Robot Living

 Sphero is a robotic ball controlled with your smart phone or iPad.

Sphero comes with several pre built applications like golf, but also comes with a simple API so you can build your own applications.

The round robot also has built in LEDs so that you can program different colors and it comes with an induction charger.

Sphero’s large built in antennae allows a Bluetooth connection of up to 60 – 75 feet.

Spehro will be available in late 2011 for $129.99 and you can pre-order now.

This looks like it would be fun for a while doing things like teasing your pets.

Link via (Geek.com)

Yesterday, at Apples WWDC or Worldwide Developers Conference, Taptic Toys showed up with a telepresence robot.

Similar to other robots like QB from Anybots, or VGO, telepresence robots are becoming more popular as Wi-Fi spreads everywhere.
Link via (PC News)

Tags: apple, telepresence, wwdc

South Korean telecom company KT has introduced a robotic playmate for kids called KT that is being made by iRiver.

The small robot is about eight inches tall and has the face of a monkey.

Aimed at children ages 3 to 7, Kibot can read books, sing and play online games with the screen on its stomach.

The robot can also tilt its head and make its cheeks light up.

Parents can also remotely control the robot or monitor their children through an imbedded camera by using a cellphone.

Click past the break for a very short video of Kibot.

via (Physorg)

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Tags: iRiver, South Korea

One of our readers is looking for a robot alarm clock he had about 18 years ago and we thought we would post the question to all of our readers.  Here is Nick’s description.

The alarm clock was black and it had the clock on its head. I believe there was also a snooze/ok button under
the clock. When it was time to wake-up, the little robot would move frantically its arms and head up and down
until you would tap its head. The closest-looking thing that I have found is a drawing of a robot in a
flash game (http://www.danielsansao.com.br/motocontinuo/arquivos/images/samorost2.jpg). Unfortunately,
the artist told me that he wasn’t inspired by something particular.

If anyone can help Nick out, please leave a comment below.

Tags: clock

We all know the saga of Pleo, invented by Caleb Chung.  Great innovative robot company that went belly up.  Then along comes Jetta Company to buy up the pieces, promising to bring Pleo back. Pleo did come back last year and now Pleo has been reborn!

The new Pleo will come in either blue or pink colors, I suppose for male or female, and have a new more powerful battery as well as several other new features.

Each new Pleo will be seeded at the factory with a custom personality.  Pleo will also be able to feel the temperature and know what time of day it is, as well as respond to basic voice commands.  See all the detail at the Bob The Pleo forums.

Click through for a video.

Link via (BotJunkie)

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Tags: pleo