Size matters for Citizen’s Eco-Be!

Eco-Be!On March 6 in Osaka, Japan, Citizen Watch Co., Ltd. (Tokyo) unveiled a mini-robot driven by a small wristwatch motor.

The two-wheeled robot — called “Eco-Be!” — is 1.8 cm wide and 2.5 cm tall and is operated via infrared remote control.

At the unveiling, the tiny robot demonstrated the ability to move forward and backward, as well as turn smoothly from side to side. Eco-Be!, which is powered by watch batteries and features low power consumption, will make an appearance at RoboCup 2006 in Germany this June.

Citizen president Makoto Umehara says he hopes Eco-Be! will prove useful in the development of smaller and lighter weight robots. The company will conduct further research with Osaka University to improve the robot’s performance.

[Source: Hokkaido Shimbun Press]

12 responses to: “Size matters for Citizen’s Eco-Be!”

  1. FireDog

    That is all we need, a zippo lighter on wheels running wild. Pyromania be damned.

  2. Cool, I can’t wait to buy one and take it apart.

  3. Dustin

    Yes, yes. But, can it bring me a beer?

  4. Pseudo robot made from watches…

    It might not be particularly useful but Citizen’s Eco-Be! robot sure is holding the attention of that cross-eyed “spokesmodel” in the background. Being from Citizen, the ‘bot is powered by watch batteries and propelled by a watch motor. Control……

  5. Bill Clinton

    Will it be able to IMPEACH? If that is a yes, I will take 500.

  6. There is a joint project with CITIZEN and Osaka University for developing a new platform for robot research on subjects such as swarm intelligence, artificial life, etc. This will be done initially in the form of RoboCup games. The robots will be gradually improved over time accordingly to the needs of the users community.

    You can find some details in our web-page:
    http://er04.ams.eng.osaka-u.ac.jp

  7. =?utf-8?B?RW5nYWRnZXQ=?=…

    Today in Engadget: March 6, 2006
    http://www.engadget.com/2006/0…oday-in-engadget-march-6-2006/Date: 3/6/2006 5:59 PM Author: Evan Blass
    Filed under: Misc. Gadgets
    Features

    It’s our 2nd birthday and we’re

  8. bret

    I’ve always been a big fan of micro technology.But can these things carry more than 88 lbs?

  9. Tony

    It CAN bring you a beer– 1 cc at a time.

  10. shaun locksley

    how much is it ??? $$$$

  11. Great reading, keep up the great posts.
    Peace, JiggaDigga

  12. David

    hey how do i get one of these cool eco-be’s

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