Robots

RC mutant goes anywhere it wants

With an endless stream of remote-controlled toys on the market, it's hard to get excited about yet another entry to the fray. But the "Tri-Clops Mutant" is different, and not just because it's got a great name.

The features alone make it worth the $100 price in our opinion--pincer claws, laser targeting and a disc-firing cannon--but what makes this three-wheeled monster unique is its omindirectional movement, which gives it exceptional abilities to maneuver around obstacles and opponents alike. Manufacturer Tyco calls it "a blend of robotic and organic styling." We call the first item … Read more

Robot report: i-Sobot, ElmoSapien, and robo-boredom

It's only Monday, but the robot news has been coming fast and furious of late. Fast like turbo robot.

Tomy launches U.S. version of i-Sobot site: The English version of the Web site for Tomy's $300 robot is now live, just in time for its late October launch. According to Waziwazi, i-Sobot will hit the shelves of Sharper Image and Toys R Us on Halloween day. Waziwazi also has a hands-on review of the robot, along with some good video footage. Tomy and the Guinness Book of World Records claim i-Sobot is the world's smallest commercial … Read more

Vote: Nonviolent robot championship game!

Voting is now closed! See the exciting conclusion of the Nonviolent Robot Tournament right here.

The nonviolent robotic cream has risen to the top. Figuratively.

All this week, Honda's Asimo and Star Trek: The Next Generation's Commander Data will be hitting the hardwood and competing for your votes. The robot with the most votes will take its place among the pantheon of greats, immortalized as the champion of all nonviolent robots.

It's been a long, crazy tournament (get the brackets here). For the round-by-round results, visit the links below. Or just click here for the championship scouting reports … Read more

DigitalLife 2007 brings tech toy favorites

NEW YORK--While DigitalLife 2007 did see a better turnout than last year according to those who attended both, there wasn't all that much in terms of new tech toys at the show.

Lots of favorites simply continued to make the digital world rounds.

The R2D2 television projector from Nikko was set up to play the famous lightsaber sequences scenes from the Star Wars films.

Lots of people were playing with the Novint Falcon at the Novint Technologies booth. The company announced Thursday that the 3D game controller would be available at CompUSA stores this October for about $239.

WowWee … Read more

A freaky robot that's sure to please

NEW YORK--What's black and white and scares me?

The Roboquad robot from WowWee for $99. It's the first robot that's ever startled me or made me nervous. And I loved every minute of the interaction.

I've had the opportunity to meet more sophisticated lifelike robots such as Domo and "Tony X." While some find these humanoid robots unnerving, I've never felt anything toward them but the amused affection one might have for a dog or, say, a Muppet.

The Roboquad is another story.

Watching them in action, these arthropods move so organically that … Read more

Video montage: Robo-One bots play catch

The third-party Robo-One 12 coverage keeps rolling in. Robots Dreams has a video montage of this year's bipedal robot competition in Japan that showcases this year's special challenge: to have robots catch and throw a ball.

Results and throwing styles vary. From two-handed soccer throw-ins to one-armed frozen ropes, they're all here.

In keeping with the fun-lovin' 1980s theme inherent in video montages, the clip is accompanied by a Night Court theme song soundalike.

Spykee instead of Spike to watch the house?

NEW YORK--Spykee, a communications robot from the toymaker Erector for $299, allows you to listen, see and record the surroundings of the robot from anywhere in the world through a Web-based software application.

Similar in function to iRobot's ConnectR robot, the Spykee offers a VOIP telephone that works with Skype 3.0 and a Webcam, as well as controlled movement around a room.

Spykee operates over a wireless network and is controlled through downloadable software that Erector refers to as its "machine man interface."

You can upload music to the device from a computer and it will … Read more

iRobot not just phoning it in

It's not quite Rosie yet, Mr. Brooks, but we'll concede that the company you founded is a step closer to The Jetsons world of communications.

iRobot is expected to unveil this ConnectR communications robot, aka a physical avatar, at DigitalLife 2007 on Thursday.

The ConnectR for $499 is a robot you control on your behalf from anywhere in the world using a Web-based application. With a VoIP speakerphone and one-way video, it allows you to carry on a conversation as if you are right in the room. You can also control where it goes.

The video camera mounted … Read more

New iRobot gadget tackles fall fallout

NEW YORK--Gadget-freak homeowners may never have to face the gunk of fall fallout ever again.

iRobot's CEO Colin Angle is expected to unveil two new robots at the DigitalLife 2007 consumer electronics show in New York on Thursday.

The Looj, which was accidentally leaked in August by the Federal Communications Commission Web site, is a remote-control robot that cleans out the gutters on the outside of a home.

The $99 robot's mobile base was based on that of iRobot's military PackBot, only on a much smaller scale. The robot can be slid into a gutter and then … Read more

Anybots: Building your robot army

You've probably seen or heard of the industrial robots that build cars, and the various humanoid robots like Honda's Asimo. Most of these are made in Japan. But let's face it, there's only so much these can do. An industrial robot is bolted down, and only knows one or two simple tasks. Asimo is small and weak, and famously collapsed once while trying to climb stairs.

As we know from sci-fi movies, real robots are the size of a man and can do things--dangerous things. Real robots are suitable for building robot armies. For that, we … Read more