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Pleo Review - A Toy Robot Triumph?

Posted by Zonk on Fri Dec 07, 2007 01:41 PM
from the would-have-liked-a-nice-cuddly-raptor-better dept.
Robotics Toys Christmas Cheer Hardware
SkinnyGuy writes "PCMag has one of the first reviews of the new robotic dinosaur. Is it worth $350? I think this reviewer thinks so. 'What most people will have a hard time understanding is that Ugobe's Pleo is one of the most sophisticated personal home entertainment robotic devices on the market today. It easily outshines robot toys from Wow Wee and Hasbro, though both companies offer robots that cost less than half of what Pleo does. Its nearest competitor, the Wow Wee Robopanda, is a good gift for young children, but it's not nearly as adorable, animated, or intelligent as Pleo. (Yes, it can stand up and crawl, but it doesn't look very good doing it.)'"
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Submission: Ugobe Pleo Review: A Robot Triumph by SkinnyGuy (697369)
[+] Science: How The Latest in High Tech Works 93 comments
Popular Science has up a feature looking at "how it works", examining the innards of several new technology-based innovations. We've talked about the Sayaka endoscope in a pill, but did you know it captures images in 360 degrees? We've discussed the adorable little Pleo dino-bot, but did you know how adaptive it is to stimuli? And what about the tank-burning laser that can be fired from an airplane? Well, we haven't discussed that but I'm at a loss as to explain why. "A kind of reverse telescope called the beam expander inside a retractable, swiveling pod called the turret widens the beam to 20 inches and aims it. The laser's computer determines the distance to the target and adjusts the beam so it condenses into a focused point at just the right spot. Tracking computers help make microscopic adjustments to compensate for both the airplane's and the target's movement. A burst of a few seconds' duration will burn a several-inch-wide hole in whatever it hits."
[+] The Rise, Fall, and Resurrection of Pleo 40 comments
robotsrule writes "This article contains notes from a 1-hour phone call with Ugobe founder Derek Dotson, now CEO of Innvo Labs Corporation, the company that acquired the rights to Pleo at the recent bankruptcy auction. Dotson reveals the hidden story behind Pleo's rise, fall, and resurrection including intriguing facts about the money trail and what he feels caused Ugobe to fail, including how he had to save Pleo's future on more than one occasion. He also lays out in plain detail Innvo Labs's strategy to help owners of older Pleos and those whose units were swallowed up by Ugobe's bankruptcy." We've been following the Pleo saga for years.
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Pleo Review - A Toy Robot Triumph? 50 Comments More /

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  • Pleo abuse (Score:5, Funny)

    by Sketch (2817) on Friday December 07 2007, @01:46PM (#21615515) Homepage
    Be sure and check out this video review of how the Pleo responds to torture...

    http://dvice.com/archives/2007/12/pleo_post.php?p=1&cat=undefined [dvice.com]
  • They couldn't have put "the reviewer says 'meh!'" in the summary?

  • See it in action (Score:4, Informative)

    by Itninja (937614) on Friday December 07 2007, @01:48PM (#21615547) Homepage
    Thinkgeek has had these for sale for awhile (originally pre-order - currently out-of-stock). They have a pretty decent video hosted on their site. [thinkgeek.com] IMO, nothing can ever beat my Teddy Ruxpin..... /tears up
    • Seems like a better robot would be some kind of humanoid, or at least something with an arm you could manipulate. Have a remote control with an LCD screen so that you can see where it's going, and you could probably get it to go to the fridge for you to fetch a beer. I don't think it would be too hard with stereoscopic vision to make it so that it could pick up an item in it's field of view by you just selecting it, via touch screen. I did a 2D version for a robotics class in university, a full 3D versio

