New Robosapien's father is a Segway....

[Clark Gilbert]

WowWee Ltd. First to Use Segway® Smart Motion in High-Tech Entertainment Products

My brother just got a Robosapien robot about a month ago and it's pretty cool. According to this press release (here) (http://www.segway.com/aboutus/press_releases/pr_100705a.html) it looks like the new Robospiens daddy will be a Segway.

[team222badbrad]

I have had a Robosapien since around June of 2004 and it is sitting on the shelf. I wish it had a rechargable battery pack, batteries are expensive!

They are cool, but I wish you had more control over them. I mean who likes shoulders that move to three positions? I wish they had proportional control like RC cars, not programmed steps!

I would also like to see some sort of pc to robosapien interface where you can program and control it with a computer!

Can anyone say Robosapien V2 with wheels?

Anyway, with Segway's technology I hope they are building something cool!

[mechanicalbrain]

I have had a Robosapien since around June of 2004 and it is sitting on the shelf. I wish it had a rechargable battery pack, batteries are expensive!

They are cool, but I wish you had more control over them. I mean who likes shoulders that move to three positions? I wish they had proportional control like RC cars, not programmed steps!

I would also like to see some sort of pc to robosapien interface where you can program and control it with a computer!

Can anyone say Robosapien V2 with wheels?

Anyway, with Segway's technology I hope they are building something cool!
No battery pack? Come on your in FIRST! Get a battery pack some wire and a solder gun. :)

[team222badbrad]

I could, but two separate three volt packs would be needed because each foot has two D battery's in them.

That, and I am too lazy to do it, besides I have enough other things to do!

Maybe I should put this expensive soldering station sitting here on my desk to use, however, I'd rather play with my real RC's, time permitting.

[mechanicalbrain]

Anyone interested in moding a robosapien might want to look at one of these sites:
http://www.robosapien.tk/ (This site tells you how to add a battery pack, also includes a robosapien flamethrower mod!)
http://homepages.strath.ac.uk/~lau01246/robot/hackrobos.shtml

[Mark Pierce]

It looks like Segway is planning on licensing to other companies as well.

From todays NASA Tech Briefs Motion Control Newsletter:

SMART MOTION
Segway Inc. (Bedford, NH) has announced plans to license its Segway(R) Smart
Motion technology to third-party companies and in some cases co-develop
products with other manufacturers using the technology. The company also
announced that Hong Kong-based WowWee Ltd., parent company of WowWee
Robotics, will be the first third-party company to employ Segway Smart
Motion in products that will publicly debut in 2006.

"Our technical team has developed a unique knowledge base that integrates
controls engineering, embedded systems, advanced energy systems and sensor
technologies. This knowledge can now be quickly applied to entirely new
applications and product categories by leveraging Segway Smart Motion
technology," said Doug Field, vice president of product development.

For more information, visit: http://link.abpi.net/l.php?20051017A3

[Joe Matt]

Pictures and information from PCWorld........

http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,1895,1906247,00.asp