Robosapien creator Mark Tilden confirms that Wowwee expects to ship a Linux-based version of its popular toy robot. The former robotic physicist for NASA's JPL facility promises the “RSMedia Bot” will be “completely user reconfigurable at several levels, and eminently hackable,” according to a wit-filled, fun… interview at You-Review.

(Click for larger view of Robosapien V2)

Tilden founded Robosapien maker Wowwee in 2002, and the company has since shipped Robosapien, Robopet, Roboraptor, and RS2 (aka “V2”) models. It expects to ship a lizard-like RoboReptile model later this year, followed in Q4 by the Linux-based RSMedia Bot. In Q1, 2007, it plans to deliver a P.E.A.Bot model with LCD face and two-wheeled mobility technology licensed from Segway, the You-Review interview suggests.

The RSMedia Bot will be based on an RS2 “bodycon core,” according to the interview. It will run Linux on an ARM9-powered media system with a “cellphone-sized backlit LCD,” removable SD card slot, and USB. It will also have a built-in microphone, color 640×480 camera, and a 3D stereo amplifier with woofer. “So RSMedia is a walking, talking, reconfigurable MP3 player running a Linix (sic) kernel,” You-Review quotes Tilden as having said.

The You-Review interview also discusses the role of computers in robotics, in light of Tilden's findings that “brains can be minimal if the body is competent.” The enjoyable interview can be found here.

 
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