Miuro dancing robot takes your iPod for a spin
The iPod has a whole range of accessories to plug into these days – speakers and docks of all weird shapes and sizes – so you’re never without it. Now there’s a Japanese robot called Miuro which turns your iPod into a “dancing boombox-on-wheels”.
ZMP have created a robot that looks like a ball coming out of an egg. It has a speaker system by Kenwood, and the iPod locks into the top. It can stream music wirelessly from a PC as well.
“Music Innovation based on Utility RObot technology” responds to a remote control so that you can have it follow you around. On its own, it sounds like it’ll just dance about to the music (well, roll about), but with add-on camera and sensors it can map its own position and remember predetermined routes. Whether it will avoid your bemused pets is another matter.
“The robot helps you listen to music wherever you are without even thinking about it. Sometimes I don’t even have the energy to put on a CD.” said ZMP President Hisashi Taniguchi.
It’ll go on sale overseas in the second half of 2007 – no idea on price yet. Just ask yourself whether you want your iPod to follow you round everywhere in a giant egg, bumping into things and grooving to your favourite tunes.
ZMP (Japan) website
