PC-Bot 914 - Advice, comparisons, news, reviews and prices.

The PC-BOT 914 is basically a PC computer on wheels. It allows you not only to use the robot as a personal computer, but also take advantage of all the technologies and software available for PC and apply it for robotics! No more hassle with proprietary software, insufficient memory or limited and expensive add-ons. This 55 cm tall robot is build from high-strength injection molded ABS plastic and high quality stamped steel frame make the robot similar to R2D2. The whole thing is an open-standard robotics platform that allows you to create your own one-of-a-kind machine from readily available, off-the-shelf PC parts.

Vision-based navigation, object recognition, speech synthesis and speech recognition - all in an easy-to-use yet powerful point-and-click graphical user interface. You can control it via mouse, keyboard, joystick or even remotely, over the Internet. The robot can move by itself following pre-determined paths or it can enter the explore mode and continuously cover an area, avoiding obstacles and stairs.

Hardware: The VIA EPIA SP13000 LVDS Mini-ITX Motherboard is the brain of the system. It is mounted in its own separate compartment that slides into the back of the head of the robot making it very easy to install and remove. The built-in IO board contains 8 analog inputs for IR or other sensors, 8 digital outputs, 8 digital inputs and 2 USB ports sourced from VIA EPIA SP 13000. You can also install a second, optional I/O board. 1GB of RAM, 40 GB HDD and DVD-ROM/CD-RW Combo Drive make it a fully functinal PC. The internal chassis is constructed of high-grade steel, basically the same material used inside standard PC cases. Additional PC components are attached in much the same manner via the typical PC screws and rubber washers. The special I/O card controls the motors and sensors.

Mobility: The PC-BOT 914 runs off of two 12 volt sealed lead acid batteries which take 3.5 hours to charge and will have your robot running for about 2.5 hours (running the bundled robot controlled software that comes with the 914 PC-Bots and running Windows XP).

Drive System Highly accurate differential drive system connected to the PC mainboard via a USB cable and a special included I/O card. It features dual 12-volt stepper motors, front and rear roller assemblies, independent front suspension, and commercial grade drive wheels. The 914 moves slowly but surly on hard surfaces and even on deep-pile carpet!

Programming: Fully functional PC running Windows XP. The application development environment and API code allows you to write custom algorithms for a wide range of behaviors (speech recognition, navigation etc.). It supports the Microsoft Robotics Studio development tools. You can also run Linux Player Stage.

Add-ons: The front central part of the robot's body offers a rectangular space that provides optional access to eight 5.25" drive bays. You can add here thermal take or cooler master temperature monitors, removable hard drive caddies, 5.25" bay fan assemblies, or any number of off-the-shelf 5.25" bay peripherals and accessories.

The top bay houses an inexpensive, off-the-shelf webcam (included) that the 914 uses for vision-based navigation and object recognition. You can add a second camera in the top of the robot's head. The first camera handles vision-based navigation and the second one a object recognition.

Add-on headlamps might help illuminate objects for the robot vision-based navigation in the dark but also would be handy for alerting humans to the 914s presence.