ZMP's RoboCar is Linux-based, cute as hell
By Joseph L. Flatley 
posted Jun 17th 2009 10:07AM
posted Jun 17th 2009 10:07AM
It looks like ZMP, a Tokyo-based robotics company that's graced the (figurative) pages of Engadget from time to time, has just introduced a Linux-based RoboCar for testing autonomous auto technologies. Which only makes sense, we suppose -- better to test all of those autonomous algorithms you've been crankin' out on a six pound model before moving up to a three thousand pound family sedan (if a lot less fun). This guy is 17-inches long and packs an AMD Geode LX800 processor, WiFi 802.11b/g/n, stereo CCD cameras, eight IR sensors, three accelerometers, a gyroscope, and a laser range finder under the hood. Prices start at $7,000, but you have to jump on this -- according to Linux Devices, only two hundred units will be sold this year. Peep the video after the break.
[Via Linux Devices]
[Via Linux Devices]
"Cute" and "hell" just seem to contradict each other too much to work together.
Really? You've never heard the phrase "cute as hell?"
Hes just being an internet smart-ass
or dumb-ass
I've heard it before but it just sounds stupid to me
Button! Button! Cute as a button!
... and what is it about buttons that are cute? ;)
its not $7000 cute.
the video says "...at a cost of $15,000".
15k gets me a new Hayabusa (with turbo).
7k gets me a mint used one. Just sayin.
Cute drone, evil stare. Probably means Skynet.
7.000........ /pass
A Linux car....where you dont have to search for a driver!
*rimshot*
+500 internets to you, sir.
You win, man.
i don't get it.
OneLove, on Linux you always have to search for drivers because they are hard to find for Linux.
... correction, on OLD Linux. I didn't have to look for a single one for both of the last two builds I did. ;)
... correction, on Andir 3.0's computer
Computers... and they are nothing out of the ordinary. One is a Thinkpad T61, another is a standard Intel Core2Duo with a built in nVidia 9400 I built for a media center. I even dual boot it on my "game machine" and that has a dedicated Areca RAID controller, nVidia 8800 and upgraded sound card... I didn't count that in the last two above, but it had no driver issues either considering I installed it on there over 2 years ago.
But if that's so odd, then call me confused because they all had no problems whatsoever with drivers.
You're just...lucky.
Eyes remind me of Johny 5 for some reason.
Looks more like Vincent from The Black Hole.
Looks like Robie the Robot Bank that was sold at Radio Shack in the 1980s.
http://www.robietherobot.com/robietherobot.htm
JohnnyCab 0.10
Looks like a PC104+ running Linux off a CF card with a custom sensor PCB below. Perhaps a LiPo pack below too.
Honestly this isn't that hard for a hobbyist...
Yeah it looks like the base is a Tamiya On-Road R/C car. Its proly based off of the TRF415 chassis. As for the batteries they look like the super cheap Ni-Cad packs, LiPo's come in a more solid case. Shoot, I could build one easily for about 2k using all high end parts.
Anyone remember that movie were at the end the guy star goes to rescue the girl in the morgue? She ends up being an evil robot and chokes him to death while peeling off her skin to show a robot head similar to the above.
no, but i want to see it, name?
Deadly Friend
It Looks like that wee-bo thing from 'Flubber'
It totally does, too.
they would at least have a penguin driver included...
$15,000!!!
Holy wall crash, Batman.
My conservative WAG on the unit cost for the parts is right around $500. I can see a couple of ways to cut that without cutting qualitiy. Those changes would make it more akin to machine assembly. That thing could be marketed for about $1500.
Now, the question that begs to be answered. Do you get more money if you sell 200 things for $15,000 or 10,000,000 for $1500?
damn, that's a lot of money
i'd buy it for $200
Really no one else sees the resemblance between this and Weebo (the robot from Flubber)?!?