New Segway Turns Into a Robot With Big Round Eyes, Ready to Watch Your Every Move
Intel parters with Segway to turn the transportation device into a robot.
Intel has turned a Segway into a mobile robotics platform, with the purportedly world-changing transportation device proving rather adept at moving around a “brain” of electronics perched atop a pole.
Don’t worry, you can still ride it. Just try not to think about how close you are to this thing’s wide, joyless eyes:
Intel does intend to release this as a product for sale, but it was only trotted out on display at the CES this week; timing of such a release is entirely unknown.
The robot is presented as a modular base for other applications to come in the future. Developers will have access to an Android SDK for writing their own apps for this next-gen Johnny Five, and a slot on the robot’s “back” makes him (we’ve just given it a gender) rather expandable.
Segway’s press kit offers pictures of assorted use cases in action. He’s got arms, for example:
He asks you where you are when you’re lost:
He stalks your family and loved ones:
He barters for doughnuts:
He engages in the vibrant world of street art:
He’s indifferent to the emotional needs of golden retrievers:
He plays “stay.”
Here’s the sight that CES visitors were treated to:
