Roboscooper roams rooms, picks stuff up
By Ben Coxworth
October 6, 2010
WowWee's object picking-and-toting Roboscoop robot
Image Gallery (4 images)It’s just what every young boy with a messy bedroom has dreamed of – a robot that trundles across the floor, picks things up, and takes them away. WowWee’s Roboscooper can do just that, although it’s limited to small objects that weigh no more than one ounce (28 grams). The toy robot has six rubber wheels, a cargo bed, articulated arms, and a WALL-E-like head with infrared eyes. Users can guide it to objects manually with the remote control, or leave it in autonomous mode, where it roams around (avoiding obstacles) and picks up whatever it comes across. It then takes the items to a location determined by the user, where it shakes them out of its cargo bed.
Like a lot of electronic toys, Roboscooper is big on noise. It makes a skidding sound when it stops, beeps when it backs up, and delivers a variety of phrases such as “Let’s go to work” and “One step closer to a cleaner world” – there is absolutely no chance that these could become extremely annoying. It also verbally lets users know when an object is too heavy, or when it gets stuck.
In “Whack” mode, the robot delivers two-handed slaps to everything it encounters, because, you know... why not?
Roboscooper requires six AA batteries, plus three AAAs for the remote. It costs US$69.95.
Via Hammacher Schlemmer.
An experienced freelance writer, videographer and television producer, Ben's interest in all forms of innovation is particularly fanatical when it comes to human-powered transportation, film-making gear, environmentally-friendly technologies and anything that's designed to go underwater. He lives in Edmonton, Alberta, where he spends a lot of time going over the handlebars of his mountain bike, hanging out in off-leash parks, and wishing the Pacific Ocean wasn't so far away. All articles by Ben Coxworth
Now they need a larger version to roam parks picking up empty cans and plastic trash. Gotta be cheaper than a union city worker over a twenty-year period...with no pension plan that will cost millions...
Matt Rings9th October, 2010 @ 10:31 pm PDT
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Paul Anthony7th October, 2010 @ 08:57 am PDT