Remember The Heathkit HERO? Check Out '912' 143
moorley writes "The 912 Mobile Platform built by White Box Robotics based on VIA motherboards as part of their PC Bots program. Still in prototype but they are projecting to have it out by Summer 2004. They have no prices yet, but estimate 'building or buying the 912 for about the cost of a decent PC.'"
Next year... (Score:5, Funny)
Re:Next year... (Score:1)
(as an aside, why wasn't it named 883 [rr.com]?)
What the hell is that? (Score:3, Funny)
No that I'm big on interior decoration, but still. Ew.
Re:What the hell is that? (Score:5, Funny)
Re:What the hell is that? (Score:1)
Re:What the hell is that? (Score:1)
KFG
Re:What the hell is that? (Score:2)
....a GIRL robot! (Score:4, Funny)
Re:....a GIRL robot! (Score:1, Funny)
tin can
bubble wrap
duct tape
mayonaise
Re:....a GIRL robot! (Score:1, Funny)
Re:....a GIRL robot! (Score:2)
Re:....a GIRL robot! (Score:2)
But, uh, what is it? (Score:2, Funny)
I'd like it medium-brown, please (Score:5, Funny)
Re:I'd like it medium-brown, please (Score:4, Funny)
Hmm, does it have interface for vacuum cleaner ? (Score:1)
Re:Hmm, does it have interface for vacuum cleaner (Score:3, Funny)
If it can move around a vacuum cleaner it would be of some use..
The least
Re:Hmm, does it have interface for vacuum cleaner (Score:2, Funny)
features? (Score:1)
Is it programmable, what kind of AI does it have etc?
Re:features? (Score:5, Funny)
Have you ever played System Shock 2? I imagine that it will be something like that.
Re:features? (Score:5, Funny)
It's as fully programmable as any PC, which means you can make an 802.11g beowulf cluster that will chase the cat around the house.
Obviously the big thing here is the propriatary AI programing, so I can't tell you anthing about that, but other than that you could whip one of these things up yourself for a few hundreds of dollars of used parts.
The "other than that" clause is a biggy though, if you don't have a few years to dick with AI software.
If you do you'll have more fun building one than buying it anyway, but already know that.
KFG
Great..... (Score:5, Funny)
Great, so by the time you check your email the intruders are already gone and have your TV, jewelry and other valuables.
Re:Great..... (Score:3, Funny)
Re:Great..... (Score:5, Funny)
Re:Great..... (Score:3, Funny)
Just wait until someone starts modding these babies. Expect dual machine guns, reactive armour, phosphor mortars, gatling cannon, TOW missiles , flashbangs and a katana. It won't email the fact there is a burglar, anymore. Instead, it will ask what to do with the body ( or what remains of it )...
Re:Great..... (Score:1)
more afraid they'd steal the robot! (Score:1)
Re:Great..... (Score:1)
I got an early prototype HMV when I cut a hole in the roof of this place, I dunno I think the sign said "WBR LLC" whatever that is. Probably some radio station.
Anyhow, long story short, I saw this great robot. Being a complete Star Wars NUT, I did my R2D2 Impression and convinced him to come along. Now I've got a computer tech that works for Power Outlets and spare bolts!
Re:Great..... (Score:2)
Or better yet, break into the guy's wireless network and seize control of the robot, get *it* to unlock the front door and/or loot the house.
Useful purpose? (Score:2, Insightful)
Re:Useful purpose? (Score:2, Funny)
And all those Star Wars fans have convinced themselves that the slot in R2D2 was designed to hold a light saber...
Child is not a bastard (Score:1, Funny)
They were in line behind Jason Biggs, who was marrying a pie.
Re:Useful purpose? (Score:1)
Ya know, standard shiney tech business model.
KFG
Re:Useful purpose? (Score:2)
Re:Useful purpose? (Score:1)
Um ... (Score:4, Insightful)
Wait a sec. "The 912 "MP3" also features fighter jet technology "video glasses" to view e-mails
Ignoring the "fighter jet video glasses" for a second, isn't this some sort of jwz corollary? All home appliances expand until they can read e-mail.
