Robots for the home

If as a kid you fantasised about getting an all-metal robot to do all the housework as you lay back on a hammock, by now the realisation must have sunk in that it was just wishful thinking. No, robots haven't revolutionised the way we work, or do not work, but yes they have started entering our lives, though we don't tend to notice them most of the times. We often overlook the robots around us as our eyes are trained to look for the mechanical humanoids made popular by Isaac Asimov and others of his ilk. The robots that have started changing our lives are not humanoids, but bots that do mundane work which you would rather not do yourself.

WOWWEE: WREX THE DAWG
Price: Rs 11,999
Conceived as a robotic pal for kids, this junkyard dog can do most of the stuff a real pooch can. Wrex can express its moods and desires as well as perform some tricks like shake a paw, play and even dance. Best of all, this is one dog which doesn't mind playing a cat for some time. There is also a guard mode, where Wrex warns you of strangers in its vicinity.

SILVERLIT BUILD A ROBOT
Price: Rs 1,875
Once you assemble this Silverlit robot, it can go after a ball and kick it, walk around the room without bumping into obstacles and even hold objects. It also seems to have plans to put your chowkidar out of action and will alert you to new people entering a room, but we are not sure how intimidating a six-inch robot will prove to be.

HUMANOIDS
Price on request
You can now take home a humanoid, though it will be more about fun and learning than getting the mechanical valet to do your laundry. If you are willing to spend a packet, you can own a Kondo KHR-3HV, described by many as the most versatile humanoid available in the market. The 3HV tries to imitate human movements and has versatile controls that let it do a lot of things toy robots can't, like object recognition. It can also act as a security guard by beaming what it sees over a Wi-Fi Internet connection.
www.nex-robotics.com

SPYKEE & SPYKEE MINI VOX
Price: Rs 3,999 onwards
The Spykee range of toy robots from Meccano can do a host of functions in response to voice commands or computer controls. The larger Spykee can be controlled by a computer or over the Internet to move to various locations and take pictures or record video. Spykee sells as a make-it-yourself robot and is targeted at anyone over eight years of age. The smaller Spykee Mini Vox is more of a toy, though it also responds to voice commands. The Mini Vox can be assembled in a couple of hours.

Cleaning Bots
The most common domestic robots these days are cleaning bots, those that clean your home without any help from its owners.

LG Hom Bot, for instance, can take care of the dirty carpets in your home or office, do the same chore at a predefined time every day and then find its way back to its charging station. The array of sensors on the bot ensures that no spot is missed out. The same technology also stops it from bumping into furniture, and people. (Price: Rs 43,990)

International Stars Owi T3 Transforming Solar Robot $16.47 This multifunctional transforming solar robot can change into a tank, robot or scorpion. The model is completely eco-friendly and does not need fossil fuels or batteries to power it. Aimed at anyone over the age of 10, the Owi T3 has animated movements activated by sunshine Genibo Robot Dog $1,716.00 This low maintenance pet can be mischievous and charming, reacting to situations and surroundings or to remote commands. The dog from Korea uses built-in tilt sensor to regain its posture and loses energy and falls asleep when its owner does not pay attention to it for over five minutes. Bossa Nova Blazor Interactive Raptor Robot $39.99 Dinosaurs are supposed to be sluggish, but this raptor can detect changes in environment and respond quickly. It can communicate its moods in growls, roars, and screeches and has four modes of play. With iloveRobots' Animotion adding to its speed and maneuverability, the Blazor's sensors can detect obstacles in a split second.

Though not as intelligent as the Hom Bot, Euroclean Robocleanz from Eureka Forbes too can clean your floors without help. While Robocleanz also depends on infra-red sensors to safely wander around the house, it cannot be set to clean according to any particular schedule. But this bot comes much cheaper at Rs 6,990.

Milagrow also has three vacuum bots available in the market, with the top of the line Redhawk selling for Rs 16,990. The Redhawk can be programmed using its infrared remote control from within a range of seven metres. The bot can clean non-stop for an hour after a full charge, which takes around four hours.

Vacuum cleaners from iRobot, the company which made cleaning bots popular around the world, are also available in India now through Amazon. Its Roomba 760, for example, lets you programme the bot to clean the home while you are away. Price Rs 22,332.

And cleaning bots are not just about floors. In case, you are one of those fortunate enough to have a pool at home, you may like to invest in an iRobot Verro 500 PowerScrub Pool-Cleaning Robot. This bot can clean a 20 x 50 ft pool in about three hours removing all debris down to 2 microns. While the Verro 500 costs Rs 51,665, the Verro 300 is a cheaper option at Rs 37,192.

Courtesy: Gadgets and Gizmos