SmartBot turns your phone into a programmable robot

Turning your smartphone into a fully functioning robot is no longer restricted to the realms of your imagination.

A face that everyone can love.
(Screenshot by CBSi)

Enter SmartBot, a wheeled mounting device for a phone that lets it roam around flat surfaces in your home or office, performing any number of tasks. Its creator, Overdrive Robotics, said the SmartBot uses the front- and rear-facing cameras to help it navigate around objects.

A range of apps are currently available for the SmartBot, which can turn your phone into a real robot that recognises your voice, automatically roam around to take photos of a party, or even respond to snake charmer-like commands from a flute. On the more serious side, the bot can be used as a remote surveillance device with wireless control, and also supports Arduino-style dev boards.

The wheeled robot comes with a GPS, microphone and accelerometer, communicating with the mounted phone via near-field communication (NFC).

The SmartBot is cross-platform, so it works the same, regardless of your phone’s operating system. At the moment, it is compatible with Windows Phone, iOS and Android devices up to 5 inches.

Is all this talk of smartphone autonomy making it feel like your money’s burning a hole in your pocket? Grab a SmartBot right now in Europe for €160, or €133.78 for international shipping, available from April.

Check Also

8 New Google Products We Expect to See This Year

Google’s device line could end up having a particularly important moment in 2023. The company usually announces new Pixel products throughout the year. Google is expected to release its first foldable phone this year, however, which would directly compete with Samsung’s proven line of Galaxy Z Fold devices. Google also introduced its own ChatGPT rival, …

Leave a Reply