Evolution Robotics' ER1 Reviewed 94
Anonymous Coward writes "A useful review of Evolution Robotics' ER-1 by the boys at Techfocus. It covers: construction, customization, hardware requirements, best features, programming, durability of equipment -- and all that good stuff.
One interesting factoid is that the robot can recognize objects until the object is blocked - up to 40% - by something (like a piece of furniture). Techfocus aptly points out the Orwellian implications... Another thing that rocked my world is the notion that the robot is not as much of a drag on CPU as one might suspect. TF ran the unit on an NEC Versa VXi running Windows 2000, with a 900mhz CPU and 128mb of RAM, and encountered absolutely no problems. Encouragingly, if you want to further customize your robot, why not just write a script in C or Perl -- the manual even points users toward an app primarily based in Linux.
What's not surprising: it's pricey. Also some nice pictures of how the robot really looks right out of the box."
I think I'll hold off... (Score:5, Funny)
What no LASERS?!?!! (Score:1, Funny)
Librarian: This book is overdue
Geek: 'click'
Robot: *whir* BZZZZ
Librarian: We'll just take that fine off.. can I help you with anything else?
Re:Real world robots (Score:5, Funny)
"I have yet to walk down my street and see a mowing robot or visit a friends house and see a robot cleaning the windows."
That's because I'm walking down the street a block ahead of you and kidnapping them to add to my evil army of homicidal housecleaning gardening robots.
Orwellian Implications? (Score:5, Funny)
robot: TARGET RECOGNIZED. PINCHERS ENGAGED
me: OH NO! IT'S DELICATELY PINCHING MY ANKLES. DAMN THIS POLICE STATE I LIVE IN!
Puh-lease. The image recognition will only be Orwellian to my cat, and *everything* is Orwellian to cats.
Re:I think I'll hold off... (Score:2, Funny)
Nice... (Score:4, Funny)
You just will have to watch out for water, and thieves.
"optional gripping arm" (Score:4, Funny)
If it's my robot, that's not exactly optional.
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Grampa Simson Quote (Score:4, Funny)
girlfriend? (Score:5, Funny)
Considering all the body parts on a blow-up doll are made of plastic, that will be a good trick indeed.
Re:CPU usage depends on tasks (Score:1, Funny)
Here on slashdot we only pretend we know everything about how a computer works.
Well, you see (Score:5, Funny)
That's because the first use that the sorts of people that fanatically follow robot news would have for a robot would be as a sex toy. They're all inside.
Re:Orwellian Implications? (Score:3, Funny)