CES 2019 may have just started, but we’ve already seen some of this year’s most notable product announcements. If you thought that TVs, smart home gear and the like were all CES had to offer, you’ll either be delighted or shocked to see the latest from Ubtech. The robotics company has time and time again has caught our eye with their unique announcements. And this morning, rather than showcasing a STEM building kit or a smartphone-controlled Stormtrooper, we’re getting a look at two new robots for the home and office. Hit the jump for more details.
Ubtech’s appearance at CES this year has brought with it two new robots. Geared towards more serious applications than some of their predecessors, Walker and Cruzr enter with two distinct designs and plenty of refinements from last year. Walker, as the name implies, is a bipedal robot that has been imbued with a pair of arms. So you’ve really got to hand it to Ubtech for making some notable headway on its humanoid robotic pal.
This allows the bot to help out around the home, now that it can pick up and carry objects. Walker stands 4.75-feet tall and has packed on some pounds compared to its previous iteration; it now weighs in at 170 lbs. compared to the original 82-lb. model. Other notable improvements include upgraded self-balancing, better mapping and obstacle avoidance technology, and more.
If the first thing you think when hearing “robotic companion” is retrofitting it to fill in for you at the office, then Ubtech’s Cruzr fits the bill. Similarly to Walker, this bot has received some significant updates for its debut at the trade show this year. Most are quality of life changes like updated navigation, object avoidance, arm movement and more. The wheeled robot now sports 4G connectivity, meaning you can have it help out just about anywhere. Improved motors plus a refined structure round Cruzr’s enhancements.
Cruzr will be made available sometime later this year for an undisclosed price. As of now there’s no word on whether its bipedal relative, Walker, will be getting the same treatment or not.
It’s very easy for robots to enter the Uncanny Valley in the looks department. But I’d say that both Walker and Cruzr are pretty well-designed. They’re far from creepy and while not as cute as Lovot, they do seem more useful at the end of the day.
Source: Ubtech
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