YouTube give you a crisp look at the Rovio’s features, web interface, and home networking requirements in a rapid yet clear look at their flagship robot product for 2008. Here they are:

Meet Rovio – TV commercial style clip , short and sweet

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It looks like the 2008 holiday season is going to be chock full of robotic goodness – and I’m not just talking about the huggable and fuzzy types, either. Here is the latest on the Rovio remote surveillance robot, sent in from our buddy Robert Oschler…

WowWee’s highly anticipated remote surveillance robot, The Rovio, has finally been seen in the USA as a pre-order item with an expected ship date of 9/26/2008.  Currently the only place I can find that is accepting pre-orders is Hammacher Schlemmer at a price of $299 (Note: Hammacher never uses the manufacturer’s product name in their web page text but you can see for yourself from the product picture and description that it’s a Rovio, along with their product lifetime guarantee).

Amazon has a page for it that you need to dig for that still says “currently unavailable”, and the major retailers like Target and WalMart do not show it at all.  Still it’s good to see it finally available for pre-order in the USA.  Until now, the only source was Red5 in the United Kingdom since they were lucky enough to get an exclusive on it.  Note, due to the sparse availability of the the Rovio pre-order I would eye that 9/26/2008 ship date a little cautiously.

Hammacher Schlemmer product page.

Amazon page (currently unavailable).

Detailed information page with a picture gallery and several videos of Rovio in action.

Thanks,
Robert Oschler
RobotsRule.com

When I was a child, I absolutely loved stuffed animals; I had such a massive collection residing on my bed that they threatened to push me off should I stretch out or roll over in the middle of the night. One of my fondest wishes at that time was that some of my favorite stuffed animals could be more life-like and animated. Granted, this was in the 70s, and the closest things we had to robotic toys back then were those obnoxious stuffed dogs that came with a wired battery pack so that they could walk a few steps, bark, and then walk a bit more. These toys certainly weren’t huggable, you wouldn’t want to sleep with them, and once the initial trill of watching them do their “thing” wore off, they would invariably wind up in the bottom of a little girl’s toy bin.

Fast forward thirty plus years (ack! did I just admit that?) and we find that little girls still love their stuffed animals, they still hug on them and sleep with, and they still long for a more realistic “pet” experience. Gone are the wired yap-dogs, and in their place we now have much more life-like and animated animals such as those in the new WowWee Alive series.

I was sent their Lion Cub, and from the minute I opened the outer box, I knew exactly who I would employ as its primary “testers”. My boyfriend has two daughters, ages 5 and 9, and they both love stuffed animal; their beds bear silent testament to this fact. Would this particular toy get any type of special treatment once they had discovered its capabilities? Or would it end up in the bottom of their toy bin like the yap-dogs of yesteryear? There was only one way to find out…

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Robert Oschler teased us with glimpses of Wrex, the junkyard dawg, several months ago. Now that sassy canine has crossed our borders, and Robert has the scoop!

Hello Judie,

WowWee’s hilarious and ill-behaved robot junkyard dog has finally popped up in the USA for ordering. Amazon has it available for about $140 (USD) and lists it as “in stock”. Hammacher Schlemmer, who offers a “lifetime guarantee” on their products (about 9 years) also has it with an expected ship date of 9/26/2008 and a price of $130. Buy.com has it available for ordering with Free Shipping, but lists it as “Temporarily Out Of Stock” and at a price of $150. So far the other major retailers like Target and WalMart don’t have it yet.

Here are the relevant links:

Amazon
Hammacher Schlemmer
Buy.com

Detailed Video Review of Wrex The Dawg:

Detailed Written Review

Thanks,
Robert Oschler
RobotsRule.com

If you’ve been intrigued by our previous posts on the new WowWee Femisapien, or E.M.A. the Kissing Robot, then you’ve probably been waiting to hear when she would become available. Robert Oschler, our neighborhood robot guru, has got the low-down…

Hello Judie,

WowWee’s first female robot ever, Femisapien, is now available for purchase for $99 (USD). So far she’s been spotted for sale at Amazon, Target, and WowWee’s online store and listed as being in stock. Femisapien is also known as E.M.A. the Kissing Robot.

Amazon

Target

WowWee Online store

My 5000 word detailed review and companion video review of Femisapien

Thanks,
Robert Oschler
RobotsRule.com

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Robert Oschler is making sure that none of us miss a bit of Pleo cuteness; this time we get to be voyeurs enjoying Linus’ day at the Changes Salon…

Hello Judie,

Put this under the “truth is stranger (and more fun) than fiction” category. Here’s a video that shows Pleo World member maggie44n’s Pleo named Linus getting the full treatment at the Changes Salon, including a fossil rock massage:

Link: maggie44n’s Plog (Pleo diary).

In my next life I’m coming back as a Pleo!

Thanks,
Robert
RobotsRule.com

Me, too!