An unlikely player in the development of robotic technology has emerged. Microsoft has revealed their new autonomous robot named Eddie, who can track people in a room, snap a picture of them, and upload the image directly to Flickr. Eddie, which stands for Expandable Development Discs for Innovation and Experimentation, uses the Microsoft Kinect movement tracking system, a DSLR camera, and an array of infrared sensors to determine the robot’s position.
Although most robots are built to perform a single function, Eddie’s hardware and software platforms provides for customization that allow developers to build in virtually any operating function they desire. To encourage further ideas and work in this area, Microsoft has launched its Robotics @Home contest, the winner receiving $10,000.
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