Created by former Google employee, Pierre Lebeau, it looks like a Roomba on steroids and acts like a mobile projection theater, security camera, concert hall, internet and wireless game console all in one. It’s like having your own little Robot that provides you with Google services, streaming entertainment, gaming apps, web-cam and more - it's a Keecker.
I know it's Mother's Day today (Happy Mother's Day!) and this would be way up there on my wish list. If I had kids. Or a lawn. Regardless, this is one of those luxuries I aspire to own.
It's as though an eco conscious RoboCop gave birth to a lawnmower. Husqvarna's top of the line automated robotic mower is as beautifully designed as a new sports car and it will mow your lawn without complaining. (Plus, I'd love to see it battle with a Roomba).
No emissions, low noise (see the people pleasantly sleeping in the hammock? lol), low energy consumption, weather-proof and can handle slopes up to 35%... oh, and did I mention? You don't have to mow your own lawn!
The Automower® Solar Hybrid is the world's first fully automatic lawn mower that is partly powered by the sun.
The product uses considerably less energy than any conventional mower. That's because in addition to a charging station, it comes with a large integrated solar panel. When there is daylight available, the solar cells enable the mower to extend its cutting periods before it needs recharging. That means a cut lawn in a shorter time, even lower power consumption and an extended battery life. Suitable for lawns up to 1/2 acre, depending on light conditions.
• With the lift and tilt sensors, if it runs into something it will redirect itself without causing damage:
•The Solar Panel is an additional energy source that gives Automower® extra power directly from the sun:
•With the settings panel the mower can be programmed to fit many different lawns and preferences:
• The cutting height adjustment is easily done from above by turning one large knob:
• When the Automower® needs more power, it finds its own way back to the charging station:
Battery type: NiMH
Typical charging time: 45 min
Typical mow time on one charge: 60 min
Like I said at the beginning of the post, this one is their top of the line and the price reflects that. With a suggested retail price of $3,000.00, you'd better have lots of lawn or lots of disposable income, preferably both.
To find where to purchase the Husqvarna Automated Solar Hybrid Mower, go here.
The text, images, videos and information below is from the wizkid site.
Wizkid looks like a computer, but it’s a robot. With its social skills and physical presence, Wizkid introduces the simplicity of everyday interactions in the world of computers. You can teach Wizkid about habits, introduces it to your friends and pets. Day after day, Wizkid will learn to recognize you and them and react differently in each context. Wizkid expresses itself by "shaking" its head, nodding, bending its neck in various ways and with a very simple "eye brow" system consisting of two horizontal bars that can go up and down. Despite the fact that this design is non-anthropomorphic, Wizkid conveys rather convincing expressions.
Wizkid introduces a novel interface system entitled "Halo". Interacting with the machine, the user sees himself in a kind of augmented mirror. Around him, several widgets and other interface elements appear. He can just select them by waving his hand. This "interactive halo" follows the user everywhere so that Wizkid's tools are always "at-hand".
Wizkid is the results of a collaboration between an engineer, Frederic Kaplan, and an industrial designer, Martino d'Esposito. It was developed at the CRAFT Laboratory at EPFL and benefits from the support of the EPFL-ECAL Lab.
In the living room, Wizkid can act as a central interface to media players:
Just show a CD to Wizkid and it will play it. If you organize a party, Wizkid will take pictures autonomously of your guests and create a visual summary of the event that can be sent to your guest afterwards.
In the children’s room, you can play augmented reality games with Wizkid. Look at yourself “in” the robotic screen and wait for the metamorphosis. With Wizkid you can really go beyond the mirror, seeing yourself in imaginary worlds where a simple playing card can turn a fantasy creature to life. At any moment, if you can talk or share thoughts with Wizkid. Although Wizkid does not speak, it listens carefully.
At the office, Wizkid introduces video conference with a presence. Your remote coworkers are really here with you, controlling the Wizkid’s directional head and expressing their reaction through physical movement. During meetings, Wizkid is following conversations just like any other participants paying attention to who is speaking (and who is not), acting like an efficient secretary.
Many more applications can be envisioned for shops, museums, schools, etc. Whizkid is currently presented at the MoMA in New York at the "Design and the Elastic Mind" exhibition.
Interaction with visitors at MoMA:
tech info: Robotic display with camera / 2 microphones / WIFI / Bluetooth / IR receiver/emiter / RFID reader Face and object recognition / Halo Interface / Curiosity-driven development / Programmable in URBI Inside housing : Aluminum and polycarbonate plastic Slipcover : Elastan-polyamide fabric 41×32×44 cm
