The robot revolution is well underway, but it’s still a long way off from the stuff of science fiction books, TV and movies. For now, robots like the Roboming Fellow are filling the gap between the inevitable, more advanced creations — and does a fair job at doing so.
The Roboming Fellow is a small but sleekly designed robot built for companionship, light home security, and pets. Its calming blue LED light and pan/tilt capabilities almost give the device its own personality, so that a user’s voice commands are not only met with them being carried out but with a little nod and shake as well. Roboming can also scan and create a map of the home, useful for navigating to a user or for patrols when a user is gone.
While it’s on the move, it uses its equipped LIDAR sensor to avoid obstacles and a motion sensor to detect suspicious movement. In addition, Roboming can carry up to seven pounds of material, making it perfect to lazily deliver something across the room or even bring a toy to a pet while a user is gone. (Even if there’s no way to actually place the object atop the device without human intervention.) Finally, the device’s 1080p HD camera allows for candid shots and live streaming to ensure all is well at home. The Roboming Fellow starts at $299 and is expected to ship in July 2017. Its Indiegogo campaign is looking for $50,000 by November 2016.
The number of home robots available is almost overwhelming. But compared to products like the stationary Moorebot (who can engage in light conversation and serve as a quasi-assistant) to the Jimble (a robot that is remarkably similar to the Roboming with a touch more personality), the Roboming doesn’t bring anything brand new to the table besides its stellar, almost Apple-esque design. In the end, it’s a great purchase for someone looking for their first robot, but not the very best purchase given how many options are out there.