Chinese manufacturer sticks IP webcam on robot vacuum, calls it a day

WiFi-controlled sentry robots have been our playthings for a few years now, but sure as Sunday morning, they don't help us get much work done. Why would you, when you can discreetly spy on your house, kids and neighbors from the convenience of a web browser? That's what we thought. But now, there's a robot to assuade your guilty conscience: the G182, a complete VoIP webcam system built on top of a pseudo-Roomba. Sure, a Roomba-cam isn't really anything new, but while you wait for the real deal to shake off its economic funk (if it ever does), this yellow disc is the next best thing. For the low, low price of $500, you can once again feel like you're accomplishing something -- vacuuming floors and yelling at the kids to do chores -- while dodging the daily grind. Full specs and loads more pics at the source link.

[GugelBot Posted Mar 16th 2010 7:17AM]

I can think of a better way to throw away $500

[emopoops Posted Mar 16th 2010 9:00AM]

@GugelBot whats the point of putting a camera on a "robot" vacum?
i c none other than to be the "company" that put the creepy camera on the 'robot' vaccume...
rediculous.

[Brokinarrow Posted Mar 16th 2010 1:01PM]

@GugelBot - Sounds like a good way for China to 'safeguard the Chinese people' from 'dangerous Western ideals'....

[Meekermoloko Posted Mar 16th 2010 7:30AM]

You can't look up skirts with that thing.
It'll be too loud.

[Hamaki Posted Mar 16th 2010 8:00AM]

And it probably can't get much done in the cleaning area either. The whole hockey puck design is supposed to allow the thing pass under the furniture. Now, with the Eye of Sauron on top of it. i'm guessing not so much.

And yet, looking at the pics in the source, looks like you can always detach the cam from the unit to use it just as a regular vacuum robot. An overpriced one, if that.

What's funny about the camera thing is...well, this is basically a roomba-like, wich means it uses the typical random patterns to navigate the room. You won't actually get to choose what do you want to see, since looks like only the camera is WiFi, and thus, no in-browser control of the thing. ¿What are the kids doing at the living room? no idea, since the damn thing has decided to get stuck in the Kitchen...

[aeroponics13 Posted Mar 16th 2010 9:31AM]

OH!! DJ Roomba gets an upgrade!! Whats hot today DJ Roomba!?!?

[Mightydh Posted Mar 16th 2010 9:41AM]

This is nice and all...but where will my cat sit?

[garymac Posted Mar 16th 2010 10:23AM]

It has the same problem as a dalek.
Stairs.

[garymac Posted Mar 16th 2010 10:24AM]

it sucks