Apple's first ever 'gaming robot'

[CAPSLOCKSTUCK]

Apple is selling its first ever 'gaming robot' that can carry out augmented reality warfare and is controlled by a smartphone.

The fearsome-looking mechanical spider is called MekaMon and relies on four infrared sensors to measure distance, location and wage attacks on its opponent.

This fighter, which launches today on the Apple store for £300 ($300), simultaneously has bot-on-bot brawls in real life and on the screen.

Created by Bristol-based company Reach Robotics, this customised robot has detachable legs, shields and weapons.



Using four infrared sensors it can navigate itself around the real-world, and can be controlled on a smartphone.

It can also flip onto its back in order to stabilise.

The toy connects to the app via Bluetooth and can sense other robots in the vicinity, writes the Verge.

It is used to play a game is set in 2076 following an alien invasion on Earth where humans are using their MekaMon robots to fight back and recapture their territory.

The game has three modes - story mode, arcade mode, or battle with friends mode.

'Players can whip out their smartphone to battle their multi-functional, connected battlebots in the physical and virtual worlds at the same time.'

Each robot weighs 2.2 pounds and is 11.8 x 11.8 x 5.9 inches. It comes in two models - black and white.

They are compatible with iOS and Android devices and are available in the EU and US online and in Apple stores in the UK and US.

The battery currently lasts for one hour before needing to be recharged.

 

[Xzibit]

Seen them before.

@1:22 mark

 

[natr0n]

I see a design flaw already. When it goes upside down stress is being put on those wire bends and they will eventually fray open.

I could be wrong though.

 

[Vario]

Its a dragoon?

 

[Frag_Maniac]

Those are really cool, but it seems it would be more immersive to control them from a tablet to have a larger screen to view them on. The disappointing thing using them in real world view is you can't see the rockets being fired. It would be cool if they could get it to look like the battle on the stairs at the 1:15 mark in the video, even if it was just laser lights. I know that's a lot to ask though, and would drain the 1 hr battery life even faster.

One possibility I can think of is an optional light bulb or lamp you install in the room you're playing where the wave length of the light, such as a full on black light or even less dark grow light, would enhance the look of the laser beam. They could even offer rocket launcher turret upgrades that actually fire small plastic "rockets" that have a small piece of metal in them the robot's sensors would detect as a hit when contact is made. That way the rocket itself could be made of a material that glows under such lamps. You'd have only a select number of rockets as alt fire, which would do more damage, but laser cannons as unlimited normal fire.

Not sure I'd worry about wire wear, because they are braid shielded. I was hoping they'd show what it looks like when the combat turns to up close melee battles. That kind of thing is the only issue that might cause damage I think. Then again, they say the legs and shields snap on and off. This product could potentially be a gold mine in replacement parts alone, if not for replacing damaged parts, just modding the look.

 

[jboydgolfer]

thats not a robot.....THIS is a robot...

Currently it's in "passive mode", but I can easily swap out the fuzzy balls at the end of its arms for toothpicks or paper clips, so watch what you say

 

[Frag_Maniac]

^LOL, no, that's not just any robot, that's a tinfoil suit conspiracy theory robot! No tinfoil hat required.

I was just wondering how long these MekaMons would fair with pets that like to chew moving objects.