Japanese Robot Powered by iPod Touch

**Michael Essany** · 03-24-2010, 04:12 AM

It sounds like the plot of science fiction movie. But there's nothing make believe about a world in which iPod-powered robots dwell. That reality has arrived. And we can thank Japan's ATR Robotics and Communication Laboratories for it. The robot makers at ATR are behind the Robovie mR2, which is pictured above.

So what exactly is the Robovie mR2? It's definitely a robot, and one that is powered by a "heart" consisting of an iPod Touch, which enables control via the obvious touchscreen, over Wi-F, or Bluetooth. The little guy speaks Japanese and can communicate directly from the "heart" - that is, information contained within the iPod Touch that powers the Robovie mR2.

The one-foot-tall "humanoid robot" represents the hard work of ATR's Robovie, a research platform endeavoring to develop advanced robot technologies capable of decoding audio and detecting textile sensations. For now, while this robot is limited in its physical capabilities, the technology in place is providing some of the most sophisticated communication functionalities ever observed in a robot.

Although advancements in robot technology aren't widely reported - perhaps because such advancements are far from commonplace - mobile smartphone technology and other mobile devices like the iPod Touch seem to play a major role today in the development of "smarter robots."

One can only wonder if Greenpois0n already has a robot jailbreak in the works

Image via ATR

**steve-z17** · 03-24-2010, 04:48 AM

Just when you think you've seen it all..

**supershags2005** · 03-24-2010, 07:41 AM

Greenpois0n will be asking for donations starting Friday on robot jailbreaks (no video though) lol

**swehbe** · 03-24-2010, 07:41 AM

so what does this robot do? dance to the music ?

**CMOSlabs** · 03-24-2010, 07:41 AM

Still working on my Fembot version

**adp** · 03-24-2010, 07:55 AM

LOL!!!!

**DoYouLikeLuxury?** · 03-24-2010, 08:16 AM

This robot has nothing on DJ Roomba.

**waheedtarin** · 03-24-2010, 08:16 AM

So is the for jailbreakera only or will it be in the AppStore cause I can imagine that the robot will be hacked and make it do weird things

**Ticko** · 03-24-2010, 08:34 AM

dj roomba ftw even though this guy sounds kinda cool

**glassJAw** · 03-24-2010, 10:15 AM

Sold!

**equazian** · 03-24-2010, 10:42 AM

OMG EVIL ITOUCH ROBOTS WILL TAKE OVER THE WORLD!!! haha but seriously, that's pretty damn cool!

**lolcats1** · 03-24-2010, 12:47 PM

does the ipod work as a battery?

**extremzocker** · 03-24-2010, 01:08 PM

what can it actually do though?

**pyromcr** · 03-24-2010, 05:21 PM

steves plan or world takeover with ipods and robots has begun...

**battlecrushr** · 03-24-2010, 05:59 PM

Haha cool

**jOnGarrett** · 03-24-2010, 06:06 PM

the Japanese and their obsession with robots is troubling.

**GellBrake'rrrr** · 03-24-2010, 07:23 PM

Merry Christmas??? Was this actually developed last year?

**adp** · 03-25-2010, 07:19 AM

Originally Posted by iMfreeCuzOfJB'ing

Merry Christmas??? Was this actually developed last year?

Yes, it's dated 12/24/09. I guess MMI staff didn't get the memo.

**rhekt** · 03-25-2010, 11:33 PM

robotics are cool

**byah9091** · 03-30-2010, 06:52 PM

freakey

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