QA from Anybots - the coolest thing you'll see at CES all day.

http://sam.bluwiki.com/blog/2009/01/coolest-thing-youll-see-at-ces-all-day.php

by Sam_Odio • 18 years ago

52 41 18 years ago

sam.bluwiki.com

markessien2• 18 years ago

What does it do? It looks to me like a segway with an LCD screen in the middle.

pg7• 18 years ago

It's for mobile telepresence. E.g. you send this to the factory in China instead of flying there yourself. It has cameras and audio and a fancy laser pointer they built themselves. You drive it via the Internet from an ordinary computer.

It's much lighter than a Segway. Only 35 pounds.

vlad• 18 years ago

A VC could have one in the office to make sure people are working. ;p

markessien2• 18 years ago

That would be a bit creepy though. Imagine a factory of chinese workers, all sewing and this this silent rolling monster drifts slowly by, and they all stiffen in fear and work extra hard...

ivankirigin5• 18 years ago

iRobot made something similar called the "coworker". It was a spectacular failure. It was shorter and ( i think ) a bit smarter about remote obstacle avoidance. They asked around $5K.

They never answered the question: why is this better than a conference call? This is doubly important considering it has no arms.

I'm certain there is a market for this or a similar kind of robot. It needs to have compelling remote presence, and it needs to be cheaper than $5K.

Adding up motors, computers, cameras, the chassis, plastic modling, etc. can get expensive fast, especially if you haven't ramped up production somewhere fast & cheap like China.

uuilly• 18 years ago

Seems like those little observer robots on the Death Star:

http://www.hoylen.com/photos/2002-10-12-starwars/sw047.jpg

No bad spin intended. As far as use goes, that's what it reminds me of.

andrewf• 18 years ago

But does the display at the other end live up to the Yes Men's Management Leisure Suit?

(nsfw)

http://au.youtube.com/watch?v=yK9Cs_UcTEE

icey2• 18 years ago

Sorry for the threadjack, but are there many HN people going to CES?

I'm flying up in a few hours, but only going to be there through tomorrow night.

there• 18 years ago

i think this is cooler

http://www.notcot.com/archives/2009/01/iosafe_solo_flo.php

abstractbill2• 18 years ago

Congrats Trevor and everyone at Anybots - I can't wait to see one of these in person.

icey2• 18 years ago

I just saw it this morning... I have to say, it honestly was one of two things that gave me a "holy shit!" moment at CES. First of all, they were the only exhibit really getting much attention in the Sands; and they were getting a TON of it.

Secondly, the description doesn't do it justice. They were doing a demo of it, and there was just something about the way this thing is put together that makes it feel like it came straight out of Star Wars.

Huge props to Trevor and crew for making something so cool - I hope you guys found some deals at CES!

gojomo• 18 years ago

I've found a leaked photo of the next version of QA from Anybots, code-named 'Maria':

http://www.jeffbots.com/maria-large.jpg

(Compare to Anybots QA: http://bluwiki.com/images/thumb/7/7b/Anybots-QA.jpg/250px-An... )

Somebody warn the workers!

biohacker42• 18 years ago

CISCO is working hard on telepresence and no robots are involved.

On the plus side, this is mobile, but on the down side, it has the connectivity CISCO is working on as prerequisite.

I'm wondering who needs a rolling tv screen?

I have no such wonders with the roomba and the its hardwood and linoleum cleaning cousins, those little bots are damn helpful.

pavel_lishin2• 18 years ago

The rolling TV screen is less important than the rolling camera.

LogicHoleFlaw• 18 years ago

Is the camera in stereo?

rjprins• 18 years ago

Why did they design it to look like some disfigured woman?

chadgeidel• 18 years ago

Yeah, this isn't "uncanny valley" it's just weird. Arms (even if static) would help. If not, don't give it "shoulders."

dpatru• 18 years ago

Seems ironic that robots in science fiction were envisioned as menial servants able to do physical tasks too hard or unpleasant for humans, whereas this robot, with it's sleek 35lb body and advanced communication ability yet with no arms seems better suited to play the role of master in a world in which many cultures have regarded abstinence from physical work as a mark of superiority (for example, in asian cultures, very long fingernails was a mark of class because they could only be maintained by a person who didn't have to do manual work.)

mattmaroon• 18 years ago

Please, for the love of all that is holy, do not give this thing arms. I've looked into Monty's eyes, and I tell you it's evil.

Even without arms, you better watch your back around steps with this thing in the house.

jderick2• 18 years ago

I think big dog is still cooler:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W1czBcnX1Ww

Asimo too:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cfaAiujrX_Y

pg7• 18 years ago

Imagine something that balanced dynamically like Big Dog, but was a biped like the Asimo, and you'd have:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_CQ5AKaEi3U

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZnTy_smY3sw

jderick2• 18 years ago

This robot makes small jerky movements. I think the others are much more natural in appearance. Perhaps it is more of a hardware issue than software, as it does seem to have pretty good balance.

QA from Anybots - the coolest thing you'll see at CES all day.

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