WowWee's Rovio gets reviewed: it's one awesome robotic sentry

WowWee goes out of its way to make one thing very clear about the Rovio: "this is not a toy." That being said, it doesn't make the patrolling sentry any less fantastic, as critics over at Robots-Dreams proclaimed that it was "intuitive and a pleasure to use from the moment you first open the box." From the painless setup process to the unparalleled mobility, reviewers sounded like they were grinning from ear-to-ear during the entire writeup process. It performed its robotic sentry duties with vigor and valor, and the review crew couldn't help but note that this bugger was "positioned to be the hottest robot for the upcoming holiday season, and for a long time to come." In other words, if you've been on the fence about dropping three bills on this thing, all your worries about it potentially sucking just got thrashed.

[Mike10010100 @ Oct 5th 2008 5:13PM]

Can it be modded to have cupholders?

But seriously, that would be awesome. By itself it is a sufficiently advanced enough robotic sentry device, but add a few tracking sensors, a few cupholders, and some robotic appendages, it'll be the perfect robotic butler!

Or some arc welders and be the perfect robotic crime fighter sidekick!

[404 @ Oct 5th 2008 5:24PM]

http://www.astro.virginia.edu/class/oconnell/astr121/im/WoW-poster.jpg

It doesn't need arc welders, it needs a heat ray! And some sort of levitation device!

[oGMo @ Oct 5th 2008 7:20PM]

No, we need the miniature Stargate accessory so we can do deepspace recon from our couch.

[d00b @ Oct 5th 2008 9:51PM]

It needs those funky treads to navigate stairs and uneven surfaces. And a tag sensor to let it follow a tagged object (like a little kid) around.

Oh and a built-in taser to zap those pesky dogs that always go into your property to poop. OK, how about a mace dispenser then.

[Bob Dober @ Oct 6th 2008 5:37AM]

I dunno, as far as robotic sentries are concerned, I sort of prefer the one that's also a 10 000 dollar projector.

[fred @ Oct 5th 2008 5:14PM]

So is it too late to book passage on the Galatica before these start to turn on us?

[Decoy @ Oct 5th 2008 5:15PM]

*Master Chief action figure sold seperately

[wxrman @ Oct 5th 2008 5:45PM]

yeah but can it vacuum?

[iEye @ Oct 5th 2008 5:53PM]

They need to get to work on perfecting Fem-Bots...,
Then it is only a matter of time before women start to drive expensive cars just to pick up men!

Ha Ha! we don't need you now!

I have first dibs on a Teri Hatcher Bot... and Lucy Liu bot for um...Protection!

[telepheedian @ Oct 5th 2008 11:08PM]

That's ummmm........


pretty pathetic TBH.

[barry99705 @ Oct 5th 2008 5:54PM]

Still no wpa support....

[Artie Lange @ Oct 5th 2008 5:55PM]

I'm taking this thing to the mall and collecting some new material for my up-skirt site. Wait...maybe I shouldn't have typed that on a public blog...

[brandon @ Oct 5th 2008 6:13PM]

MUST HAVE NOW!!!!!!!!!!!

[MbZ-buGSy @ Oct 5th 2008 6:34PM]

I’m thinking surveillance and safeguarding. I would like to program it to patrol and watch for specific objects and then report on them, or even kill rats. How much does this little sucker cost? Anybody knows?

[Mile @ Oct 5th 2008 7:17PM]

In the text, Engadget sez 3 bills, which normally means hundreds or $300, but I've a feeling that's low...

[Rob @ Oct 5th 2008 8:12PM]

$300, though there may be a premium with some retailers at the initial release.

[Rob @ Oct 5th 2008 8:24PM]

Yeah, pre-order it now for $300.

[esecasco @ Oct 5th 2008 7:06PM]

Man this looks awesome, I hope its highly hackable, or it has its own API so the interface can be extended. Being able to control a robot over the internet is cool, but being able to have a buff computer be the controller would be even cooler.

