Ugobe's Pleo Robotic Dinosaur is in my office--finally. After months of waiting, countless delays, and a multitude of design tweaks, the real, true, shipping, and testable bot is standing on the floor beside my chair, chomping on a fake green leaf.
He's somewhere between his birth and hatchling phase, making all sorts of mewling noises, and just beginning to explore his environment. As he walks--quite smoothly I might add--he's keeping the "leaf" in his mouth (little tongue clucking sounds indicate that he's still eating). Also ever-present are Pleo's motor sounds. Every one of his 14 motors, though muffled, can still be heard under the bot's soft, green and beige skin.
Now, he's stuck and calling out for help (his mouth and other movements are perfectly synchronized to the pre-recorded sounds). Like other semi-autonomous robots I've tested, this one keeps trying to go where he can't possibly fit. As soon as I pick him up, he responds to my touch (I can even tickle him by pressing the sensors on his four feet). He seems to enjoy being held like a baby, but did not enjoy when I dangled him by his tail (hey, the reviewers guide told me to do it!).
Pleo's skin is brighter than I expected and feels soft and rubbery. I want to pet him, but my fingers and hands drag on the skin. It's also a bit disconcerting to be able to feel through to his "skeleton" underneath, and I wonder how long it will be before some eight-year-old kid pokes a finger right through Pleo's belly.
After about 45 minutes, Pleo is supposed to be a juvenile and able to exhibit "a full range of movement and behaviors."
I've picked him up again to get a better look at his face. The big, blue eyes are adorable, and Pleo seems to look up at you when you hold him. He's constantly batting his eyes, which certainly makes him seem more alive.
Oh no, he's crying out for me again. This is like having another kid. I swore I'd stop at two. However, it looks like I'm already hooked. I'll offer more details of my new life with Pleo in a full review on PCMag.com. In the meantime, the little robotyke is waddling off into a mess of wires under my desk. I'd call out his name, but he can't hear me.
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December 3, 2007 6:13 PM
You said:
"Pleo's skin is brighter than I expected and feels soft and rubbery. I want to pet him, but my fingers and hands drag on the skin. It's also a bit disconcerting to be able to feel through to his "skeleton" underneath, and I wonder how long it will be before some eight-year-old kid pokes a finger right through Pleo's belly."
Using talc/baby powder will help keep your fingers from "sticking" and prevent premature wear-patterns. It is a baby ya know, so powdering him isn't that unnatural of a thing to do. :-)
I personally find the realistic feel of vertebrae to be pretty neat. It's something you'd expect to feel on a real baby dinosaur - or any other life form for that matter.
Poking a hole through the belly is unlikely. Give it a shot. In fact, you'll find if you pull on his skin it will stretch a substantial amount away from his body. I don't think they skimped much on the skin.
December 4, 2007 1:13 AM
These pictures are getting me pretty psyched.
Can't wait for mine to arrive!
TL
P.S. You can learn more about Pleo at Pleo HQ...
http://pleohq.com
It's basically a mashup that brings together Pleo content from a variety of sources: news & blog posts from Google, Technorati, and del.icio.us; images & videos from Flickr and YouTube; auctions from eBay; basic info, technical specs, an FAQ and more.
December 4, 2007 8:45 PM
These pictures are getting me pretty psyched.
Can't wait for mine to arrive!
TL
P.S. You can learn more about Pleo at Pleo HQ...
http://pleohq.com
It's basically a mashup that brings together Pleo content from a variety of sources: news & blog posts from Google, Technorati, and del.icio.us; images & videos from Flickr and YouTube; auctions from eBay; basic info, technical specs, an FAQ and more.
December 4, 2007 9:07 PM
Pleo looks so cute and intrigued my cat but it costs $350. Wow!
December 5, 2007 3:54 PM
Dear Ugobe,
Why buy a incomplete unfinished pleo now, with out all the first promised software capability, instead of you completing him as originally promised. The free software download you are promising requires a usb cable which I will have to go out and buy (you are not providing one are you?)and risk not being able to download it using my current computer. Do your blind faith early buyers get any additional incentives (like a usb cable or a extra battery or a big discount on a second pleo)for purchasing now to help fund the completion of a Pleo as you first promised. I think I will love Pleo when I get him but your last e-mail dated December 4, 2007 makes me think I should cancel my pre-order. Please give us trusting, blind faith purchasers some reassurance. If not maybe I should wait till the Pleo Project is more complete.