Your friend at home
Our experience is that the movies on websites like Indiegogo and Kickstarter look very nice. The same applies to the video about Buddy robot. We are particularly concerned about the autonomy with which the robot drives around in the home. Nevertheless, the functions offered are logical and certainly interesting.
Hardware Buddy
Various sensors and hardware help buddy to provide the functionalities expected of him. For example, the robot has a camera, ultrasound, infrared and thermal sensors, a distance meter sensor, a temperature sensor, ground detectors, a microphone, an audio output and loudspeakers. The software for Buddy is open source, which means that developers can create separate applications. The robot is 56 cm high and weighs 5 kg. Buddy is mounted on three motorized wheels that allow him to move and turn. Control takes place through an 8-inch tablet interface that also acts as his face. Buddy robot has 16GB of local data storage and 8-10-hour battery life, built-in Wi-Fi and Bluetooth Low Energy connectivity.
Functionality
Buddy can detect, recognize, and track objects and faces
He can recognise speech and speak text himself, starting with French and English.
He can make phone or video calls for users
It can act as a calendar, alarm clock and send users reminders
Buddy can be controlled remotely to check if any unusual things are happening in the house.
According to the creators, the robot could also detect traps