Romo - the promo (via Romotive)
The development of autonomous, vision-sensing robots are catching a lot of buzz lately - mostly concerned with improving manufacturing efficiency and maintenance safety for industrial operation, and security measures for in-home use. Now, with the flexibility made available by mobile app creation coupled with mobile robotics, a new start-up company has developed a fun and animated toy robot that does many awesome things using an iDevice and an internet connection. (I wish it wasn’t restricted to “iDevices”)
Romotive is a self-proclaimed team of nerds all sharing the passion of building a fun and affordable intelligent robot that anyone can use. The Las Vegas company’s first project is already well funded and hopes to find its way into the homes of many satisfied consumers. Their very first product, you can call him Romo, is an iDevice-driven robot that combines its mobile robotic base with a smartphone to heed way for its autonomous navigation, remote vision control, and telepresence capabilities.
Romo’s base, 5.6” in length by 4.5” in width and only 3” tall, is equipped with a 30-pin dock connector allowing users to plug their iPhone 4, 4s, or 4th Gen iPod right on top. First, users must download the Romo mobile app on their docking device before getting started. When booted up, the app loads a ton of features including a highly customizable faces that give life to Romo’s software-driven personality. Once docked, users can then use a secondary iDevice, or an internet browser, to drive the mobile robot around on its tank-like base over a WiFi connection. When not being used, the base’s NiMH batteries can be recharged through a mini-USB port for hours of ride time later.
Though its hardware is well designed, Romo’s key features are found in its app’s remote connectivity features. The app comes equipped with video chat software and even games that allow people in distant locations to interact by taking control of Romo through its iDevice powered vision. As the CEO of the company Keller Rinaudo explained, a grandma can log onto an internet browser to take control of Romo and play hide and seek with her grandkids from anywhere across the globe. To top it all off - the more Romo is used, the more he learns and evolves with regards to the way his human counterparts interact with him.
Romotive is successfully bringing toys to life with its new mobile-software based robot - another great innovation that makes use of existing smartphone technologies. If you’re looking to pick one up, you can reserve your Romo now for $149 with a ship date set for April of this year.
ps. A true Kickstarter success story.
Cabe