Video: hanging with WowWee's WiFi-enabled Rovio

Mahalo Daily's Veronica Belmont caught up with Davin Sufer, WowWee's CTO, for an up-close look at the new WiFi-enabled Rovio bot -- and it looks pretty sweet. Users control the Rovio through any browser, and the interface includes full-motion video from the built-in camera, which can be aimed up and down to eas navigation. Check the full video after the break!

[Ghen @ Jan 6th 2008 8:50AM]

holy crap thats ME. I HAVE A TWIN BROTHER!

[silverblackvoid @ Jan 6th 2008 8:57AM]

i thought you were a bird!

[Kevin Moore @ Jan 6th 2008 9:00AM]

Veronica is a hottie!

[Jared @ Jan 6th 2008 9:06AM]

$299 only? Sweet! There go my plans to get the wife a dog...

[DustoMan @ Jan 6th 2008 9:15AM]

Are these videos going to end up in the podcast feed?

[Bearclaw @ Jan 6th 2008 9:20AM]

I'd be willing to pay a 1,000$ if only it were able to go up/down stairs!

And an extra 1,000$ if it also manages to get up on the dinner table and wreak havoc.

Get on the stick, WowWee!

[strider_mt2k @ Jan 6th 2008 9:20AM]

The lady is attractive and has cred.

That's hot.

[TTK @ Jan 6th 2008 9:37AM]

Is it me or is Veronica Belmont hot? I wonder if she is available :).

[pablo.chacin @ Jan 7th 2008 6:11AM]

nop, she has a boy friend. I already checked that on her personal web page sorry :-( This is the lucky guy.

[CUBSWILLWIN @ Jan 6th 2008 10:00AM]

shes ryan blocks girlfriend. And I just visited gizmodo for a mo' to see their dirt on the CES and there is a post sayin something like " CES: forget the gadgets, beer and the girls are the hot ticket" and the picture for that post is a pic of veronica. Dunno iif they know shes for engadget. Once they kno they'll probably think shes ugly (which she is not).

[457R4L @ Jan 6th 2008 11:10AM]

Veronica is teh hot! My hands feel clammy.

[muddyh2o @ Jan 6th 2008 10:22AM]

let's hope veronica keeps that low cut top thing going.

[Adam B @ Jan 6th 2008 8:32PM]

http://www.myspace.com/belbot

Her Myspace says she's in a relationship :(

[rmikejav @ Jan 6th 2008 10:36AM]

I want one, and I'd like it to live at Veronica's place.
One mod it needs is a way to defend itself against dogs, cats, and maybe humans.
I'm getting a vision here--- it's a geek's place, rigged with ramps for the bot to gain elevation.

[Rob @ Jan 6th 2008 11:15AM]

This sounds very similar to the Spykee robot that I've had on order since September, and has failed to materialize. I guess I can spend the money on this robot.

[robotech @ Jan 7th 2008 9:26AM]

This rovio design is a hack. An design concept identical to this one has been on ebay for more then a year. Search robot rover. Where are the engineering ethics at guys? I hope they are not members of IEEE.

[Rob @ Jan 7th 2008 3:51PM]

You're saying I can buy a robot that has the same functionality now? Please show me a link!!!

[robotech @ Jan 7th 2008 5:10PM]

http://cgi.ebay.com/ROBOT-ROVER-NIGHT-VISION-CAMERA-DIRECT-INTERNET-ACCESS_W0QQitemZ300186663006QQihZ020QQcategoryZ48636QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

This robot has smart sensor to follow objects and talk to other robots. 3-axis accelerometer, digital compass, and a very robust video server that does not require you to have a wireless networke setup to work. It connects to your serial port or usb port.

[robotech @ Jan 7th 2008 9:19PM]

You tube video is up:

[Rob @ Jan 7th 2008 7:20PM]

Cool, thanks!

BTW, do you really think WowWee is ripping off this homebrew bot? I'm just saying, I could see the Rovio and Spykee being conceived of and developed without much outside influence. Is there evidence of a true theft of idea, or is that just your gut reaction?

[robotech @ Jan 7th 2008 9:31PM]

video link is here:

http://www.youtube.com/v/p8AxvInETpw

University presentation:

http://www.unf.edu/groups/computer/presentations/robot.pdf

As you can see versions of this also uses a b/g network card, and has been formally presented in a university setting. Versions of this robot have also been on ebay since 2005. The design concept is protected by US copyright and patent laws, and the truth will come out. The patent office works on a first to invent basis for judgements...you decide :) Wowee sells their robots on a ebay regularly, and eBay does log IP's so if anyone associated with their company has every viewed any of the previous listing, it will be shown.

[Rob @ Jan 7th 2008 11:31PM]

Okay, so I take it then that it's YOUR robot that you feel is being ripped offed by WowWee. Do you think the Spykee bot is also infringing on your design (even though it seems slightly different)?

I see on the ebay listing that your(?) bot comes with PC software. Does this mean that as a Mac user, I would not be able to use this bot? I really like the idea of being able to control a bot with a camera from a web browser anywhere in the world...

[robotech @ Jan 8th 2008 12:28PM]

It is controlled through a web browser, the interface software runs in the background just as with any other I/O interfacing would. And it does work on Mac also. We also produce a version that works with the same b/g network compliant protocol as the ROVIO...It is a total rip. Trust me, I've been work on wireless communications for a long time.