Re:Um ... (Score:1)
Re:Um ... (Score:2)
Re:Um ... (Score:4, Funny)
Not only that, It runs windows! Never has
unhandled exception at B7C8 E78A CF89 58CB 3EAB 7E71
press ctrl-alt-delete to restart your computer
looked so good as when it's projected in 3D stereo onto a virtual display that's blocking your vision! The Blue Glasses of Death really should have been a feature on the security robot... Much more effective at scaring off crooks than running over their toes repeatedly.
Re:Um ... (Score:3, Funny)
So basically, they gave it a reason to kill itself, and the ability to do so. I hope that's covered in the warranty.
HMV.. (Score:4, Funny)
A word from Hank Hill (Score:2)
According to Hank Hill, the grill alone will not make the robot complete: it needs propane, and a place to hang the grill tongs. The propane-powered BBQ robot. Hank and his brother Junichiro can agree on this one!
Required. (Score:1, Redundant)
Does it run Linux?
Re:Required. (Score:1)
Re:Required. (Score:2)
Re:Required. (Score:2)
pricing info (Score:4, Informative)
Re:pricing info (Score:3, Funny)
Hero (Score:1, Insightful)
virtually unstoppable? (Score:4, Funny)
Re:virtually unstoppable? (Score:4, Informative)
Having a few of these patroling a warehouse, for example, would be a nice addition to any security system (as well as being exceptionally cool)
Re:virtually unstoppable? (Score:5, Funny)
while not intruder_is_dead
move_to_intruder
eject
eject -t
done
Re:virtually unstoppable? (Score:2, Interesting)
Add circular saw to it. And some sound effects.
Just imagine such a bot drive after you with a the saw blade spinning, while its robotic voice says things like "destroy all humans", "resistance is futile", "Kill the lifeform"...
Guess that'll keep the kids out of crime.
Always wanted a HERO (Score:3, Funny)
Re:Always wanted a HERO (Score:1)
Re:Always wanted a HERO (Score:2)
I was only in 8th grade at the time, but I seem to recall the teacher mentioning that someone had tried to rewire it.
Re:Always wanted a HERO (Score:2)
One thing missing: Manipulators (Score:3, Interesting)
For this to be really fantastic, it needs an arm, and by arm I mean something better than a piece of plastic with a cupholder on the end of it.
For something really interesting, offer to put a mounting point on the front for an arm to attach to and an industry standard servo controller. Total investment, $100, and now your users can build their own arm. This is assuming that the company doesn't have the expertise to make the arms themselves.
Re:One thing missing: Manipulators (Score:1)
Seriously though, it does seem like an odd oversite. None of these strikes me as particularly useful.
Re:One thing missing: Manipulators (Score:1, Funny)
God help the person who puts tentacles on these (Score:2)
Come on it had to be said!
Re:One thing missing: Manipulators (Score:1, Funny)
Call me old-fashioned, but I'd rather not get jerked off by a robot. How lazy are you, anyway?
Re:One thing missing: Manipulators (Score:1)
The RIAA and MPAA have joined forces... (Score:2)
As for that garish, yellow "HMV" model: yuck. Who wants a robot that looks like a 'Sports' Walkman or a droid from a Vogon Constructor Fleet vessel (assuming they'd match the color of the ship, of course)? [guenthoer.de]
~Philly
Re:The RIAA and MPAA have joined forces... (Score:2)
"The 912 "HMV" is a rugged security robot." (Score:1)
Virus? (Score:1)
Re:Virus? (Score:2, Funny)
Overkill??? (Score:4, Informative)
I would probably start with some very cheap circuits. You can program them to do simple movements or simple lcd displays. If you want a "brain", you could add it on. Most of these circuits can be connected to by a serial cable.
If anyone is interested, there is a ton of information here: http://www.rentron.com [rentron.com]
Re:Overkill??? (Score:1)
Voice recognition to issue orders would be cool, and that eats CPU.
Re:Overkill??? (Score:2)
High Value, Not Overkill (Score:3, Informative)
Also that rentron company doesn't sell very interesting stuff.
