Skip to main content
Add as a preferred source on Google


AvatarMind Unveils Companion Robot at CES 2017

At the annual International Consumer Electronics Show (CES) last week in Las Vegas, a number of companies showcased social robotics, which have become trendy in the last few years. Among them was AvatarMind, a company based in China, which unveiled a companion robot designed for children aged 3-8 that offers interactive learning content.

The iPal has the ability to talk, dance, tell stories and play games. It can navigate a maze and interact with children, getting them interested in science and technology concepts. Additionally, it acts as a safety monitor, allowing parents to remotely control the robot from their smartphones or desktop at any time.

Its specs include:

  • A standing height of 3.5 feet;
  • Weighs 28 pounds;
  • Four wheels to provide mobility;
  • A 1.3 MP camera in its eye;
  • 4 GB RAM, 32 GB ROM;
  • Rockchip 3288 quad core 1.8 GHz;
  • A 6-inch LCD display;
  • Six microphones;
  • Five touch, five ultrasound and three infrared sensors; and

  • WiFi, Bluetooth capabilities.

The iPal is expected to ship in China early this year. It will be available in the United States later in the year, with prices ranging from $1,500 to $2,000 depending on the model.

To learn more, watch the video below from the Associated Press, or visit the AvatarMind site.

About the Author

Sri Ravipati is Web producer for THE Journal and Campus Technology. She can be reached at [email protected].

Featured

  • Blurred silhouettes of business people in a modern office with a glowing blue network overlay

    Open Secure AI Alliance Moving Under Linux Foundation

    Governance of the Open Secure AI Alliance has moved to the Linux Foundation, giving the initiative what the organizations describe as a neutral home for developing open source tools, shared standards and defensive practices. The Alliance was launched by NVIDIA in July to develop open security technologies for AI systems and agents.

  • circuit patterns

    Anthropic Intros Lower-Cost Claude Sonnet 5

    Anthropic has launched Claude Sonnet 5, positioning the model as its most autonomous mid-tier offering to date and a lower-cost alternative to its flagship Opus 4.8 system. The company said the model can plan multi-step tasks, operate tools such as browsers and terminals, and complete agentic work at a level that previously required larger and more expensive models.

  • Businessman using laptop analyzing data and growth graph chart

    Report: AI Budgets in Education Show No Sign of Decline

    The vast majority of education organizations (98%) expect their AI infrastructure budgets to either increase or hold steady over the next year, according to a report from cloud storage provider Wasabi.

  • Man types on laptop in data center

    Microsoft Announces General Availability of Point-in-Time Restore for Windows 11

    Microsoft has made point-in-time restore generally available for Windows 11, giving users and IT administrators a built-in way to roll back PCs after bad updates, driver problems, app corruption, or other problems.