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Transforming a Laptop into a Robot

Posted by ryuzaki0 on from the unlimited-battlebot-potential dept.

NathanZ writes "Evolution Robotics is selling what looks like a docking station on wheels as a way to transform a laptop into a robot. I'm not exactly sure how this can be useful since the "robot" has no arms. According to their website, "you can train your robot to do things like recognize objects and places, send email, take pictures and video, respond to voice commands, and more!". Yipee. At least it would give me something to do with that old Toshiba laptop sitting in the closet."

3 of 140 comments (clear)

  1. another thing you can do with old laptops by yoduh · · Score: 2, Interesting

    is sell them on automotive performance boards.....it doesnt take much to run the tuning software. well, unless programming a smart "battle bot" seems appealing to you ...

  2. Specs: Rugs, steps, thresholds, dirt, obstacles... by dpbsmith · · Score: 3, Interesting

    Forget "video capture resolution."

    The specs _I_ want to know are: how thick a rug can it run on? Can it go over a 3/4"-high threshold? How is it at navigating obstacles? How resistant to floor dirt is it (hint: some of us have Newfoundland dogs, they shed, the hair is long enough to wind around a vacuum cleaner beater bar and jam it...)?

    What about stair-climbing?

    Looks like it's only useful in a space that has a single, flat, clean floor. How many readers live in a space that fits that description?

    Now, as a way of ferrying parts around a factory floor like those big "Pronto" systems...

    --

    "How to Do Nothing," kids activities, back in print!

  3. old Toshiba laptop sitting in the closet by TinCanFury · · Score: 2, Interesting

    Yipee. At least it would give me something to do with that old Toshiba laptop sitting in the closet.

    Wait, you have an old PII-800mhz(or better) laptop laying in your closet unused? Can I have it? I don't have a laptop and that's plenty fast for me to get REAL work done on it.

    Or donate it to your local highschool, I'm sure they have teachers there that could use that well equiped of a laptop for REAL work too. My aunt is a teacher in a public school and would have constant use for a laptop like that.