Fujitsu's HOAP-3, Programmable Linux robot

zmcnulty writes "Fujitsu Automation announced their "HOAP-3" robot yesterday, a 60cm (24in.) robot with a dash of open-source goodness. The robot contains a Pentium M 1.1GHz processor and runs RT-Linux, but Fujitsu also said they'll be releasing the internal interface info for programmers to take a stab at. The original Japanese press release is available here, and at my site we have a translation of the Japanese ITmedia article covering it. No price until it actually hits stores."

Comments

Re:so whats the point

[beppu]

Some of us don't know that much about hardware, but are still intrigued by the software aspect of it. Hardware is the Body; Software is the Mind; and We are the Soul. All parts are required.

Gentle introduction to embedded programming?

[ReformedExCon]

The press release (at least the translation) doesn't make any mention of what the HOAP-3 is actually useful for. Rather, Fujitsu is releasing the internal specs and interface specs to the robot, so it seems like it is actually up to the owner to figure out what to do with the thing.

I imagine that learning how to control the hardware through existing device drivers and then eventually through writing your own device drivers would be an absolutely fun way to go about studying the subject. I am trying to study device driver development on my own time, but it is slow going. A project like the HOAP-3 would be really nice to have.

power hungery

[oringo]

The robot needs 24V DC at 10A as stated on the press release. I don't know how the robot is going to roam around...maybe with a 50kg battery pack strapped on the back? It will probably break down from just carrying the battery pack.

That's a manipulator, not a robot.

[TERdON]

Technically, a robot has to have some kind of autonomous control. Doesn't have to be built in, but it should be non-human (normally a computer).

The link you provided is about a manipulator. Definition: a robot, but without the parts that make them do things (the "brains" - the controller), and with an interface for manual control instead.

Of course, robots are really cool, so also the people not really into robotics tend to say they do it. For Random L. User, that's kinda ok, but at least we geeks here on Slashdot should be able to differentiate between fake "robots" (ie manipulators) and the real, automonous, stuff.