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No Servant, Japan's Build-a-Robot Delivers Joy
isabotage3 writes to tell us that a new Japanese build-a-robot product may offer up a bit more participatory joy than models past. Even though it took this novice reporter over eight hours to assemble he still seemed to think that the end result was worth it. With a quick interface that allows everything from basic movement mapping to complex dance and aerial maneuvers, this robot seems to offer the user an experience far removed from the ASIMOs and AIBOs of years past. From the article: "You don't have to be a scientist, or even very smart, to play with Manoi AT01. But there's a catch: A lot of work is required to get it going. The $1,260 machine, which can walk, wave its arms and do other simple moves, comes in a kit that requires assembly — a sprawling, mind-boggling concoction of matchbox-size motors, plastic Lego-like parts, twisted wiring, 200 tiny screws and a 100-page manual."
...or does that "catch" sound like a damn good reason to buy it?
[command INSERTWITTYQUIP failed: insufficient wit]
OK, so a good after dinner project for any decent engineer here.
What's the big deal? RTFM, put it together, and play.
I can't be the only one who did 10k-piece puzzles as a kid, and those only had a picture.
- Adam L. Beberg - The Cosm Project - http://www.mithral.com/
You would probably know this... Can it be interfaced to a computer (something straightforward, e.g. tty) or is one basically forced to use the remote?
'Hackable' includes being able to control individual steppers externally? Could one, say, use a PIC to control this bypassing whatever 'brain' it has?
Thanks.
Obama likes poor people so much, he wants to make more of them.