Have a look at the Keepon Interaction Robot , Hideki Kozima developed it and Marek Michalowski gave it intelligence. It looks simple at first until you realize that it has two color cameras, a microphone and an amazing range of motion.
Video after the jump.
“Keepon has a yellow snowman-like body. The upper part (the “head”) has two eyes, each of which is a color CCD camera with a wide-angle lens (120 degrees horizontally), and a nose, which is actually a microphone. The lower part (the “belly”) has a small gimbal and four wires, by which the body is manipulated like a marionette; four motors and two circuit boards (a PID controller and a motor driver) are installed in the black cylinder. Since the body is made of silicone rubber and its inside is relatively hollow, Keepon’s head and belly deform whenever it changes posture and when someone touches it.
This simple body has four degrees of freedom: nodding (tilt) within +/-40 degrees, shaking (pan) within +/-180 degrees, rocking (side) within +/-25 degrees, and bobbing (shrink) with a 15-mm stroke. ”
May 12th, 2007
how much do these things cost to make? just curious.
May 12th, 2007
where could u buy one??!?!?!!?1?!
May 13th, 2007
Sweet! Now make it fluffy and sell it to parents the want to supervise their children. ORDER NOW: DIAL 1984-KEEPON =)
On first look i thought it could move as a whole, with wheels in the base, but with that much freedom of movement it wouldn even be necessary.
A video of Keepon’s view while dancing like this would be interesting…
May 13th, 2007
hes so cute… i want one with evil eyes
May 14th, 2007
Does anyone know if that clip is just puppetry, or is software interpreting the music?
May 14th, 2007
I need to get one of these for my dog. He would have a field day with it!
May 19th, 2007
I WANT ONE!!! Are they selling them yet? and where can I buy one! OR 10!!!!!! Also type in Keepon robot and there is another video of it dancing to rage against the machines..awesome
May 27th, 2007
can anyone teach me how to make one??????
June 18th, 2007
It’s like one of those flowers that danced to music 15 or so years ago. Just way cooler!
June 18th, 2007
i will make an army of them… if if could buy one and i had enough money
November 23rd, 2007
Keepon ROCKS !!
January 19th, 2008
This robot vid is sweet! Check out http://www.cmu.edu/robou.
February 7th, 2008
i want one too.
how and where to get them?
February 14th, 2008
I found a few more vids. These are fab.
http://youtube.com/watch?v=QTnyAg2Mho4
http://youtube.com/watch?v=LSU59D_dyKE http://youtube.com/watch?v=SczYTEBVYlE
March 19th, 2008
I really want a keepon, how much do they cost? They’re so cute OMG! Heeheehee, I’m a little weird this morning but yeah I do love keepons. Gimme one please!