Sony Computer Entertainment Making… A Robot Accessory?

By Spencer . March 18, 2009 . 5:55pm

Imagine playing a video game bundled with a tangible robot that rolls around on your carpet. Sounds unbelievable, but Sony Computer Entertainment filed a patent application for just that in June of last year.

The robot is designed with a camera (item 14) to detect its surroundings and a display (18) which can show images. A microphone that reacts a user’s voice and speaker allows the robot to respond to sound as well. Sony also plans to add a position detection sensor to the robot such as an acceleration sensor, gyro sensor, or possibly a GPS receiver.

Unfortunately, the patent doesn’t give any clues on how the robot can be used for a game. The document details the information processing system which lets the robot respond to commands even though a player’s viewpoint is different than the robot’s. Remember, if this is going to be used for a game you will be glued to a screen while the robot’s camera points at a different direction.

Two questions: Do you want one? What can Sony do with a possible PS3 robot?

TAGS: Gadgets, Highlight, Patent, Playstation 3, Robot, Sony

Next >

< Prev

BobM

Not sure why this "sounds unbelievable". There have been other games which utilized or controlled outside robot peripherals in the past including the original NES ROB, the Bandai Wonderborg for the Wonderswan and a game called ZXE-D for the Japanese PSX. Considering Sony spent millions developing the first mass market home robot pets, it's not shocking at all that they might be trying to relaunch with something that works with the PS3 instead of a computer like the previous models did.

Mazen

I think that anything with controlling real small robot is fun so anything comes from this will be fun.

Chow

I vaguely remember watching video within the last year where somebody at a gaming convention was fiddling around with something like this, but was using a PSP to control it.