Robot shopping carts follow you around

[JohnBoucher]

Hey. This sounds like FIRST kids, but there is no mention of FIRST.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20060810/...azing_robots_1

Anyone have any other information?

[KenWittlief]

Gregory Garcia dreamed up the robotic cart to solve a childhood peeve of being accidentally hit with shopping carts by his sister.

"The immediate thing that jumped to my mind was all those times as a kid when my sister would accidentally hit me with a cart."

Gregory, there is something you need to come to terms with.

They were not accidents :^)

What you really need is a robotic sister!

BTW, the old Robbie robot from radio shack (about 15 years back) had a ultrasonic remote, and a mode in which it would follow the remote - but if I remember right it did not stop when the remote stopped.

[Arefin Bari]

Originally Posted by JohnBoucher

Hey. This sounds like FIRST kids, but there is no mention of FIRST.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20060810/...azing_robots_1

Anyone have any other information?

It does sound like a FIRSTer would do it, he can be a former FIRSTer since University of Florida doesn't have a FIRST team they mentor.

[kpugh]

Hmm. Also seems like a good way to ensure that the shopping carts make it back into the cart rack instead of strewn all around the parking lot. Just program them to return to the nearest rack!

[Morgan Gillespie]

I didn't read the article but this sounds like the exact same concept as the Robot Golf Caddy.

[KenWittlief]

Originally Posted by kpugh

Hmm. Also seems like a good way to ensure that the shopping carts make it back into the cart rack instead of strewn all around the parking lot. Just program them to return to the nearest rack!

or have them follow the next person who walks from the parking lot to the store!

This invention could put thousands of HS kids out of (part time) work!

Wouldnt it be funny if you got in your car and started driving off, and the shopping cart followed you home!

Would you be insulted if you were halfway done with your shopping and all of a sudden your shopping cart decided to follow someone else around the store?

[Bcahn836]

Not to steal anything from this thread but on the links below I saw this
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20060808/...e/robot_race_4
I wonder if there is a way for me to get into that program, I love robotics and I am currently studying to be a Navy Engineer. It also mentions a few team sponsors, and it combines robots and water. . .

[JaneYoung]

Originally Posted by KenWittlief

Would you be insulted if you were halfway done with your shopping and all of a sudden your shopping cart decided to follow someone else around the store?

or - It's holiday time, you 'only have a few more on the list' and your cart goes on strike. It's filled to the brim, trailing garland behind it, the big snowman for the yard art is balanced precariously on a little red tricycle while you are scoping out the ribbon candies. And it quits. And then you have to push...that would be awful, just awful.