Build your own AVR starter kit [sunrise.ch] is going to be a better price than any PICbasic thing and you can program it in C, asm or basic.
Basic Stamp is extremely weak. A robot desige
Re:Overkill??? (Score:2, Informative)
Some models have built-in ethernet.
video... (Score:2)
blob tracking or worse, object recognition (you need some sort of memory architecture to handle this to compare features to), requires an intensive scan of pixels in an image. Depending on your image resolution, its easy to run into many mega-ops for even the simplest tracker.
cockpit? (Score:2)
You could at least get a battle mech... (Score:1)
A Heatkit what? (Score:3, Funny)
Re:A Heatkit what? (Score:2)
I had one of those computers - why would you take that to the beach? My H89 was heavy, slow, and generally unpleasant to be around.
I currently own a Sony Picturebook - a very small laptop with an integrated camera - I wouldn't take that to the beach.
No, the most processing power I've ever had at the beach was my Treo 300, and then it was only because it was, you kn
Correct the grammar (Score:2)
That's not a sentence you retard, it just might work with a verb.
Re:Correct the grammar (Score:3, Funny)
Self-portable PC (Score:3, Funny)
The computer that follows you everywhere you go! (Score:1, Funny)
Why not buy a roomba and stick a Linksys WRT54g or Belkin wireless router on top of it with a web cam attached (linux is already installed out of the box!) and have a lot more fun, along with a clean house.
How about some of you robotics guys make a robot that goes around my yard and gets rid of weeds?
Re:The computer that follows you everywhere you go (Score:2)
Educational Buyers beware.. (Score:4, Funny)
This was around 1989, 1990. I'm not sure if anyone else had battled robots before (maybe japanese anime?) but one day we when the teacher went out for a phone call we got it in our heads to arm the Hero's grip arm with hammers, and have gladitorial style combat.
By the time the teacher got back one Hero drove victory circles around the disabled hero. Couldn't warrenty the thing because of physical damage, so the teacher locked both hero's up in a closet for the rest of the semester.
Just a warning.. Geek teenagers + 2 > Robots - Teachers Presence = destruction.
Without Dating myself.... (Score:2, Interesting)
Most of the comments i've seen so far are jokes poking fun at the way it looks, features, etc. Must be those 'youngins' i've heard so much about. Why, the HERO is the great grand-daddy to that fancy schmancy SONY robot that can walk on two legs. The joke being, "In my day Robots ROLLED around- there wasn't enoug
FAQ List (Score:3, Funny)
1) How often should I perform "Windows Update"
to get the service packs required to keep
my robot "functional"?
2) What happens when my robot crashes? Will
it shoot me or commit suicide?
3) What brand of Virus Scanner Software is
compatible for my robot? Also how often
should I update the Virus Software?
4) How ofter should I change the
"administrator" password?
5) Can I reformat and install Linux?
http://www.whiteboxrobotics.com/images/912_3.jpg (Score:2)
Did Anyone notice... (Score:2, Interesting)
Nuclear family (Score:2)
Resemblence? (Score:1)
Obligatory Simpsons Reference (Score:2)
Doomed (Score:1)
"The robot is running Windows XP Home as an operating system"
'nuff said.
From the article (Score:2)
Bart:It's spent more time raising us than you did. [whiteboxrobotics.com]
Waiting for one of these instead... (Score:1)
Cheaper Alternative (Score:2)
Get it used out of your local paper and it wont cost you an arm and a leg ( which the 912 has neither anyway
Serious problems here.. (Score:2)
b. Headlights to burn the batteries down faster. Use LEDS.
c. You're going to use MS to control a ROBOT?
Like imagine some punk hacking your robot and it murders you in your sleep. Asimov doesn't come into play here, this device is a non seintent device and incapable of self awareness. It's a motorized platform that executes instructions. Mixing MS with such a device is a recipe for disaster..
1. A robot may not injure a human being or, through inaction, allow a huma
So, (Score:2)
Chief Clancy Wiggum (watching state lottery draw)
got the wrong number. This is 912." (click)
Power source? (Score:2)
Re:Still looking? (Score:2)
Re:I built one! (Score:2)
Yes we are both that OLD