While we’d love to say this is SlashGear’s new intern, in actual fact it’s a shot from the first review we’ve seen of WowWee’s RoboRover. Announced at the tail-end of September, the RoboRover is WowWee’s first robot to use tank-track style locomotion and, according to RoboCommunity member GWJax, they – together with the IR-based obstacle avoidance system – do a pretty decent job.
Earlier this month we were lamenting the dearth of consumer robotics in 2009, and it seems someone at WowWee has heard our cries. The company has released preview information of two upcoming ‘bots, the WowWee Roborover (left) and the WowWee Joebot (right), both with remote-control functionality as well as autonomous modes.
Since we’re big geeks here at SlashGear, we’re allowed to get unduly excited at the first inklings of WowWee’s upcoming holiday range. The toy and robotics company has revealed their latest ad campaigns for their new remote-controlled gadgets, including an update on the FlyTech Dragonfly, the CrashFX plane we saw back in April and a mini UFO with LED messaging.
Video demos after the cut
WowWee’s Cinemin Swivel bendy pico-projector is now officially available for pre-order, only around two months since Amazon began accepting pre-orders themselves. Announced back at CES, the Cinemin Swivel is capable of projecting a 60-inch (1.5m) image from over 8 feet (2m) away, and has a 90-degree hinge useful for squirting the picture out onto the ceiling without demanding you hold it.
If the thought of remotely controlling you Rovio robot webcam from a cellphone is appealing, but you don’t have a BlackBerry, then AndRovio may be the solution. Poignant Projects’ app runs on Android devices, and allows full control of Rovio including live webcam viewing, camera position control and snapshots.
Yesterday we heard that the WowWee Cinemin Swivel pico-projector would be landing in the UK come September, together with its UK price. Now the US version of the posable-pico has gone up for pre-order at Amazon, priced at $327.99.
WowWee’s Cinemin Swivel pico-projector, which was announced back at CES in January, has been given a release date and UK pricing. Expected to hit UK stores in September 2009, the posable projector will retail for around £349 ($572); US pricing and availability is still unknown, though it is expected in fall 2009 priced at $299.
Robot-maker WowWee’s latest toy has been previewed, and if piloting their Bladestar helicopter left you in fear of your walls, lights and pets, then the WowWee Hoverpod should prove a little more manageable. A micro-hovercraft made from impact-resistant EPP foam, the Hoverpod uses WowWee’s usual IR remote for controlling and recharging.
With the weather picking up, there’s nothing like stepping outside and kicking a ball around with some friends. Or so I hear; I’m too busy inside glued to my laptop. But a team of Rovio robots over at NYU decided to have a kickabout, their student trainers coming up with software that allows the WowWee ‘bots to recognize a bright yellow tennis ball and shovel it toward the red goal.
Sentry robots like WowWee’s Rovio are all well and good – wandering around your house while you’re away, and allowing you to log-in remotely and make sure nothing amiss is taking place – but they generally fall short when it comes to actually dealing with a problem. That was the starting point for RoboCommunity member Colt45, who hacked his Rovio into a remote fire extinguisher.
JP
