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Bossa Nova Robotics
Contact: Jessica Rusack, +1 201.222.9118 ext. 21, jrusack@litzkypr.com
Bossa Nova Robotics Unveils Line of Engaging Toy Robots
Synopsis
On July 9, 2009, after two years of development, Bossa Nova Robotics revealed its line of personal entertainment robots where it all began - Carnegie Mellon University's (CMU) Robotics Institute. Unveiled were Prime-8, a fast-paced gorilla robot, and Penbo, a lovable, interactive penguin robot. To create their affordable, engaging robots, Bossa Nova re-engineered technology that was developed as part of a collaboration between the CMU Robotics Institute and the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA). Based in Pittsburgh, Bossa Nova is a spinoff from CMU and works closely with the University to further establish Pittsburgh as the nation's robotics capital.
Overview
Bossa Nova Robotics creates a new breed of dynamic personal robots. Based in the nation's robotics capital, Pittsburgh, PA, Bossa Nova is a spinoff from Carnegie Mellon University's Robotics Institute.
On July 9, 2009, after two years of development, Bossa Nova revealed its line of personal entertainment robots: Prime-8, a fast-paced gorilla robot, and Penbo, a lovable, interactive penguin robot. Bossa Nova's robots evolved from RHex, a fast-moving, agile, hexapod robot which was developed from 1999 to 2004 as a collaboration between the CMU Robotics Institute and the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA). RHex provided the platform for Bossa Nova's 'AniMotion' technology, a lifelike robotic mechanism loosely based on animalistic locomotion. With a vision to bring personal robots to every home, Bossa Nova spent two years further developing the RHex technology to make it affordable and capable of age-appropriate, robot-human interactivity.
Bossa Nova's launch comes on the heels of Carnegie Science Center's opening of roboworldTM, the world's largest permanent robotics exhibition, and further establishes Pittsburgh as the nation's hub for robotics education, research and development. Penbo and Prime-8 will be used in roboworld's Robot Workshop to help visitors understand the many uses of robotic technology beyond industrial environments and experience how robots are already in their homes.
Bossa Nova's robots showcase a new relationship between technology and toys. In the coming years, Bossa Nova will apply its robotics expertise to other markets to further disseminate robotics in the world.
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