This could potentially lead to a revolution in robotics. The main problem with robots is that they have relatively weak "brains". For instance, image processing is a very expensive operation, something a small low drain chip won't do for many years, but a rudimentary "vision" should be possible on a quad core. Also consider sound processing with an SB Live/Audigy card, for on the fly voice modulation. And last, but not least, for the hardcore, modifying the shell and power system. Give it an arm with 2 digits and opposable thumb, and control it with a joystick.

But, as is, I'd like one just to see my family every now and then, play with my nephew and my brothers cat (I'm 400 miles away).

[)law( @ Oct 5th 2008 7:09PM]

I am thinking this should be modded to hold some of those super flash lights, you know the ones that can get so hot in your hands you have to drop it like its hot. Let this sucker loose on some of your mean nighbors with those and watch there retinas burn. [insert evil laugh here]

[backdoorman @ Oct 5th 2008 7:10PM]

Less robots, more ainol.

Hi Artie!

[oshawapilot @ Oct 5th 2008 7:25PM]

It needs frickin' laser beams on it's head!

[Jeff P. @ Oct 5th 2008 7:50PM]

Damn it all to hell! You beat me to it.

[EmoChicksAreHot.....Seriously @ Oct 6th 2008 1:54PM]

and rocket launchers.dont forget those

[KilgoreTrout @ Oct 5th 2008 7:27PM]

I can't help thinking that if I would be an intruder I would harly be intimidated by that thing.
What would it do were I to kick it againt the wall or put it in the microwave?
Zap me with its death ray?

[Wii60 @ Oct 5th 2008 7:58PM]

Well,
It would take a picture of you and email it to the owner....

[Crack Head DooFuss @ Oct 6th 2008 1:34AM]

it will send a pic of u to a email ,then u might be arrested and have to pay for the microwave
its only a matter of time before it will arrest u its self ,so instead of a camera on every street light like
London they will have a camera in most homes ,thats the reason they r so cheap

[Magius @ Oct 10th 2008 7:31PM]

You would be thinking different after it gets modded with a taser attachment then you can try to kick it, but you may find it difficult to do so from the floor.

[BLADES @ Nov 12th 2008 11:42AM]

OK, a few have replied on this one but to update a little bit here. The Rovio doesn't just take a "picture" it streams full video via WiFi as well as duplex audio at the same time! It alone couldn't actually defend itself but then again who says that you'd even see it? The Rovio has 2 articulated "joints" on the head as well as lights, if the lights are off and the head is down, it could just as easily be sitting underneath a small low table or the couch or a chair "hiding". It may not be able to stop you at the moment but if the streaming video and audio are buffered to a hard drive, then this lil fella has done his job well! *S*

In a sidenote, it seems that as with most all new electronics that roll off the lines, this one is no exception. There have been numerous reports of technical issues marring this otherwise amazing device. Reports of Rovio not docking for recharge, this could be due to operator error in programming or setting up the docking station beacon correctly. There have been other technical issues reported as well. For more information see: www.meetrovio.com/

[KilgoreTrout @ Oct 5th 2008 7:28PM]

I can't help thinking that if I would be an intruder I would harly be intimidated by that thing.
What would it do were I to kick it againt the wall or put it in the microwave?
Zap me with its death ray?

[0megapart!cle @ Oct 5th 2008 7:59PM]

I can't wait to start exploring my backyard with this mini-MALP.

You know that's what they were designing this to look like!

[Rob @ Oct 6th 2008 8:38AM]

I don't think Engadget has any special powers in getting release info. But since a few people (perhaps in other countries) seem to have them in their hands, I think it won't be too much longer. I exchanged emails with someone from Wowwee who told me late-October.

[Bob @ Oct 5th 2008 8:27PM]

Engadget, try to get a release date for this thing. The company website has said its dropping in 2-4 weeks for the last 6 weeks.

The thing that sucks about this is it needs a locator unit in each room to find its way back to the base. It only comes with one unit. Anyone know how much each locator add-on will cost? It cold be costly for this to actually roam a multiple room house if those add-ons cost big bucks.

[Erb @ Oct 5th 2008 9:38PM]

According to http://www.hammacher.com/publish/75738.asp?promo=homepage_hero

Its 12/17/2008. One can only hope that's wrong!

