The use of robots for industrial field and large-scale
manufacturing is one of the essential factors. The robots can work accurately,
and capable of working on heavy duties continuously without getting bored or
tired. On the other hand, the attempts to create a robot that can communicate
with humans naturally are still being sought by scientists.
We have seen the birth of musician robots, assistant robots,
and also the robots that can do two-way communication. This time Blue Frog Robotics introduces Buddy
which is described as the first social robot that's able to entertain,
interact, and even protect your family members. And just like Jibo, Buddy will
also help all family members to have a close relationship.
Buddy has a cute appearance that would attract your children's
attentions. Its body is divided into two parts: the head and body. The movement
system carries three-wheel on the bottom, and there is a screen on the head.
The screen on head serves to show the face of Buddy, and it can change at any
time in accordance with Buddy's 'feeling'. On the aesthetic side, the aspect of
'feeling' that makes Buddy is able to get close to the family members easily.
In general, Buddy is
a personal assistant that will remind you about the important task and schedule
in your agenda. When you are cooking, Buddy can help you to find the recipe you
want, or forward calls. Buddy can even monitor and patrol the house, then
immediately give notification when it detects a strange incident. With the help
of Buddy, it is possible for you to access the thermostat, or ask him to be a
photographer (or videographer) in special occasions such as birthday party.
Buddy can also be a playmate of your children; it can play
while learning so that your children won't feel bored quickly. Buddy can play
simple hide and seek game, do interactive spelling lessons, tell stories, and
also do programming introduction. Then via its screen and speaker, your
children can enjoy movies and music.
Buddy is promised able to communicate with flexible by using
the face expressions and gestures. It maps the house in 3D form, so that it's
able to navigate and avoid obstacles. This cute robot is able to recognize
family members based on their voices and faces. With the help of mobile device,
Buddy can wake you up in the morning and greet you when arriving home.
Buddy project is still ongoing at IndieGogo and offered at
US $ 549 for BUDDY Classic Early Bird. According to schedule, Buddy will be
ready to be distributed in May 2016.