      • I did a 2D version for a robotics class in university, a full 3D version wouldn't be difficult. Much more useful than a dinosaur, which can't pick thing up.
        Yeah right. And you are now developing this robot in your parents' basement, not?
    • It's still in "pre-order" status. I'm on the waiting list to purchase one, and have yet to hear anything about it.
      • Where did you put your name down on a list. The Pleo Dinosaur [pleodinosaur.net] from amazon looks like it might ship before Christmas. The national geographic site shows a 12/28 ship date.
  • Zeno [zenosworld.com] can't get here soon enough for me. :)

  • robopanda (Score:3, Funny)

    by gad_zuki! (70830) on Friday December 07 2007, @01:49PM (#21615565)
    I'm a little much amused by the fact that the robotpanda (what a great name) comes with the following:

    No remote controller needed
    Realistic actions and interactive personality
    Direct touch sensor and sound control
    Interactive stories and games
    Advanced artificial intelligence and awareness
    Recognizes and talks to his own little toy panda (included)

    Yes, that's right. It comes with its own little stuffed panda. In the video it hugs it. Christ, is that creepy.

  • Dinosaur robot overlords... (Score:4, Funny)

    by PHAEDRU5 (213667) <instascreed.gmail@com> on Friday December 07 2007, @01:51PM (#21615617) Homepage
    Not terribly impressive. But maybe evolution will take care of that.
        • "[Pleo] begins to learn at a geometric rate. It becomes self-aware at 2:14 a.m. Eastern time, August 29th. In a panic, they try to pull the plug."

  • Pointless (Score:3, Insightful)

    by Seumas (6865) on Friday December 07 2007, @01:55PM (#21615665)
    I'm all for the advancement of robotics and if that means reaching the general public through consumer devices as a means to an end, then so be it.

    However, these "robots" that we keep seeing are entirely pointless and ridiculous. They tend to be at least $300 or $400 and they're nothing more than slightly beefed up versions of the little remote control robot you got under the christmas tree as a little kid that beeped and flashed lights. They do nothing useful, are glitchy and . . . talk about "uncanny valley".

    The Pleo seems like something that is briefly amusing, but for $350 I could buy a couple Roombas and they actually perform a useful function other than looking cute.

    Are we supposed to be impressed by a goofy looking dino robot, just because it can detect when another pleo is around it and it can sense when someone is petting it versus choking it? How can this even qualify as a "robot"? If you have money to burn and your child is likely to be suckered into the cheap gimmicks that form these types of robots, then I guess go for it. . . . I've seen the pleo in action and if the idea is that you buy one or two of these to substitute for pets, then . . . well - let's just say having a pleo for a pet is like having blow up doll for a girlfriend. Not that I know from personal experience.
    • Actually from recent feedback, the Roombas will be just the opposite of the Pleo - briefly useful then endlessly amusing (as you clean them, or try and get support, or watch it as you put the same piece of dirt down in front of it several times to make sure it gets picked up - actually I think that last one is from a standup routine that got laughs of recognition from the audience).

      AIBOs have seen their day but they got a lot more people "ready" for robots and from my experience like LEGO and VEX got a lot

      • Re: (Score:3, Insightful)

        by Belial6 (794905)
        The one problem that I see with all of these pet replacement toys is that they not one of them can recharge themselves. If you have to pick it up and plug it into the wall, it is still just a toy. The obvious solution is to give these toys a 'bed'. Then use wireless induction to recharge the batteries. Plenty of people have real pets that sleep most of the day, so if it takes 8 hours of charging for 1 hour of action, there wouldn't be a problem. Pets are actually a pretty good place to introduce robots
  • When all is said and done, your kid will have more fun playing with the box than the actual toy.

    • When all is said and done, your kid will have more fun playing with the box than the actual toy.

      That's okay. The toy will also have more fun playing with the box than it will playing with your kid.

  • Is it worth $350? I think this reviewer thinks so.

    That at least provides some context to evaluate the claim that no one but lunatic fanboys will pay $400 for a Kindle because Amazon might go bankrupt some day.

