iRobot has rolled out the Roomba 650 cleaning robot. The robot vacuum cleaner uses a patented three-stage cleaning system to clean carpets, tile, laminate, and hardwood floors. Additionally, the Roomba 650 also adopts the AeroVac Technology and a new brush design, allowing it to handle fibers like hair, pet fur, lint and carpet fuzz. The Roomba 650 retails for $399.99. [iRobot]
Walking iPads aside, usable telepresence remains one of geekdom’s purest goals. Being able to attend meetings, without the minor irritation of actually being there, has been a motivator for professionals and hobbyists alike. Double Robotics, on the other hand, feel that they’ve spotted an opportunity. By leveraging the computing power of the iPad, coupled with some smart design, it has created the “Double,” a self-balancing motorized iPad stand. You’ll need a pair of Apple slates to get going, one to peer into and use as a controller (via an app), another to project your face, and act as the seeing eye (via the front-facing camera). Best of all, this is much more affordable than many existing options, rolling in at $1,999 if you pre-order ($2,499 otherwise), shipping in December — iPads not included. Facetime on wheels? Why didn’t we think of that? Roll past the break for the video.
Continue reading Double Robotics gives your iPad wheels, brings telepresence to the masses (video)
Double Robotics gives your iPad wheels, brings telepresence to the masses (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 14 Aug 2012 15:42:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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iRobot has just launched two new cleaning robots. You may already be familiar with the Roomba family of vacuum robots which is getting a new addition with the Roomba 650, Roomba 630 and Roomba 620. With this new series 600, iRobot has improved the waste bin efficiency so that users don’t have to empty it as often. At the same time, the company has added an acoustic sensor to detect areas that are more dirty so the 600 Series can spend more time on them. This version is an incremental improvement and will replace the 500 Series. (more…)
By Ubergizmo. Related articles: Cocorobo; Sharp’s Talking Vacuum Cleaner Has Different Moods, iRobot introduces the Scooba 230 and Roomba 700 series,
This is half fascinating, half scary, and 100 percent freaky: Disney has invented a process to clone real humans into silicone-skinned robots. Their method analyzes the face of a target using 3D motion capture cameras. Then it calculates the precise shape, density and composition of a synthetic skin that accurately mimics that specific human’s expressions: More »
With Roomba being the household name that it is, it can be easy to forget that iRobot also makes robots of the outdoor persuasion. In fact, though, the company’s been selling its Looj gutter-cleaning bots for five years now, occasionally treating us to demos involving leaves, dirt and fake roofs. Today the company announced the third-generation model, the Looj 330, which has been completely re-tooled to add a four-stage auger, multiple speed settings, an automated “Clean” mode and a lithium-ion battery. It’s also a bit more compact this time around, increasing the likelihood it’ll fit your gutter.
Meanwhile, for those of you who can’t bring yourselves to spend $700 on a robotic vacuum cleaner, iRobot is adding some entry-level models to its Roomba lineup: the 620, 630 and 650. Though these cost about half the price of the flagship offerings, they actually feature many of the same technologies, including iAdapt, the sensor arrangement that allows Roomba to crisscross the floor like it does. Here, though, the cosmetic design is different, and you also won’t find bells and whistles like capacitive touchscreens or fine Hepa filters. What’s more, these guys only use acoustic sensors to detect debris, whereas the pricier models add optical sensors to pick up on lighter particles, like fuzz.
All of these products are available now, with the Looj 330 going for $299 and the Roomba 600 series starting at $330. Not in the market for a cleaning bot? You can at least get a vicarious thrill out of our Luge hands-on video, embedded after the break for your viewing pleasure. And yes, those are Goldfish and m&m’s flying out of that gutter. It rains snack food here in New York City.
Gallery: iRobot Looj 330
Gallery: iRobot Roomba 620, 630 and 650
Continue reading iRobot trots out Looj 330 gutter-cleaning robot, three entry-level Roombas (video)
Filed under: Household, Robots
iRobot trots out Looj 330 gutter-cleaning robot, three entry-level Roombas (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 14 Aug 2012 09:00:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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The Roomba 500 Series is dead. Long live the 600 Series! iRobot is giving some products a very nice upgrade today, starting with its entry-level robotic floor vacuums. The Looj, its rain gutter cleaning bot, is getting the treatment, too. More »
While you were trying to pass Poetry 101, Cornell seniors Le Zhang and Michael Lathrop were creating an apple-polishing Lego robot that automatically erases your prof’s chalkboard. A final class project, the toady mech uses an Atmel brain, accelerometers for direction control, microswitches to sense the edge of the board, magnets to stay attached and hot glue to keep the Lego from flying apart. As the video below the break shows, it first aligns itself vertically, then moves to the top of the board, commencing the chalk sweeping and turning 180 degrees each time its bumpers sense the edge. The duo are thinking of getting a patent, and a commercialized version would allow your teacher to drone on without the normal slate-clearing pause. So, if designing a clever bot and saving their prof from manual labor doesn’t get the students an ‘A’, we don’t know what will.
Filed under: Robots
Cornell students build spider-like robotic chalkboard eraser out of Lego, magnets, fun (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 14 Aug 2012 08:39:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Double Robotics has created the telepresence robot for Apple’s iPad. Dubbed as the Double, this robot enables you to move around and join people in any location. It is easy to use. You just need to insert your iPad, and then touch the power switch to activate Double’s self-balancing sensors, keeping itself upright. The Double also has a retractable kickstand that will automatically deploy to conserve power when you are not moving around. The Double will be launched in December 2012 for $1,999. Watch the video after the jump.
Ever wanted to visit the various museums and art galleries around the world but can’t afford to? Well thanks to Double Robotics, they have designed a robot that come with a self-balance stand that is capable of holding an iPad. This is used in conjunction with a second iPad that doubles up as a controller, allowing the user to remotely control the device. According to Double Robotics, some uses of the robot includes teleconferencing at the office where teams might be split up in various locations, or school campuses where the Double can walk the halls allowing students to talk to professors without having to go their offices.
It has even been suggested that it can be used in hospitals whereby doctors can “visit” their patients virtually to check on them and see how they are doing. We doubt the iPad’s front facing camera will be good enough to perform surgeries, but it will no doubt come in handy at hospitals in remote locations. If you’re interested in owning one for yourself, the Double is priced at $1,999 (RRP $2,499) and is expected to start shipping in December 2012. More details can be found on its website.
By Ubergizmo. Related articles: Could the iPad improve math scores in the classroom?, The Padintosh Case for the iPad looks retro,
I was very impressed by the LEGO Omniboat, but apparently you can take LEGO vehicles even deeper. An engineering student made this remote controlled underwater robot for a school project. I expect bricks to sink, but I was surprised to see batteries and circuits fare well underwater.
The robot was made by YouTuber roboticsqut, who says that while the vehicle isn’t necessarily waterproof, most of its parts will do fine underwater, including the lead-acid batteries and the motors. Roboticsqut used a pair of XBee PRO adapters to send commands to the robot, which is controlled via an Xbox 360 controller that’s connected to a laptop.
Robotsqut should make more and equip them weapons and minifig crew.
[via Dexter Industries via Construction Toys via Reddit]
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