Hitachi Unveils Security Robot on Wheels

Hitachi is working on an R2D2-like security robot on wheels that can map out its surroundings using infrared sensors and a camera to detect missing items, suspicious packages and intruders.

The 22-inch tall robot, which looks like a trash can and is reminiscent of the small, beeping robot in "Star Wars," has a swiveling camera that protrudes like a periscope, enabling it to watch for suspicious changes in the landscape and send photos to a guard, Hitachi said Tuesday.

The Japanese electronics maker has no commercial product plans so far but believes the roving robot, which can figure out the best route to a spot on its own, is better than the stationary cameras now common for security, researcher Toshio Moriya said.

The prototype, which has a laptop aboard with a wireless connection, still has plenty of hurdles to clear, such as prolonging battery life, company officials said. And it can't dodge obstacles or recognize things smaller than a coke bottle.

Tokyo-based Hitachi didn't even show the robot to reporters, saying it was being upgraded. Shown instead were video clips of the machine scuttling around an office like a vacuum cleaner.

Various universities and companies, including Japanese automaker Honda Motor Co., have created and displayed robots that recognize its location and movements.

But many such robots require marks on the floor to pick up on its cameras. Another way robots figure out where they are is by global position system, using satellites.

This is snot scrappleface.

1 posted on 03/07/2006 3:34:07 PM PST by presidio9

Will it bring me a beer?

2 posted on 03/07/2006 3:35:19 PM PST by Feiny ( "Why don't we go up to the old people's home and wax the steps? " ~ Barney Fife)

lose the cutesey head, add a laser rangefinder,

lose the arms, add one autoloading shotgun and one lightr autoloading rifle

and then they might be on to something useful

3 posted on 03/07/2006 3:40:08 PM PST by King Prout (many accuse me of being overly literal... this would not be a problem if many were not under-precise)

ping

4 posted on 03/07/2006 3:40:26 PM PST by King Prout (many accuse me of being overly literal... this would not be a problem if many were not under-precise)

getting closer

5 posted on 03/07/2006 3:44:09 PM PST by Phsstpok (There are lies, damned lies, statistics and presentation graphics, in descending order of truth)

6 posted on 03/07/2006 3:44:26 PM PST by presidio9 ("Bird Flu" is the new Y2K Virus -Only without the inconvenient deadline.)

And, um, the machine guns/rocket launchers ? The heck kind of security does it provide !? That's bobo the clown meets segway.

7 posted on 03/07/2006 3:46:29 PM PST by farlander (Strategery - sure beats liberalism!)

8 posted on 03/07/2006 3:54:05 PM PST by Spktyr (Overwhelmingly superior firepower and the willingness to use it is the only proven peace solution.)

"Stop the security droids in this aisle, Joe."

"Done."

9 posted on 03/07/2006 4:15:49 PM PST by FreedomFarmer (Push Me, Shove You - Oh, Yeah? Says Who? Push Me, Shove You -Oh, Yeah? Says Who?)

ED-209 was my favorite character from the first one

The various failed versions of Robocop 2 (the ones that kept shooting the scientist, or themselves) were my favorites from the second one.

I know, I'm strange.

10 posted on 03/07/2006 4:24:46 PM PST by Phsstpok (There are lies, damned lies, statistics and presentation graphics, in descending order of truth)

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