Evolution Robotics makers of robotics software and Wowwee makers of robotics hardware (toy and entertainment robots) announced today a partnership to deliver jointly a series of new robotic entertainment products a bit more than a year from now. The companies expect to release 3 new robots in 2009. Let me remind you that Evolution Robotics develops software for robot programming and image processing including object recognition. Wowwee has found much success with their toy robots since the introduction of the first Robosapien humanoid in 2004. Evolution Robotics image processing software was also used in the now defunct Sony AIBO robot dogs; it was their software that allowed AIBO to recognize the different command cards.
According to the Press Release,
Each product will be powered by Evolution Robotics’ latest NorthStar 2.0 technology and deliver breakthrough robotic capabilities that have never before been available to the robot and robotic toy mass market.
"Evolution’s technologies are revolutionizing the way we interact with robots and consumers will be truly amazed when they see what these products can do," said Davin Sufer, Chief Technical Officer of Wowwee. "Together we plan to create an entirely new category of products to match the excitement and interactivity of video games, with blazing speeds and real-time action."
The product initiatives are the result of a strategic partnership between the two companies involving 18 months of research and development to design an innovative positioning and tracking system that will enable a robot to autonomously interact with people, environments, other robots and objects with pinpoint accuracy and control.
Under the latest agreement, Wowwee and Evolution Robotics will work closely together to take the completed products to market, leveraging the strengths and skills of each company. Wowwee will manage the product manufacturing, marketing and sales, and Evolution Robotics will provide the key enabling technologies and apply their expertise in robotics to integrate the products’ functions.
This looks like a very exciting partnership which spells good news for robotics enthusiasts. I'm looking forward to the first few products resulting from this partnership.
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