[Travis (stupid blog free) @ Oct 6th 2008 12:03PM]

I pre-ordered with Hammacher on 9/20, when the expected ship date was 9/26. I received an email 2 days later notifying me that the item was backordered until 10/10. I just checked my order status, and it still shows 10/10. I hope that's the case, but as I've had to do many times in my life, I'm lowering my expectations.

[Anday @ Oct 5th 2008 8:34PM]

Spah sappin mah sentry!

[Erb @ Oct 5th 2008 9:09PM]

Oh noes. I can see it now, some evil mastermind buying hundreds of these and sending them all to kill his neighbors! >:)

[barry99705 @ Oct 5th 2008 9:20PM]

And be foiled by their front steps!

[Erb @ Oct 5th 2008 9:23PM]

Unless his neighbors are all handicapped! Unlikely but nonetheless diabolical!

[digitallysick @ Oct 5th 2008 10:59PM]

Nice i love the idea , i wonder how quiet it is?

[Christian Martin @ Oct 5th 2008 11:08PM]

It's a skutter from Red Dwarf!

[Bob @ Oct 5th 2008 11:18PM]

Another remote controlled car someone is calling a robot. Awesome.

[j.pickens @ Oct 5th 2008 11:24PM]

Until it can open the fridge and bring me a beer, I'll pass.

[Ian @ Oct 6th 2008 1:18AM]

screw that.. i want it to go to the store and buy me the beer.. i can go to the fridge and get it. but im to lazy to go buy it.

[rutsy5 @ Oct 6th 2008 1:04AM]

I wonder what their review would sound like if they wrote it several days later, after they had time to realize the fact that they just spent $300 for about 24 hours worth of novelty, after which they were left with a useless hunk of cheap plastic...

[Crack Head DooFuss @ Oct 6th 2008 1:23AM]

Its the worm hole of robotics ,+ no audio for firefox ,wep security is a joke,but for the first mass production its very cool,i refuse to use internet explorer so i,m stuck with no sound ,but i,ll tear it apart and pump out the pics of its guts as soon as i get my hands on it, i,ll put a external switch on the camera and mic so it don,t snap pic of my blow up dolls,well at least it doesn,t want my crack pipe yet ,but they will oh ya they will

[Rob @ Oct 6th 2008 8:42AM]

You'd be amazed that the vast majority of IP cameras require ActiveX for full functionality (ActiveX is only available with IE). I'm really disappointed Wowwee continues this trend, but they have plenty of company.

[Wwhat @ Oct 6th 2008 4:18AM]

Doesn't support WPA, only WEP, hello, wake up, it's freaking 2008 rovio people.
Additionally it requires you to open ports 80 (the most probed port ever for obvious reasons) and port 554 (RTSP, the second most probed probably) in your router.

I guess the network part is some old unchanged plugin from the sites of the chips they use and meant to be improved by developers not to be used as-is like they decided to do.

[D @ Oct 8th 2008 12:24AM]

Ya, it wants port 80, because it runs a webserver. If you're overly paranoid about standard ports it is possible to change which port is used.

Another review at http://www.robocommunity.com/article/13741/WowWee-Rovio-Review-and-Unboxing/

[Squirrel-fu @ Oct 6th 2008 4:45AM]

If this is going to be the hot ticket item, who is going to protect the robot sentry from being stolen itself? Maybe they have a two for one deal, one sentry to watch the other get stolen.

[wpns @ Oct 6th 2008 6:20AM]

Two show-stoppers for me:

No WPA? I'm not gonna use Wiretap Equivalency Protocol here for any reason.

Web Browser support. IE is for emergency use only, there's no reason they couldn't get full motion video and audio in any browser other than laziness.

They'll get these fixed in future firmware releases, I'm sure, then I'll look at it again. Nice product except for the above.

A couple of details that no-one has touched on yet:

What are the bandwidth and latency requirements for running this thing smoothly?

How does the tracker work on rooms with tilted ceilings?

Still, the price point is great!