Keep Your Pet Happy with Petcube

Pet owners who always worry about what their cat or dog are doing all alone at home will be thankful for this new gadget. The Petcube is a cube-shaped device with a built-in webcam and speaker that lets you check in on your pet and talk to it, wherever you are.

Similar devices already exist on the market, but the Petcube, designed by a Ukrainian startup, has this little extra feature that makes it so much more interesting: it has a built-in laser that lets you play with your pet remotely.

The 4 inch aluminum and glass cube has an elegant, neutral look that makes it easily fit any interior. When mass production starts, users will have the option of choosing various skins for the device.

Inside the Petcube is a wide-angle 720p camera offering users a live feed of their home, plus a set of speakers and microphone to hear your pet and be able to talk to it or call it into camera range.

The device connects to the Internet via Wi-Fi and comes with an accompanying application for iOS or Android to allow users to check on their pet with the help of their smartphone.

The built-in low intensity laser is placed on a movable platform, so you’ll be able to play with your pet as if you were playing a video game, controlling the red dot and making your cat or dog chase it madly around the house. Developers say they consulted with veterinarians who confirmed that the low intensity laser is safe and will not affect your pet’s eyes even in case of direct contact.

The Petcube app will let you to take photos of your pet and share them with friends and family. You will also be able to allow other people access to your device so as to view and play with your pet when you’re not able to, and vice versa.

Developers say they will begin mass production of the device this fall, when they also plan to launch a Kickstarter campaign. No pricing details are available yet.

[Images via Digital trends & NBC News]

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Linkbot Lets You Create Your Own Robots

Have you always wanted to be a robotics expert, but didn’t actually manage to pull in all the necessary skills and patience? The Linkbot modular robotic platform can help: it allows users to build their own robot any way they want it, piece by piece.

Manufactured by California-based firm Barobo, the Linkbot was first designed by a mechanical and aerospace engineering professor and ex graduate student from UC Davis.

The Linkbot is ready to use out of the box, as a single bot. But what makes it unique is its limitless capability to expand. The system can be extended infinitely and paired with all sorts of accessories, including wheels, legs, grippers, and camera mounts.

This feature is due to the fact that three of the Linkbot’s faces are provided with mounting surfaces. The mounting surfaces are also equipped with bolt patterns, allowing for enhanced attachment capabilities to create your very own customized robot.

All of the current accessories for the Linkbot are 3D printed. For advanced users, Barobo has made available all 3D models on its website, for download and printing at home. Moreover, you can create your own designs and upload them on the website in order to share with other users.

A customized mustached robot. Because we all want one.

If you’re not an experienced programmer or don’t have too much time to spend coding, you’ll absolutely love the Pose Teach feature. This feature allows you to program robot motions by hand, on the outside, similar to stop-motion animation. The Linkbot will automatically translate your adjustments to code. Another nice feature is the BumpConnect, which helps create wireless connections between the robotic modules by simply touching them together.

The Linkbot weighs only 10 oz and is powered by a Li-on battery that runs for three hours before needing a recharge. The bot’s polycarbonate housing makes for a durable little gadget that can survive drops and withstand hard testing. It is provided with an Atmel VVR microcontroller with an integrated radio transceiver of 2.4GHz plus wireless capabilities. A buzzer, multicolor LEDs, a 3-axis accelerometer and control buttons add to the bot’s features.

The Linkbot modular robotic platform is now on Kickstarter, with a $40,000 target. All those interested in getting their hands on this cool bot can get a prototype plus software and MyBarobo community access for a pledge of $169.

[Images via Gizmag]

The post Linkbot Lets You Create Your Own Robots appeared first on TechBeat.

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