Murata's new balancing robot loses a wheel, gains a trick

Riding a bicycle isn't exactly easy, especially if you're made of circuitry, wires, and a gyroscope. That was Murata Seisaku-kun's one trick, and now he's sadly obsolete. Meet Seiko, a 20-inch tall, 11 pound unicycle riding robot. Like her, uh, "cousin" Keisaku-kun, Seiko relies on a chest-mounted gyro to stay upright and uses Bluetooth to communicate with a PC that gives instructions. (Yes, she's a PC.) Lucky robot lovers can watch the whole family of robo-carnies do its stuff at CEATEC Japan 2008, but even luckier you can check out the elder bot on his bike in motion after the break without having to leave your chair.

[[e-mail] @ Sep 24th 2008 7:12AM]

um...

[WhyFi @ Sep 24th 2008 7:12AM]

That's actually pretty damn cool.

[gad get @ Sep 24th 2008 7:17AM]

Impressive little trick there at the end of the video.

[nick2046 @ Sep 24th 2008 7:28AM]

How did she get on the wheel; did someone help her?

[Cybergypsy @ Sep 24th 2008 7:37AM]

Nice!!!!

[Ian @ Sep 24th 2008 8:18AM]

So that thing can't fall off the bike, even when it stops?


Damn.....I think I'm obsolete.

[Flying Lion @ Sep 24th 2008 12:53PM]

It is called a track stand. And you have been made obsolete by humans for decades.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Track_stand

[tay @ Sep 24th 2008 8:18AM]

soooo.... wheres the rest of the jetsons???

[pfromg @ Sep 24th 2008 8:37AM]

rides a bike better than I do !

[Kenny @ Sep 24th 2008 9:04AM]

Not an ambi-turner?

[farfisa @ Sep 24th 2008 9:19AM]

What a beautiful little movie.

[Jatin @ Sep 24th 2008 11:03AM]

did someone say Gizmo from Ducktales

[Larry Liang @ Sep 24th 2008 11:36AM]

of course Engadget has to point out she's a PC as opposed to a Mac? what does that have to do with anything?

[Bweetza @ Sep 24th 2008 12:36PM]

Should I point out that a Mac is a PC (personal computer)?

[DomesDGK @ Oct 9th 2008 7:14PM]

It's a reference to the ad from Microsoft where everyone says "I'm a PC"

[Decoy @ Sep 24th 2008 3:57PM]

If this was made on a Mac, there would be a HELL of a lot more of the article devoted to making that point.

Maybe the outer shell was designed on a mac, if it makes you feel better.

[bstear @ Sep 24th 2008 2:18PM]

I for one welcome our pith-helmet-wearing, little-girl-with-a-hunchback-looking, unicycle-riding robot overlords.

[keithwwalker @ Sep 24th 2008 3:45PM]

Its only a matter of time until lonely japanese engineers put a schoolgirl uniform on that robot...

[Lukasz.mobi @ Sep 24th 2008 5:37PM]

Why the camera is not shaking at the end ? :)))))

[G Scott J @ Sep 24th 2008 6:39PM]

"Too many Ceacrets"?

[Klebbenator @ Sep 25th 2008 6:28AM]

Freakin Japan.

[Coreoworeo @ Sep 25th 2008 6:24PM]

So she's a PC.....

Does she play DOOM?

Just thought I'd ask...