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WowWee Rovio
By: JohnMy Rank: Frequent User Topics: 30 From: USA	Added: 04/17/2009 - 12:05 AM I was just at my local discount store it had this Wireless Robot Webcam with docking station on sale. Looks very interesting to me. It can stream video and two way audio. There is also some API specification for controlling it through java htlm cgi. Have not purchased one yet. There are some video on the web about it. Someone even created a program call Robodance that lets you control it using a Wii remote controller through PC Blue tooth. Maybe someone with skill could create an Ablecam agent for this fun looking toy. Some links... http://www.wowwee.com/en/products/tech/telepresence/rovio/rovio http://www.wowwee.com/static/support/rovio/manuals/Rovio_Manual.pdf http://www.wowwee.com/static/support/rovio/manuals/Rovio_API_Specifications_v1.2.pdf http://www.robodance.com/
By: JohnMy Rank: Frequent User Topics: 30 From: USA	Added: 04/17/2009 - 03:22 PM I did a quick read on the WowWee Rovio User Manual and API specs. Looks like Rovio works via Wireless Network connection using on board Web Server that there is some CGI support and a library of functions. Attaching a USB Cable to Rovio may give one access to its file system. I do not know if its read/write or how much on board storage there is. Using the API function one may be able to grab frames and FTP it to a location like Ablecam. I did see some mention of FTP in the API. Looks like its uses M-Jpeg for a HTTP video stream for most browsers and for IE users there is an additional mpeg4 bidirectional mono audio stream possible. This robot also has built in IR sensor for obstacle detection for when it traveling to a recorded room location. Its base station projects two spots on the ceiling which the robot uses like a GPS system for navigating about the room. Additional rooms can be added by add additional room beacons. Looks like there is a third party developer that is creating a program call RoboDance. Version 4 can be downloaded but a version 5 is in the works that has additional functions to support Rovio. In addition if being able to control Rovio via a browser one will be able to control Rovio with a Wii remote controller via a Blue tooth PC wireless network connection. Robodance also has support for voice controlling many of WowWee robots via an USB attached IR device. This device should not be needed for the Rovio robot for it has a Wireless LAN connection and the built in web server with some CGI and java support. Don't know if it will be useful but I need a toy to play with Think I'll buy one today.
By: JohnMy Rank: Frequent User Topics: 30 From: USA	Added: 04/18/2009 - 08:03 PM My local BJs had this $300 List Price Wireless Robot Webcam on sale for $130 so I had to pick one up. I was hoping to be able to get at its file system when it was connected via USB cable. But at last it look like only its setup wizard can do that. Its on-board OS an open system one thinks its eCos. The robot webcam is controlled through HTTP its on-board Web Server has some sort of a CGI API the one can use to control it. The main control is through its index.htm this home page is a very nice control panel. With pop-up dialog for settings. The is a Table that provides the video frame. The table resizes when the browser window is resized. This contra panel is implemented wit JavaScript onload mouse over onclick etc. Has pop-up dialog panels for controlling setting, a navigation area for controlling the robot movement. An a lower tabbed panel are for recording paths for positioning the robotic webcam. a second tab for video sliders and a third one for auto sliders. Audio is two way but only available through IE 6 or newer. One can frame jpeg frames from use using it snapshot.htm or a URL for the latest jpeg. Video is through a RTSP protocol so I think an Ablecam agent could be done. When the robot battery runs low if its in the same room as its dicking station it will find it and recharge itself. Batter last only two hours.
By: sse Rank: Forum Addict Topics: 73 From: n/a	Added: 04/21/2009 - 02:25 PM I also picked up one of those. Will see when I find time to write a plugin for it. Or do you have any programming experience, John?
By: sse Rank: Forum Addict Topics: 73 From: n/a	Added: 06/24/2009 - 09:10 PM John, the Rovio Plugin is now available.