  • ...it had better give me a happy ending.

  • That is the problem with robotics in general.... (Score:5, Insightful)

    by zappepcs (820751) on Friday December 07 2007, @02:12PM (#21615927) Journal
    PRICE... lets give an example with something we can all relate to (except for the two girls who read /.) Lego. Even the older Lego is going to set you back $20 USD for a motor. 5 motors in a robot invention =~ $100 USD. For accurate and simplified control, it is likely that some kind of R/C hobby servo, or a derivative at cheaper cost is used. The price of that does not drop sharply over time due to volume purchases. A digital servo would double the costs roughly per motor. The parts to make cute little animal robots are NOT cheap, and I'm only talking about low end parts here. It amuses me at times to think that I have some simplistic robots at home (made of Lego) that if bought piece by piece, would cost on the order of about $450 ~ $500.

    If you ask any robotics hobbyist, $350 USD for a completed and programmed robot.. well, that's a good price. I don't see the price point dropping much if you are going to have a really functional robotic toy thingy animal friend.

    Warning: Some (well all) robotics hobbyists will value the store bought robotic toy on how useful it is once they get it home and disassemble it to use in their own creations. If it is a veritable horn of plenty of usable sensors and parts... yeah $350 is a great price. You may have to guide their scope on value in the conversation.

    • Re:That is the problem with robotics in general... (Score:5, Interesting)

      by gad_zuki! (70830) on Friday December 07 2007, @02:31PM (#21616155)
      Well, the robotpanda is 150 dollars, which is less than half of the asking price of the pleo. The robopanda, like the rest of the toys from that company are pretty simplistic and fun. I think this design is a better idea than the pleo/aibo idea of a super complex computer driven "pet simulator" that costs a lot more than people are willing to spend on the gimmick.

      I'd rather be able to buy a toy robot I can say "read me a bedtime story" than one that has realistic moods and realitic poops. I understand the popularity of the furby, but that was mostly to the toddler to pre-5th grade crowd. Not to mention the price point on the furby was pretty good too.

      I think people want something that actually does something. If someone asks me what my pet robot does I cuold say "well he reads me a story if I ask. Or he reads me my email if I ask." Not "he simulates the moods of a biological pet." I think the tomogatchi school of robotics is pretty dead in the consumer world. The pleo is a nice gimmick, but thats all it is. At that price its a market failure from the get-go. I could get a roomba and a robopanda for that price.
    • But compared to the cost of owning a real pet, a $350 one time fee isn't bad at all.

      We just bought a rabbit, and in the first year of ownership I'm sure we'll spend more than $350. We got out of the pet store for ~$100 with a cage and a starter kit, then spent about another ~$100 on a couple months worth of bedding, food and treats. When you add on the the ~$150 we'll have to spend to neuter the thing, we're already at the price of the Pleo for less than a year of about the easiest-to-care for cuddleable pet you can get.

      Even the Pleo won't be quite the same as a rabbit, but the Pleo won't pee under the piano. At least, the Pleo 1.0 won't pee under the piano.
      • Why do you want to neuter 1 rabbit ? Is there a local risk of rampant feral rabbits impregnating your pet ?
        BTW, rabbits don't generally like being "cuddled", so you had better get its front teeth and rear claws removed too.
        Some people should only be allowed robots, they don't know enough about real animals.
      • Hell, my wifes guppies have probably cost me nearly a grand over the last three years - between two tank upgrades, filter and pump upgrades, not to mention consumables. But they make her happy, so it's money well spent. (Not to mention I can hardly complain given what I spend on my hobbies.)
    • It's a huge move in the right direction. The Aibo failed on the market place despite its appeal because it was $3500.

  • Pleo Review - A Toy Robot Triumph? (Score:5, Funny)

    by Fallingcow (213461) on Friday December 07 2007, @02:14PM (#21615939) Homepage
    A robot trumph? So, what you're trying to say is...

