Next-gen Robot Toys to Fetch Beer

FleaPlus writes "The Boston Globe reports that WowWee Toys, the creators of robots like the hack-friendly Robosapien series, has announced a collaboration with Evolution Robotics. WowWee's next generation of robots will make use of Evolution's tech for visual object recognition and indoor navigation, hopefully with future versions being able to not just entertain, but also 'perform useful tasks such as fetching a beer or even helping to carry the groceries.'"

Nice

[b0wl0fud0n]

Now I don't need my wife anymore.

Beers != groceries??

[lovedew]

perform useful tasks such as fetching a beer or even helping to carry the groceries.

Is it just me who find it unnecessary to mention beer and grocery in the same sentence, aren't they the same?

Re:Nice

[Elvis77]

Well just for one thing really...

What is this promoting for Kids?

[Phantombrain]

I can understand saying "It will be able to fetch a ball". I can understand "It can open a door", but "Can get a beer"? What is this "Toy" Company trying to market to kids? Don't get me wrong, I think a robot that could fetch beer would be kind of cool, but by actually including that in an article one could accuse them of Promoting alcohol consumption by kids.

I'll admit it, I am an ignorant American, but I am pretty sure that in most cultures teaching kids that their robot could fetch a beer is not a good thing.

Patent Pending

[Bastardchyld]

I am going to run out and patent the "Beer Quality Recognition System" that way my robot can tell the good beer from the bad.

Lite Detection Sensor

[robotsrule]

Yes, it's the first robot to come with special Lite detection sensors that automatically throw the beer out if it's a Lite beer.

A Violation of The Three Laws

[Elvis77]

Isn't fetching beer a violation of the first law of Robotics (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Three_laws_of_roboti cs [wikipedia.org])

Comment removed

[account_deleted]

Comment removed based on user account deletion

Great

[quokkapox]

Meh. My trusty Radio Shack Robie Sr. [aol.com] has been fetching my beer (well, cokes, when I was younger) for twenty years. His cassette player (on which programs are stored) is getting a little rusty though.

Whilst working in Abbotsford...

[Centurix]

We had an office over the road from the Carlton United Brewery factory in Victoria, Australia. My office looked directly over a beer-barrel conveyor belt. There was a hardware store around the corner with enough copper pipe to build a delivery system from the vats on the next floor up, gravity fed directly into my office. I drew up a plan and technical diagram and then presented it to the receptionist at the factory. She then passed it on to someone else with a wink and a smile (pretty blonde, made my day) and then received a phone call a few days later from the site officer declining the request to proceed but gave me full marks for the idea.

If you don't ask, you'll never find out.

Re:Nice

[GeorgeMcBay]

Now I don't need my wife anymore.

You should probably sell her now, before this things come out and ebay gets glutted with used wives, driving the selling price way down.

Re:Nice

[The Amazing Fish Boy]

Ah yes. This robot won't give its owner annual sex.

Re:A Violation of The Three Laws

[NilObject]

If it's an American beer, yeah.

Obligitory...

[NotQuiteReal]

I for one welcome our new robotic beer fetching overlords.

Please read previous posts before modding... (apologies to Linquizic ;-)

Re:Nice

[Anonymous Coward]

Although it'd be more than capable to "give" its owner anal sex.

Re:2001: PEA

[Boronx]

I hope it will give you five when it's feeling cool. Nobody does that anymore.

We're all guys here, right?

[jolshefsky]

Half the mission is accomplished! Now, can I have sex with it?

Advantages of a software approach

[Beryllium Sphere(tm)]

Where the robot shines over small fridges is that you can modify the robot's software to turn on the setuid bit. Then it will bring you root beer.

Great

[MHPanruka]

How many beers will it take before it gets a plunger and starts screaming EX-TERM-INATE EX-TERM-INATE EX-TERM-INATE.

Imagine a

[Anonymous Coward]

beowu...... :)

OK, I logged in as an AC so as not to lose my already posted points, and guess what the script-blocker passcode was.... "cheers".... what are the chances, eh?

Re:Nice

[flubbergust]

Its no Cherry 2000.