Tmsuk demonstrates remotely controlled shopping robot

Tmsuk is back with even more crazy humanoid antics, this time demonstrating a shopping robot that can be controlled from far, far away. The modified TMSUK-4 humanoid showcased in Kitakyushu, Japan was actually being controlled by an elderly lady in her home via an NTT DoCoMo video-capable cellphone. Essentially, the technology enabled her to see through the eyes of the robot and presumably control its movements via the keypad. We are told that she was able to successfully browse the hat section and finally make a purchase, but who knows how many innocent bystanders were unknowingly mauled in the process.

[Via Pink Tentacle]

[Ben @ Jul 11th 2008 12:30PM]

Can it buy me a 3g iPhone?

[bohsocks @ Jul 11th 2008 12:55PM]

This would be 100x more useful (just kidding 100x0 is 0) if it could go in place of you when your girlfriend drags you to 2 (7) stores.

[bohsocks @ Jul 11th 2008 12:57PM]

Do I have to rent a robot to allow me to go out to buy this robot?

[OneLove @ Jul 11th 2008 4:43PM]

THUMBSUCK?

[GhettoBanjo @ Jul 11th 2008 12:36PM]

If only there was a way to shop for things on the internet.....

[BigD145 @ Jul 11th 2008 2:21PM]

...and have those things you bought delivered right to your doorstep or even *gasp* to the doorstep of someone you know or love.

[natels @ Jul 11th 2008 12:36PM]

I cease to stop laughing at your robot witt Engadget. It doesn't get old.

[Electromodo @ Jul 11th 2008 12:40PM]

...Controlled by elderly lady?...

She might have had a degree in computer science back in 50th...

[nick2046 @ Jul 11th 2008 12:47PM]

The humanoid is

[diode3diode @ Jul 11th 2008 2:33PM]

Rosey the Robot 1.0!!

[Ray-- @ Jul 11th 2008 12:47PM]

Sounds like a much safer way to shoplift.

[Lowest Ranked @ Jul 11th 2008 12:50PM]

Elderly ladies already get away with it, the robot is a useless device to them.

[bohsocks @ Jul 11th 2008 12:51PM]

Somewhere, Winona Ryder is rejoicing.

[Barron @ Jul 11th 2008 12:49PM]

But can it run Crysis?

[Lowest Ranked @ Jul 11th 2008 12:50PM]

It can run over your fucking face.

[diode3diode @ Jul 11th 2008 1:10PM]

No, BUT give it an HL2 anti-gravity gun and I bet you'll run in crisis

[Danakin @ Jul 11th 2008 12:50PM]

...hopefully there is a "atuo-shutdown" feature if it tries to go into the bathroom...just imagine the pervs

[Lowest Ranked @ Jul 11th 2008 12:52PM]

Call me sick, but I enjoy being watched at the urinal by an elderly lady through her advanced, cell-phone-controlled shopbot.

[bohsocks @ Jul 11th 2008 12:52PM]

...What?

[tom @ Jul 11th 2008 12:51PM]

It's powered by NTT DoCoMo. (Softbank's competitors) I doubt you'll get any info on iPhone.

This lady is just simply a gimmick to create a diversion from the iPhone!

[Bad Beaver @ Jul 11th 2008 12:51PM]

Man, a ROBOT that does your shopping while you are at home? I bet that would have blown peoples' minds... in the 1950s.

[Lowest Ranked @ Jul 11th 2008 12:52PM]

Hence, the demographic.

[Bad Beaver @ Jul 11th 2008 12:54PM]

cunning. just cunning.

[muddyh2o @ Jul 11th 2008 12:55PM]

i could have used it to wait in line outside the cube last night...

[natels @ Jul 11th 2008 12:56PM]

Sarcasm aside.. It's less about the practicality and more about the process. It's pretty mind blowing that a cell phone can control a robot from miles away.

[Lowest Ranked @ Jul 11th 2008 1:07PM]

Yes, but think about those instances in which you're having this robot ascend the escalator in Macy's and you suddenly get a phone call. The bot stops at the top and the entire escalator becomes mexi-packed with other customers who are being force-fed up the robots ass.

[Stiv @ Jul 11th 2008 1:07PM]

"Destination arriving in the hat department, to weigh the grandson of a woman in the hat to show被"

Maybe someone could invent a better translator! That would actually be useful.

[dudeInAmerica @ Jul 11th 2008 1:20PM]

Japan is sealing its own doom.

The Robotaclypse is nigh.

[NHAnimator @ Jul 11th 2008 1:33PM]

"was actually being controlled by an elderly lady in her home"

Unfortunately for the shoppers behind the robot, the left turn signal had been left on the entire time.

[nova62400 @ Jul 11th 2008 1:35PM]

How much is the optional Mrs. Butterworth's costume for it?

[h311r47 @ Jul 11th 2008 2:29PM]

I for one welcome our proxy-shopping robot dictators.

[Josh @ Jul 11th 2008 2:29PM]

There's this article about Robot Personalities: http://www.internetevolution.com/author.asp?section_id=526&doc_id=155718&f_src=flffour ... Maybe the robot will think that you wouldn't look good wearing what you decided to buy and act against it! LOL

[iamsoinsane @ Jul 11th 2008 2:41PM]

TMSUK04? What happened to TMSUK01 - 03?
Dun dun dunnnnn.

[Sakura3210 @ Jul 11th 2008 2:45PM]

You guys aren't looking at this from a more practical point of view - what about people who are bedridden, or have a hard time moving in shopping crowds, and need something immediately, like food or medication? I see this be useful under the right circumstances.

[Sakura3210 @ Jul 11th 2008 2:48PM]

*being useful. I need some coffee.

[gamerstevo @ Jul 11th 2008 3:08PM]

EXTERMINATE!!! high prices..

[Tim @ Jul 11th 2008 4:15PM]

I'm interested in the concept of being mauled without even knowing it's happening.......

[sru571 @ Jul 11th 2008 4:21PM]

How does a robot pay for your shopping? Robots with credit cards, no way I'm trusting cash or my cards to shopbot. Plus, what happens if they get robbed by a mugbot? No no no, nothing about this seems right.

[tomokazu.osada @ Jul 15th 2008 3:00AM]

americans: robot wars, the japanese: this thing.

idea-bot 9000