    This was a triumph.

    I'm making a note here: huge success.

    I really can't express my satisfaction.
  • Dogs are 10^8% better.
    • ...if you don't mind greasy hairy sofas and a smelly house.

    • Dogs are 10^8% better.
      10 ^ .08 = 1.2
      That's really not all that much better, and robots never require you to hold a warm bag of feces in your hand.

  • Cuter than that japanese robot baby abomination (Score:4, Informative)

    by ueltradiscount (1195109) on Friday December 07 2007, @02:15PM (#21615953)
    This one would probably give the whole family nightmares... http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x25zzd_babyrobot-made-in-japan_news [dailymotion.com]
  • ...but can you chase it around with a vacuum cleaner?
  • While it's cute and kinda cool and all, wake me when they make one that can plug itself into the wall to recharge.

  • But does it run linux? (Score:3, Informative)

    by adwarf (1002867) on Friday December 07 2007, @03:01PM (#21616553)
    It doesn't seem like their development kit (which I can't even find an official reference to on their website) can do much. That makes it useless to people that want to do more than play with it until someone finds a way to crack it to run custom code.
  • That is the question...
  • Until the robot gets marked down because you know it will. Once it's around $100 or so I'll buy it then tear it apart to see what makes it tick, then make my own enhancements. Should be interesting since I'm in the process of taking a cheap little robotic dog and enhancing it with an Arduino doing the heavy lifting.
  • In case you haven't seen it already, the other day boingboing had a link to a Pleo torture video [boingboing.net]. It's actually somewhat disturbing, as the little robot dinosaur seems to make whimpering noises if you dangle it by its tail, and choking noises if you grab its neck. I found this quote from boingboing quite interesting:

    So when I watched this video of a couple of guys from Dvice torturing the Pleo and making it whimper pathetically, I felt uncomfortable, even though I knew it was absolutely ridiculous to feel that way.

    My wife didn't want to watch the video. She said that even though the Pleo was incapable of feeling anything, watching the video is "bad for your psyche," and that the people who hit the Pleo were damaging their pscyhes, too.

    I concur with one of the comments on dVice, that I'm rather in disbelief that the guys who made the video work for the SciFi channel, and yet passed up on an opportunity while choking the Pleo

    • Re: (Score:3, Insightful)

      by Brett Buck (811747)
      $350 sent to sub-Saharan Africa would wind up in the hands of a warlord who would then buy another AK-47 with which to kill a family sometime in the next 3 years.

              Brett
    • Last month, I gave $100 each to the local food bank, America's Second Harvest, Heifer Project International (grants livestock to families in 3rd world countries), to name just the charities that deal with hunger issues. All told, I think I laid out $1,800 to charities and alumni organizations.

      And I ran the office food drive this year; we brought in 1,230 lbs. of food.

      And put $100 worth of toys in the office toy drive bin. I'm running that, too.

      And I went in for a couple of those "Buy One, Give One" deals fr

    • Re:$350 toy? (Score:5, Funny)

      by SpinyNorman (33776) on Friday December 07 2007, @03:21PM (#21616859)
      $350 would sustain a family in sub-Saharan Africa for 3 years...

      Not if they chose to blow it all at once on a Pleo.
    • There. Mission accomplished.
      • "so they can have more kids and then in 20 years from now you have 10 families to support, WOOT"

        It's quaint to see there are still people supporting the caste system. I bet you think monarchies are just SUPER!

        • Re: (Score:3, Informative)

          by pushing-robot (1037830)
          Actually, the GP was spot on. Africa needs political stability and economic development, not handouts from the west. We pat ourselves on the back for saving lives through food and medical aid, yet all we end up doing is increasing the population beyond the environment's sustainable capacity, condemning more people to suffer, fighting over and wasting the same limited resources.

          The reason few in power care about a real solution is that a stone-age economy hardly competes for resources with industrialized n

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