You are correct. DJ has hinted at lite versions for iOS, Android and possibly Blackberry at some future date.

A lot of us have built laptops or mini ITX computers into our bots. Mine is using a netbook.

Either, as @thetechguru said, build in a laptop/netbook/mini ITX or what I have is a small nettop PC running Windows 7 which has a VESA mount so is strapped to the back of a TV. It is very low power so can run 24/7 no problem, doesn't take up valuable space in smaller robots and they are cheap, my eMachines one was less than 100, my Lenovo was around 170.

Will this one work? It only has an atom processor.

http://www.walmart.com/ip/Acer-Espresso-Black-10.1-Aspire-One-AOD270-1410-Netbook-PC-with-Intel-Atom-Dual-Core-N2600-Processor-with-6-cell-battery-and-Windows-7-Starter/19756224

Welcome :)

If you use an embedded microcontroller, it won't be able to do much... Maybe flash a few LEDs. And you'll be somewhat embarassed to have a really boring "robot" that cause your friends to shrug and walk away from. I don't call "line followers" or simple "bounce of wall" projects "robots"... I call them 1980's technology :)

When you use EZ-Robot, your robot can do amazing stuff. And your friends will high five you and say "that's awesome!"

The difference is EZ-Robot leverages the power of your computer. It becomes an extension of your computer to allow physical hardware. If the EZ-B was as powerful as a computer, it would cost $700 - and no one would want that. So instead, it can be used wirelessly OR with an embeded computer. Choice is yours :)

Even if you have an embedded microcontroller, you'll never use it without a computer nearby. We always have a computer around - because we're geeks. And having a laptop nearby is very common for us anyway. In fact, we are having this discussion over a computer rather than real life or a phone... That is what makes us geeks :)

We have worked on an iOS and Android version - but the processors are limiting and not powerful enough so far. Also the UI has been an issue. How can we possibly jam all of the ARC features in a tiny little screen?

Don't worry, we're working on a solution :)

Yes, that netbook would work. Similar specs to mine which works fine. It might be a little slow on speech recognition, but probably not. You don't much processor power for ARC, just more than can fit in a micro-controller.

Alan

I'm still waiting on my EZ-B as it seems parts are on backorder, so take this with a grain of salt. I plan to leverage the power of an android device in my bot for speech recognition, text to speech, and various sounds. Such a device also provides GPS, accelerometer, microphone, and speakers in a platform that is very familiar to me. My android app will communicate with the ARC server which means I still need a pc in the loop, but not necessarily a very powerful one. Aside from potential noise interference from motors, it's hard to beat android speech capabilities. The pc is a small hindrance and as dj said, you're likely to have one everywhere your bot goes. (or it carries its own)

Jim