They actually made a robot that looks eerily similar to R2D2. The PC BOT from White Box Robotics is a robot with a fully functional PC running Windows XP Home, with all the usual bays you would expect to find. Not sure why they chose WinXP Home, but it does support Linux as well.
This thing has wireless and a camera so you can see what it sees. It is basically just a developmental platform to make it perform simple tasks – maybe use it as a security device and remotely monitor the camera. If someone develops some useful accessories it would be pretty cool, although with a price tag of $4995 it won’t be a cheap accessory. Click through the break to see all the specifications.
Height: 21″ Weight: 25 kg (55 lbs)
Differential drive train with independent front suspension, patented self-cleaning roller ball casters FF & RR, 2 DC stepper motors
Torso unit containing: 2 foldable side bays ( power supply housing/ bay 1, main system board/ bay 2), 8 x 5.25″ bays
USB Machine Management Module (M3) – motor controller and I/O board interface
One I/O board with 8 analog inputs for IR or other sensors, 8 digital outputs, 8 digital inputs and 2 USB ports sourced from VIA EPIA SP 13000. Supports a second, optional I/O board.
Two M2-ATX power supplies with automatic battery monitoring and auto-shutoff
Head assembly containing one Logitech webcam
Sensor array containing: 8 fixed and factory installed IR sensors (5 sensors installed in bumper and 3 sensors installed in 5.25″ bay).
Injection moulded plastic body panels included with Model 914 PC-BOT (not included in 9-Series Development Platform)
VIA EPIA SP13000 LVDS Mini-ITX Motherboard
1 Gbyte of RAM, PC3200 DDR 400MHz DIMM
80 GB 2.5″ SATA Hard drive
Slim-style DVD-ROM/CD-RW Combo Drive
2 x 12V 9Ah (45W) Lead Acid Battery
SONEIL 12V Intelligent Battery Charger (3A) Universal INPUT
802.11g wireless USB adapter
Windows XP Home Operating System
White Box Robotics PC-BOT software (code name “Brian”) Windows Service
Brian GUI for Windows
