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Wowwee Rovio

by Wowwee

Movement panel for the Wowwee Rovio toy robot.

How to add the Wowwee Rovio robot skill

  1. Load the most recent release of ARC (Get ARC).
  2. Press the Project tab from the top menu bar in ARC.
  3. Press Add Robot Skill from the button ribbon bar in ARC.
  4. Choose the Movement Panels category tab.
  5. Press the Wowwee Rovio icon to add the robot skill to your project.

Don't have a robot yet?

Follow the Getting Started Guide to build a robot and use the Wowwee Rovio robot skill.

How to use the Wowwee Rovio robot skill

This is a Movement Panel for the Wowee Rovio toy robot that allows controlling from Synthiam ARC. The WowWee Rovio is a now somewhat dated but notable remote-controlled robot that was introduced in 2008 by WowWee, a company known for creating innovative and interactive robotic toys. The Rovio was designed to provide users with a way to remotely explore their surroundings and interact with people and objects using a combination of video, audio, and mobility features.

Key Features

Remote Control: The Rovio can be controlled from a computer or smartphone through a web interface. Users could access the Rovio remotely and move it around their home or office, making it a mobile surveillance or telepresence robot.

Built-in Camera: The Rovio was equipped with a built-in camera to capture and stream video in real time. Users could see the live feed from the robot's perspective, allowing them to navigate and explore their environment as if they were physically present.

Audio Communication: The Rovio also had a two-way audio system, enabling users to listen to and speak to people nearby, making it useful for communication or surveillance purposes.

Charging Dock: The Rovio came with a docking station that allowed it to return for recharging when its battery was running low. This feature ensured that it could be available for use whenever needed.

Mobile App Compatibility: WowWee provided a mobile app that allowed users to control the Rovio from their smartphones or tablets.

While the WowWee Rovio was an intriguing and innovative product for its time, it faced some limitations, such as relatively short battery life and a lack of advanced obstacle avoidance capabilities. Over time, more advanced robotic technologies and products have surpassed Rovio's functionality and capabilities. However, it remains a noteworthy part of the history of consumer robotics and remote-controlled devices.

Under Development

This robot skill is under development and has never been tested. The sourcecode is posted on the github link at the top of this robot skill page. We encourage others to add additional features to this robot skill and test it. Share any changes to the robot skill via github or posting in the thread below.

Control Commands

The ControlCommand() list for this robot is extensive. Some of the commands will return a value. If the command is meant to return a value, it will be published in the $RovioResponse global variable immediately after a successful call to the control command.

Use the cheatsheet or right-click in any ARC script editor to see the full ControlCommand() list for this robot.


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