Robopet
Encyclopedia
The Robopet is a robotic dog produced by WowWee
that is based on the biomorphic work of Mark W. Tilden
. The Robopet has IR, audio and tilt sensors and is able to wander around autonomously detecting and reacting to objects and sounds. It also performs random 'tricks' such as howling, begging, rolling over and playing dead.
board in its back and is controlled by autonomous routines and IR (Infrared
) signals from a thirteen button remote control
. The CPU is a custom-designed 16bit RISC processor with 512k of built in sound and 12k of program space and 128 bytes of onboard RAM. It requires 7 x AAA batteries .
The software code is 12k of assembly language
based around an operating system
written in the 1980s by the inventor, Mark Tilden.
Actually, the robopet needs 4 batteries, and the remote needs 3 batteries, so you need 7 batteries.
The tricks that Robopet performs are: roll over, play dead, howl, paw, relief, jump, "whoops", rock and scratch. These can be activated by the user via the remote control and are randomly performed by the Robopet when in its autonomous mode.
The Robopet also features an edge-detection mode which has to be either on or off via the power switch, so it can be placed on a table without falling off.
The 2 axis tilt internal sensor detects whether the robot has fallen over, and it can automatically right itself.
stores.
In 2007, after the release of new robots, RoboPets were repackaged to include Mini RoboPets. The Mini RoboPets wind-up and walk.
. It has 9 remote-control accessible tricks and 5 direction functions (forward, backward, left, right, and stop) which can be sequentially placed into a 20 step program.
It also features "Good Dog" and "Bad Dog" buttons which either encourages or discourages it from performing recent "tricks".
Wow Wee
WowWee Group Limited, an Optimal Group company , is a Hong Kong-based company founded by Richard and Peter Yanofsky. Initially from Canada, the two brothers moved to Hong Kong to form the company in 1982 as an independent research & development and manufacturing outfit...
that is based on the biomorphic work of Mark W. Tilden
Mark Tilden
Mark W. Tilden is perhaps best known for his invention of BEAM robotics and the WowWee Robosapien humanoid robot. He is a robotics physicist who produces complex robotic movements from simple analog logic circuits, often with discrete electronic components, and usually without a...
. The Robopet has IR, audio and tilt sensors and is able to wander around autonomously detecting and reacting to objects and sounds. It also performs random 'tricks' such as howling, begging, rolling over and playing dead.
Hardware and Software
The Robopet has 5 equal custom gearboxes using 2 and 3 bit position switches. The robot runs from a single processorMicroprocessor
A microprocessor incorporates the functions of a computer's central processing unit on a single integrated circuit, or at most a few integrated circuits. It is a multipurpose, programmable device that accepts digital data as input, processes it according to instructions stored in its memory, and...
board in its back and is controlled by autonomous routines and IR (Infrared
Infrared
Infrared light is electromagnetic radiation with a wavelength longer than that of visible light, measured from the nominal edge of visible red light at 0.74 micrometres , and extending conventionally to 300 µm...
) signals from a thirteen button remote control
Remote control
A remote control is a component of an electronics device, most commonly a television set, used for operating the television device wirelessly from a short line-of-sight distance.The remote control is usually contracted to remote...
. The CPU is a custom-designed 16bit RISC processor with 512k of built in sound and 12k of program space and 128 bytes of onboard RAM. It requires 7 x AAA batteries .
The software code is 12k of assembly language
Assembly language
An assembly language is a low-level programming language for computers, microprocessors, microcontrollers, and other programmable devices. It implements a symbolic representation of the machine codes and other constants needed to program a given CPU architecture...
based around an operating system
Operating system
An operating system is a set of programs that manage computer hardware resources and provide common services for application software. The operating system is the most important type of system software in a computer system...
written in the 1980s by the inventor, Mark Tilden.
Actually, the robopet needs 4 batteries, and the remote needs 3 batteries, so you need 7 batteries.
Features and Tricks
When left by itself for a few seconds, the Robopet enters its autonomous mode and starts exploring the room, responding to I/R reflected signals from objects and the floor.The tricks that Robopet performs are: roll over, play dead, howl, paw, relief, jump, "whoops", rock and scratch. These can be activated by the user via the remote control and are randomly performed by the Robopet when in its autonomous mode.
The Robopet also features an edge-detection mode which has to be either on or off via the power switch, so it can be placed on a table without falling off.
The 2 axis tilt internal sensor detects whether the robot has fallen over, and it can automatically right itself.
Colors and Special Editions
Robopet is available in white, pink, blue, purple, and black. A special "Signature Series" Sharper Image edition was released, sporting a metallic red color. Furthermore, a special "Bulldog" version, sporting a re-sculpted head and painted on eyes, was created for sale at RadioShackRadioShack
RadioShack Corporation is an American franchise of electronics retail stores in the United States, as well as parts of Europe, South America and Africa. As of 2008, RadioShack reported net sales and operating revenues of $4.81 billion. The headquarters of RadioShack is located in Downtown...
stores.
In 2007, after the release of new robots, RoboPets were repackaged to include Mini RoboPets. The Mini RoboPets wind-up and walk.
Programming
Like the other WowWee products to date, the Robopet can be programmedComputer program
A computer program is a sequence of instructions written to perform a specified task with a computer. A computer requires programs to function, typically executing the program's instructions in a central processor. The program has an executable form that the computer can use directly to execute...
. It has 9 remote-control accessible tricks and 5 direction functions (forward, backward, left, right, and stop) which can be sequentially placed into a 20 step program.
It also features "Good Dog" and "Bad Dog" buttons which either encourages or discourages it from performing recent "tricks".
External links
- WowWee Robopet's Official Home on the Web
- Robopet's Official Manual
- Robopet Home on RoboCommunity - The official WowWee Robotics user community
- Unofficial WowWee Hacks and Mods site
- The Evolution of the Robopet (in pictures)