What a person does, what feels and think is under changes in the new modern life where robots will have a primary place in homes. In this category enters a new human-like robot called HOVIS Genie designed for helping us in our daily life. As a human who changes his facial expression, Genie changes the LED’s color located in the head to express emotions in communication with humans.

Based on the Android OS platform, the robot has the ability to provide services solutions at home by remote control using the Internet and Android applications.

In the upper body Genie looks like a human, it has a head, two large eyes, two ears for sound capture, two arms and hands for grasp objects. In the chest of the robot is located a touchscreen display to view photos, videos, for control and to use many more applications.

In the lower part the robot uses wheels for moving, three omnidirectional wheels capable to move in any directions.

Inside, the robot has a wide range of sensors that allows an autonomous movement, a powerful MID – S5PC110 at 1GHz processor, slots for internal and external memories, Wi-Fi module for remote control, a Li-Po battery and many more mechanical, electrical and electronic components that work to provide a good control in an activity.

A good reason to use Genie is the opened platform that allows users to develop new applications. Used in education or research fields, the robot can be used as a programming robotic platform providing programming tools and comprehensive documentation.

In the following, I continue with main parts description including the head, body, arms, and then continue with applications installed on robot and the specifications of the Genie.

Weakness of the robot

• limited areas where the robot can be used;
• the absence of the fingers from hands make the robot impractical in certain circumstances;
• without Internet connection the robot can’t be controlled remote;

Head

HOVIS Genie head looks like a human head, but it’s made from different materials including plastic and store sensors, LED’s for eyes, mouth and ears, a lot of electronics located in the head. The head is connected to the body through system that ensure the rotation of the head at left and right to 90 degrees. Also, the head is a box that stores touch sensors that stop the robot if the user touch these sensors located at the top of the head, both eyes are surrounded by LED’s that change colors depending on battery condition, and a set of LED’s that surrounded the ears and blinking when the robot is in speech recognition mode. A camera and a microphone are also located in the head.

Body

This is the biggest part of the robot – the body. From the head to the wheels, Genie has a tall of 408.5 mm and a width of 255 mm. The body hosts the hands, the display, the brain, the wheels and a lot of mechanics and electronics parts. From up to down the robot has integrated distance sensors, microphone, gyro sensor, controller, display with MID (Mobile Internet Device), speaker, battery, obstacle detection sensor, and the recharging system. In the back of the screen, the body of the robot is combined through a tilting system allowing a tilt inclination for 14 degrees.

Using a wide range of sensor Genie can move autonomously and stop when an object is encountered. Movement system includes three omnidirectional wheels that can turn the robot at 360 degrees.

Arms

Genie has two arms finished with hands. Each shoulder and elbow can be rotated at 90 degrees while the upper part of the arm can be rotated at 180 degrees. The hand is not too flexible, it can be used for holding small objects.

Applications

This category includes application for music, image and video galleries, speech recognition, recorder, wake up alarm, information, application for remote control, teaching apps, and programming tools. Used in education or research, the robot is a fully programmable platform with the programming tool integrated to help developers in the development process.

Specifications

• Total DOF: 11;
• Sensor: Obstacle Detection Sensor, Cliff Detection Sensor, IR Sensor, Touch Sensor, Tactile Sensor, Localization Sensor;
• Drive Train: Omni-Directional Drive (Herkulex DRS-0102 3ea);
• Network: IR Receiver Zigbee;
• Speakers: Two external stereo speaker (1W 2Ch);
• Battery: 7.4V / 3000mAh / Li-Po;
• Display: 3.5” TFT (480 x 320 pixels), touchscreen capacitive;
• Processor: MID – S5PC110, 1GHz;
• Camera: Front Rear Camera;
• Audio: 1 Ch MIC (MID Installed);
• Internal Memory: 256 MB;
• External Memory: Micro SD 4G;
• Remote Control: IR Type / Zigbee Remocon;