ZMP's RoboCar is Linux-based, cute as hell

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.

Gallery: ZMP's RoboCar is Linux-based, cute as hell

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[Via Linux Devices]

[aj121489 @ Jun 17th 2009 10:12AM]

"Cute" and "hell" just seem to contradict each other too much to work together.

[joseph.flatley @ Jun 17th 2009 10:17AM]

Really? You've never heard the phrase "cute as hell?"

[OneLove @ Jun 17th 2009 10:21AM]

Hes just being an internet smart-ass

[amneziac @ Jun 17th 2009 10:42AM]

or dumb-ass

[aj121489 @ Jun 17th 2009 10:44AM]

I've heard it before but it just sounds stupid to me

[John @ Jun 17th 2009 11:28AM]

Button! Button! Cute as a button!

[Andir3.0 @ Jun 17th 2009 7:00PM]

... and what is it about buttons that are cute? ;)

[OneLove @ Jun 17th 2009 10:13AM]

its not $7000 cute.

[OneLove @ Jun 17th 2009 10:18AM]

the video says "...at a cost of $15,000".

[Frankenstein Black @ Jun 17th 2009 11:33AM]

15k gets me a new Hayabusa (with turbo).
7k gets me a mint used one. Just sayin.

[be.com @ Jun 17th 2009 10:19AM]

Cute drone, evil stare. Probably means Skynet.

[DR House @ Jun 17th 2009 10:21AM]

7.000........ /pass

[Look_Around_You @ Jun 17th 2009 10:21AM]

A Linux car....where you dont have to search for a driver!
*rimshot*

[crawdad689 @ Jun 17th 2009 10:37AM]

+500 internets to you, sir.

[superhobo @ Jun 17th 2009 12:47PM]

You win, man.

[OneLove @ Jun 17th 2009 3:34PM]

i don't get it.

[Coleman Foley @ Jun 17th 2009 5:20PM]

OneLove, on Linux you always have to search for drivers because they are hard to find for Linux.

[Andir3.0 @ Jun 17th 2009 7:01PM]

... correction, on OLD Linux. I didn't have to look for a single one for both of the last two builds I did. ;)

[superhobo @ Jun 17th 2009 11:08PM]

... correction, on Andir 3.0's computer

[Andir3.0 @ Jun 18th 2009 8:44AM]

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.

[superhobo @ Jun 18th 2009 9:56AM]

You're just...lucky.

[blakecr @ Jun 17th 2009 10:32AM]

Eyes remind me of Johny 5 for some reason.

[Alan Strangis @ Jun 17th 2009 12:38PM]

Looks more like Vincent from The Black Hole.

[IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII (BarCODE) @ Jun 18th 2009 7:11AM]

Looks like Robie the Robot Bank that was sold at Radio Shack in the 1980s.

http://www.robietherobot.com/robietherobot.htm

[Jon Acheson @ Jun 17th 2009 10:34AM]

JohnnyCab 0.10

[eric9 @ Jun 17th 2009 10:52AM]

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...

[OpTiCaL @ Jun 17th 2009 11:15AM]

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.

[HungD @ Jun 17th 2009 11:16AM]

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.

[dan2600 @ Jun 17th 2009 11:24AM]

no, but i want to see it, name?

[dan2600 @ Jun 17th 2009 12:59PM]

Deadly Friend

[Blasko @ Jun 17th 2009 12:03PM]

It Looks like that wee-bo thing from 'Flubber'

[Gad Get @ Jun 17th 2009 2:46PM]

It totally does, too.

[xconan @ Jun 17th 2009 10:04PM]

they would at least have a penguin driver included...

[ralph058 @ Jun 17th 2009 6:41PM]

$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?

[G @ Jun 17th 2009 2:32PM]

damn, that's a lot of money

i'd buy it for $200

[akasoldats @ Jun 17th 2009 4:50PM]

Really no one else sees the resemblance between this and Weebo (the robot from Flubber)?!?