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Fujitsu To Ship Linux Powered Robot in July

Posted by ryuzaki0 on from the bop-whirr-zoop dept.

Radical Rad writes "The Register is reporting that Fujitsu will be shipping a consumer robot in July called HOAP for Humanoid Open Architecture Platform and it will be running a real-time version of Linux. They plan to release info on the controls system to make it possible to program using C/C++. The 7 kg robot is wired with USB and can have an optional 802.11b transceiver." This thing could be a lot of fun to program and send around the house.

7 of 135 comments (clear)

  1. Willy Wonka by The+Only+Druid · · Score: 4, Funny

    Maybe its me, but every time I see one of these pint-sized robots demonstrated or released, my first impulse is to sing an Oompa-Loompa song in my head. I just picture a crowd of these, milling around my house taking care of random tasks, and singing moral lessons to all my visitors.

    Then again, I do wear a purple top hat.

    --
    "Stumble before you crawl"
  2. Tethered? by Hayzeus · · Score: 4, Informative
    My understanding was that this robot (actually the HOAP-2, a sucessor to the HOAP-1) was to be tethered for both power and datacomm to a remote computer running linux. If this is the case, don't expect it to be wandering too far.

    Note that the HOAP-1 ran about $48,000.00USD; unless the price drops significanty, it'll probably not be your next tech toy.

    More info and video (in Japanese) from Fujitsu here.

    --

    Roving Web-Teleoperated Robot
  3. Just don't install the Gimp by teamhasnoi · · Score: 4, Funny

    nobody needs a limpy robot.

  4. Switching to Linux by manseman · · Score: 4, Funny

    This is good news for companies and institutions that consider switching their desktops to Linux.
    The robot would visit each room in the office, tell the occupant that it's about to switch his os, and then plug itself in the computer and start uploading Linux. After the upload is complete the robot could stick around to answer questions and teach the use of Linux.

  5. Why humanoid design? by foofboy · · Score: 4, Interesting

    Isn't there a better way to build a body than upright, two limbs for perambulation, two for manipulation. I mean, our species is sort of stuck with the design. But would it be easier to design something more like an arthropod.

    Is the idea that it's be easier to relate to a bipedal critter? Is it easier to program a two legged thing? I'd've thought the balance problems alone would make it much harder to create a humanoid robot.

    Any MIT calibre eggheads want to weigh in?

  6. Three short mpegs by PukkaStoryTeller · · Score: 4, Interesting

    Three short mpegs of this strange thing. http://www.automation.fujitsu.com/products/product s092.html (click on the screenshots)

  7. My bot, my rules by gad_zuki! · · Score: 4, Funny

    It better not. I don't want my $60,000 investment thinking its a superhero because of law number one.

    Screw law number two. If I want it to poke you in the eye with a stick it should.

    We can change law number three to, "Do your master's bidding, and try not to break yourself. If you can, beat up other robots for parts. Your master isn't the richest man in the world and you're moving out when you turn 18!"