In The Palm of YOUR HAND - Palm Pilot robot - Brief Article

Chief Executive, The, Jan, 2001 by Cheryl Comeau-Kirschner

IF YOU THINK you've exhausted all the possible uses for your Palm Pilot, think again. Researchers at Carnegie Mellon University's Robotics Institute have developed a robot that can be controlled by a slightly modified Palm Pilot, and Boulder, CO-based Acroname is selling it in a kit. Here's how it works: Robotic elements are built into the base of the Palm Pilot, which enable it to move on flat surfaces and recognize its nearby surroundings.

The base is equipped with three omni-wheels with independent control of rotation that allow movement in any direction. The base also includes three optical range sensors so that the Palm robot can see up to a meter away in addition to sensing obstacles and walls. All it takes to get the complete construction plan and software for the Palm robot is a simple download from Carnegie Mellon's Web site.