Robovie-PC Packs Intel's Atom Processor

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We've seen enough stuff powered by Intel's Atom to know something special when we see it.

Forget netbooks or nettops based on Intel's Atom CPU. Why not use the chip to power something way cooler than an mini-notebook? Plastic Pals today reports (via Engadget) that Vstone and ATR have unveiled the Robovie-PC, a 39cm (15-inch) tall, 2.2kg (4.8 lbs) robot packing a 1.6 GHz Atom Z530.

Given that the Robovie-PC is actually a computer – complete with VGA, WiFi, 2 x USB and a 1.3mp webcam  – custom programming of the cute little creature is made a helluva lot easier. Unfortunately, this is the perfect example of "convenience is never cheap." He might only be harnessing the power of your average, run of the mill netbook, but it's 399,000 JPY, which amounts to roughly $4,500.

Check out the video of Robovie in action.

Jane McEntegart
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9 Comments Comment from the forums
  • mapesdhs
    Plastic Pals? :D Sounds like something from Hitch Hikers...

    Can it get depressed? Hehe.

    Ian.

    Reply
  • Lets face it, this will technology will be used mainly for voyeurism. It's mostly clunky and large now, but when the tech evolves and you can have something the size of a rat or roach then all our privacy will be gone.
    Reply
  • mapesdhs
    Miniature UAVs already exist, and DARPA is working hard to make
    them the size of flies. Autonomy is a different ball game though.

    When it comes to general monitoring devices, privacy is long gone.
    Then again, what is privacy? Do we have any when half the population
    are constantly snapping pics every which way, and Google is trying
    to scan in the whole planet?...

    The Robivie-PC is just a toy, for the moment, albeit an expensive one.

    Ian.

    Reply
  • ptroen
    When I see a 2 metre one doing my laundry I'll be impressed :-)
    Reply
  • tpi2007
    Well, I hope the video is not showing the robot's full potential, because if it is if don't know why on earth it needs an Atom running at 1,6 ghz built in. A 300 mhz Arm processor from three years ago would probably do just fine.
    Reply
  • WheelsOfConfusion
    tpi2007Well, I hope the video is not showing the robot's full potential, because if it is if don't know why on earth it needs an Atom running at 1,6 ghz built in. A 300 mhz Arm processor from three years ago would probably do just fine.Hell, a few Picaxes would probably run it just fine.
    Reply
  • Kelavarus
    As soon as I'm doing something wrong, I'll start whining about my privacy.

    For now I'll just say... Sweet. But the price is obviously too much.
    Reply
  • Price is pretty high for a toy you can't do much with.
    But for a prototype it's pretty affordable!
    Reply
  • mlopinto2k1
    tpi2007Well, I hope the video is not showing the robot's full potential, because if it is if don't know why on earth it needs an Atom running at 1,6 ghz built in. A 300 mhz Arm processor from three years ago would probably do just fine.It's transmitting a live video feed via wifi and it also is a computer. Again.
    Reply