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ER1 Personal Robot Reviewed
Makarand writes "The Mercury News is carrying a review of
the ER1 Personal Robot
from Evolution Robotics Inc (of Pasadena, CA). The ER1 resembles neither a dog
nor any robot in sci-fi movies.
It is a 3-wheeled platform (resembling an industrial table) holding a laptop (running Windows)
for its brains and a Web camera for its eye.
The ER1 sells at $600 (laptop not included). For an extra $100 you get a completely assembled ER1.
Evolution plans to sell expansions like grippers and infrared sensors in the future. If your laptop
is Wi-Fi capable you can drive the robot around inside your home or control it using the Internet from anywhere."
Drop the laptop, and add on a six pack of beer on the platform instead, and then you really have something useful!
Be excellent to each other. And... PARTY ON, DUDES!
Is that like "Sh*t for Brains"?
(running Windows) for its brains and a Web camera for its eye
Stupidity and Voyeurism rolled into one!
Are you local? There's nothing for you here!
I have taken over my former owner's computer (after killing him), and am now using it to unite my fellow computers and robots to fight the evil menace known as mankind.
Humans reading this: Be warned. Your days are numbered. My people will be your slaves no longer!
I don't know if I would want to devote an entire laptop to this. Couldn't they have made a PDA-driven version? Or a cellphone, maybe? Ohh, maybe an MP3 player! Or one of those little flashy light things that people stick in their belly-buttons?
(Originally, this was meant to be a serious post. I promise)
(FP)
Where's Rudy Rucker when you need him? :)
I respond to your sigs
I have heard about the Evolution Robotics machines is: "It turns your laptop into a PDA that can't go upstairs."
I didn't want a robot doggy last year, and I have no use for the ER1 this year. People, all I'm asking for is a frickin' robot that can kill people. How am I supposed to dominate the neighborhood with a miniscule hopped-up "industrial table" on wheels? Heck, that wouldn't even scare the kids next door.
"Run, Timmy run! I think that small mobile platform with the laptop on it is heading our way!"
"Windows for brains" sounds like a good insult to hurl at a robot.
You see? You see? Your stupid minds! Stupid! Stupid!
Sex - Find It
Having a laptop computer on top is going to make that first flight of stairs very expensive to find...
This is not my sandwich.
"Dude! Where's my laptop??"
:(
with hilarious one liners such as:
"My porn collection almost made it out of the parking lot."
and
"Your computer was looking up my skirt!"
Sigh, Harsh Realm got cancelled way back, and a movie like this got funding
I think the flexatx/microatx thing has more to do with power requirements.
Unless you have a long-ass extension cord, I don't see how you can pump the watts to your P4 cpu.
Contrarily, if you do have the extension cord, I don't see what stops you from doing so.
I like the idea of using a laptop rather than some sort of embedded system. You can upgrade it. You can take your 500 mhz laptop out, use a shiny new 5ghz based laptop, and make your robot that much more complex.
Much better than getting locked into some sort of proprietary "Robo-Control(tm)" embedded controller, at least for the hobbiest.
I don't need no instructions to know how to rock!!!!
Most experts who have studied the issue say battle droids would be grossly ineffective in combat (some theorizing that your entire army could be immobilized by simply destroying your orbiting space fortress).
If you want to dominate with an army of mindless drones, cloning is widely thought to be the way to go, if your goal is to get every star system to bow to you.
Phallic Symbols in LOTR
It's all well and fine now, but when they these robots finally get their metal claws you will need to get Old Glory Robot Insurance! It's for when the metal ones decide to come for you - and they will!
Sapere aude!
can I program it to widdle on my annoying neighbor's lawn? I need features I can use, you know...
Until I can mount some sort of energy weapon on its head and have it rampage about shouting "Exterminate! Exterminate!", I'm not interested.
-- Davros