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Desk Pets — Parallax Forums

Desk Pets

ercoerco Posts: 20,256
edited 2011-10-02 11:58 in Robotics
http://www.mydeskpets.com/tankbot/

Interesting form factor, small enough that I can actually see people making mazes on the their desktop to run this thing through.

But sadly, the iPhone madness continues. Near the top, it shows their "hacky patch" to control Tankbot with an audio-output controlled IR remote dongle. Several companies are jumping on this bandwagon now in a desperate attempt to get some free "look at me" press on Hackaday or other tech blogs. IMO, it's just a bad way to rationalize using an iPhone to control something that would be better/faster/cheaper controlled by its original IR remote.

Naturally, the IR dongle has its own non-rechargeable batteries to go dead. So now you have 3 sets of batteries to charge or replace: Tankbot, iPhone, and dongle.

And you have to buy an app.

Plus, you add a bit of maddening latency (delay) in controlling the Tankbot for your trouble.

That's progress?

Comments

  • Martin_HMartin_H Posts: 4,051
    edited 2011-10-02 11:58
    The IR dongle is a hack, but kind of inventive none the same. But bluetooth is probably better for robot control via a smart phone.
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