5.16.2005
The state of home robots
Where's My Robotic Maid?
From the article:
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From the article:
- "A P&G representative sitting in the panel's audience raised his hand and noted that his company could identify at least 20 problems that consumers would like to see addressed around the home. Several panelists nodded their heads. 'We also know about how much money most people are willing to pay for the solution,' he continued. 'It's around $20.'
One approach that several companies are trying is the manufacture of so-called PC bots, which are made from parts of personal computers. 'Because the parts are readily available,' explained Thomas Burik, chairman of White Box Robotics, 'it shouldn't cost much more than a high-quality laptop.'
And what does the PC bot--which looks suspiciously like a bigger, bulkier hard drive--do? 'Oh, anything,' he said. 'We imagine that these will be like PDAs, where the user can write programs to customize them to do whatever they want.'
Other conference attendees weren't so convinced. 'Servers on wheels,' scoffed one. 'They don't even have arms.'
- And arms--and legs--are a key part of the runaway success of Robosapien, a 14-inch humanoid bot made by Hong Kong-based toymaker WowWee.* Robosapien, which does little more than walk, dance and speak 'fluent international 'caveman' ' (it also belches), took $1 million to develop. But since its introduction in early 2004, Robosapien has sold 1.5 million units at a retail price of around $100. The company expects to sell 3 million units by the end of the year."
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