Musical Robot Tags Along as your Serenading Sidekick

If you ever thought it would be cool to be serenaded by a robot, you might get a kick out of the new A.M.P. Bot. Developed by Hasbro Tiger Electronics, the 2.5-foot-tall humanoid rolls around on a Segway-type platform, blasting your favorite tunes, all the while following you around your house like a younger sibling with its remote control technology.

At a retail price of $400-$500 predicted for its October 2008 release, the robot isn´t for everyone, but is aimed at hardcore tech and music enthusiasts. The A.M.P (Automated Musical Personality) Bot contains a high-fidelity, three-speaker system within its 15-pound body, and carries any MP3 player inside its mini backpack.

The robot uses gyroscopic technology to balance on two rubber wheels, and even has beat sensors that allow it to move to the beat of the music. To have it follow you around, just carry a palm-sized remote with you and press "Follow." Other remote buttons include "Track," which commands the robot to face you, and "Park," which tells the robot to stop. When pressing the "Drive" button, you also have the option of directing the robot´s movement with the remote.

To avoid running into things, the robot has infrared sensors. It can´t do stairs very well, but if it does fall, it´ll keep playing. It´s supposed to be able to handle carpets, floors, and even sidewalks, if you want to give it some fresh air.

Other features include touch pads on the robot´s body that allow you to add DJ-like effects to the music playback. It can produce 100 sound effects and displays LED-based animation, as well. When the battery power dies, a set of kick stands automatically drop down to keep the robot from falling over.

The A.M.P robot runs on six D batteries, while the remote uses three AAAs. Hasbro plans to begin pre-sale this August, and the robots should be available in October at venues including Amazon.com, The Sharper Image, and Hammacher Schlemmer.

via (with pics): PC Magazine

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