Brainlink turns your toys into Android devices
Retrofit your Robosapien and other IR devices with smartphone capability. Why wouldn't you want to talk to your TV?
(Credit:
BirdBrain Technologies)
How can you make your Roomba or Robosapien smarter? Try this hacker device that connects home electronics with your Android smartphone or laptop.
Brainlink is a controller that links robots and other IR devices to Android phones and laptops via Bluetooth.
The controller attaches to the robot and relays commands through its IR detector. It has a light sensor and accelerometer and ports for other sensors to add capabilities.
Roombas equipped with it could, for instance, avoid hitting walls if a proximity sensor is added. Or you could train Robosapien to find you a beer if you use an object-recognition app. There's a growing library of tools.
Apart from robots, you could use Brainlink to control your TV with your voice, or use your Android phone as a remote.
The controller has a Bluetooth range of 30 feet and works with Windows, Mac, Linux, and Android.
BirdBrain Technologies, a spinoff from CMU, recently began selling Brainlink for $125. They're targeting home hackers and educators who want to add something different to a computer science or electrical engineering class.
"My robot ate my homework" might be a good excuse after all. Check out Brainlink in the promo vid below.
