ED unveils programmable, home-serving U-ROBO bot with RFID

While domesticated robots are becoming a (frighteningly) common inclusion in techno-friendly homes, Korean 'bot manufacturer ED has a home-ready robot that sports a plethora of communication venues including ZigBee and RFID. The ED-7270 (dubbed U-ROBO), touts a sophisticated similarity to the pioneering R2-D2, and can complete a myriad of in-home chores by using the included software to program its pathways, actions, and movements. While we aren't sure if the "ubiquitous robotic companion" can manhandle a broom or cook dinner, the innards are fairly potent nonetheless; beneath the U-ROBO's cute outfit is a 1GHz Intel Pentium processor, 512MB of RAM, WiFi, Ethernet, USB 2.0, ZigBee cooridinator, RFID reader, and a RS-232 serial port. It also rocks a 6.4-inch touchscreen, programmable display beneath his "eyes," voice recognition, motion / light detectors, and an eight-axis motor that has no qualms wheeling up slopes or braving extreme temperatures. Although we don't know precisely when these intelligent robots will start mopping our floors (or taking over our domicile), we're sure the undisclosed price will keep them in the hands of the rich and famous for awhile anyway.

[Via AVing]

[Mr. Pibbles @ Nov 1st 2006 1:49PM]

I, for one, welcome our LED-Display faced overlords.

[strider_mt2k @ Nov 1st 2006 1:54PM]

Needs missile launchers.

[Matt B @ Nov 1st 2006 2:04PM]

R3 D3?

[torinostu351 @ Nov 1st 2006 2:28PM]

Could this be the younger sibling to ED-209? Don't make any sudden moves around it . . . with a hair dryer.

[GorgeousGeorge @ Nov 1st 2006 2:47PM]

Definitely seems to be taking some design cues from the beloved R2-D2. But yeah, the "ED" display on the faceplate frightens me.

Then again, gore-and-carnage-inducing malfunctions aside, ED-209 was kind of a badass.

[Ben Kenobi @ Nov 1st 2006 3:13PM]

But can he shut down the garbage compactors on the detention level AND program your TiVo to record Dangerous Housewives? Can he, hunh? R2-D2 could do all that and apply your one hundred and thirty-three Windows XP security upgrades at the same time. B-yatch!

[GorgeousGeorge @ Nov 1st 2006 3:18PM]

The ability to "complete a myriad of in-home chores by using the included software to program its pathways, actions, and movements" is insignificant compared to the power of the Force.

[Rob @ Nov 1st 2006 3:11PM]

Nice specs, looks cool, but what does it actually do to serve us?

[Thomas Tolleson @ Nov 1st 2006 3:46PM]

I'm with Rob on this one. What the hell does it do? Apparently we have to go to another information source to find out anything practical other than it's hardware specs (hint, hint, Engadget).

[Mark @ Nov 1st 2006 4:40PM]

RFID, exactly what our robot overlords will need to take inventory and keep surveillance on us prior to the attack

[Tony @ Nov 1st 2006 6:16PM]

But can it get Paulie a beer?

[Taylor @ Nov 1st 2006 6:29PM]

OMG! It does SOOOOO much! Like, Umm... use it's programmable pathways to like... go other places... and uh... still not actually DO anything!
-Taylor

[Mike10010100 @ Nov 1st 2006 8:23PM]

Still, I wonder if it could go over carpet that easily. Hmmmmm.....