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Manoi Go break-dancing robot blows our minds
We've got no idea how this nugget of glorious mechanized boogie snuck past us -- we'll blame it on the horror we experienced while watching Doka Harumi's robot dance routine. Another entrant in that same Japanese robo-dance contest, this red-blazered drone brings the pain, the funk, and all necessary accessories to rock your world. We're not kidding -- if you don't like this, you don't like technology. Skip past the break for not one, but two doses of that mind-altering video action.
Kyosho's newest little humanoid bot, the Manoi PF-01
Japanese hobby robot manufacturer Kyosho is back with another 1/5-scale Manoi bot, the cheerful-looking PF-01. Like its older brothers, the AT-01 and the original MANOI, the $1,461 PF-01 can be outfitted with a number of sensors, and each of its 17 motors can be programmed to do your evil bidding -- but only after about 10 hours of assembly. Budding mad scientists our there better hurry though -- pre-orders for the first 100 off the assembly line are due in by June 10th for release on June 30th, and Kyosho is only planning on making a total of 300 after that.
The 2006 Engadget Awards: Vote for Robot of the Year
Now's your chance to cast your ballot for the 2006 Portable Media Device of the Year! Our Engadget Awards nominees are listed below, and you've got until 11.59PM EST on Sunday, April 15th to file your vote. You can only vote once, so make it count, and may the best tech win! The nominees: Cornell's "conscious", adapting robot, Lego Mindstorms NXT, Manoi AT01, TMX Tickle Me Elmo, Whitebox Robotics 914 PC Bot, and Wowwee Robosapien RS Media. %Poll-259%
PaPeRo : Shibuya girls' favorite robot
While we tend to prefer more aggressive robots, or more sporty robots, most of the 500 Shibuya girls surveyed in the latest issue of Robot Life tend to prefer kawaii (um, cuteness). The champion of the informal 500 person poll was PaPeRo, a short stubby little mini robot that looks like the lovechild of R2D2 and the Fighting Nun puppet. PaPeRro, whom we fell in love with at CeBIT, beat out such competitors as the security guard bot Wakamaru and the ifBot, an elderly-friendly little droid. We still think that PaPeRo should enter the Robo-One in the Space competition, which is totally feasible since it has few years to work it out and get in fighting shape. Click on for the list of today's best robots, as rated by a ton of Japanese ladies.[Via Wired Blogs]
Manoi AT01 -- depressed, but ready for action
We're really not so sure what Kyosho's new Manoi AT01 has to be so glum about. It is his launch day after all. But manic depressiveness aside, he's sounding just like he did a couple of weeks ago, except now we've got real pics instead of concept renders. From what we can make of the release docs, he should be appearing in a limited run of 50 on July 31st, followed by a full-on release in September for $1,300. For the most part it appears Manoi's main goal in life is to walk around and provide a flexible platform for hobbyists to program their own motions for the unit, which could be what's getting him down, but we're sure in a few weeks, once he's subjugated the earth to his svelte iron fist, he'll cheer right up. Check out some action shots after the break.[Via Impress]
