Sharp's RoBoHoN Phone Goes On Sale
RoboHon, Sharp's phone that walks around on two legs and projects you happy images when you're sad, will be released on May 26th in Japan, with preorders now open. It will be selling for 198,000 yen, or about $1,800 (!).
The phone was developed in collaboration with Tomotaka Takahashi, Project Associate Professor at the University of Tokyo's Research Center for Advanced Science and Technology and CEO of robot development company Robo Garage Co., Ltd. This humanoid robot can walk on two legs and is compact enough (approx. 19.5 cm tall) to be carried almost anywhere.
Supporting LTE and 3G networks, RoBoHoN has all the basic mobile phone functions, such as phone, e-mail, and camera, as well as a range of services accessed through dedicated apps, all of which are used by conversing with this humanoid. A built-in compact laser projector with focus-free operation allows users to project photos, videos, and maps onto a screen or wall. Users can also download dedicated apps to give RoBoHoN new functions and services. What's more, RoBoHoN can grow to accommodate more natural communication with the user by learning the user's profile and usage situation.
| Mobile Robotic Phone | |
|---|---|
| Model name | SR-01M-W |
| Nickname | RoBoHoN |
| Platform | Android 5.0 |
| Height/weight | Approx. 19.5 cm/390 g |
| Servo motors | 13 |
| CPU | 1.2GHz quad-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 400 processor |
| Internal memory | ROM: 16GB, RAM: 2GB |
| Continuous phone talk time (in still mode) | VoLTE: Approx. 400 minutes, 3G: Approx. 410 minutes |
| Continuous standby mode time (in still mode) | LTE: Approx. 210 hours, 3G: Approx. 220 hours |
| Phone usage time on one charge | More than 1 day |
| Supported bands | LTE: 1 (2.0GHz), 3 (1.7GHz), 19 (800MHz) 3G: 1 (2.0GHz), 6 (800MHz), 19 (800MHz) |
| VoLTE | Yes |
| Display | Approx. 2.0-inch QVGA |
| Camera | 8-megapixel CMOS camera |
| Projector | HD (1,280 x 720) equivalent |
| Networks | LTE, 3G |
| Wi-Fi? | IEEE 802.11b/g/n |
| Bluetooth | 4.0 |
| GPS | Yes |
| Sensors | 9 (3-axis accelerometer, 3-axis geo-magnetometer, 3-axis gyroscope), light sensor |
| Charging time | Approx. 155 min. |
| Battery capacity | 1,700 mAh |
| Accessories | Table-top holder, AC adaptor, microUSB cable |
