Heathkit Educational Systems
Heathkit Educational SystemsWhether you and your students want to write custom algorithms for artifical intelligence or just want an entertaining learning tool, Heathkit’s HE-RObot™ can do the job. Built with a compact design for optimal mobility, HE-RObot™ utilizes industry standard PC hardware and software providing the most versatile and user-friendly robot on the market today. Controlled by remote or set to move autonomously, it is capable of sensing its environment, reacting and moving around obstacles. HE-RObot™ can talk, see, hear, transmit receive and process data, or if you like, just play a CD. By being able to do just about anything, HE-RObot™ provides students and teachers with a friendly, personable technological experience.
Very interesting, but I’m not impressed with the fact that it uses Microsoft Robotics Studio. There is a Flash demo here with a little more info. I couldn’t find a price, but my initial guess is somewhere north of $2k.
[update:] Thanks to Trevor for the price quotes. Looks like $8k in the US. All I can say is WTF. At most it’s about $1k in parts. I imagine a lot of the cost is the educational materials and software, but still, wtf.
[update 2:] The HERO is a re branded White Box robot which can be had for as little as $5500 or as much as $8000 and they do have a Linux version.
December 27th, 2007 at 7:54 am
Try a LOT north of $2K. The US price will be about $7,995 for a full-blown robot with the side panels and internal computer, DVD, speakers, camera, etc.
In Australia, they are quoting about $10K. This one won’t be on my Christmas list (even for 2008).
Trevor
December 27th, 2007 at 11:23 pm
Whoa, that’s way too much. I’d consider $2k to be a bit much for even a well off hobbyist. I’ll stick with the Vex Robotics products. Less computing power, but much more affordable. (full disclosure: I work for the company that produces Vex products.)