The CES 2017 event brings us all sorts of accessories and components, but it also gives robots a privileged spot. The personal assistant concept isn't exactly new, yet Panasonic has decided to add an extra twist with PICO, a robot the size of a blender that packs an integrated projector, Wi-Fi connectivity, and six hours of battery life.
Are you ready for a personal robot running on your desk? If so, you'll want to keep an eye on what's happening at CES 2017. Several companies have unveiled small assistants with different goals, from education to simple entertainment. But if we had to single one out, the one that definitely grabbed attention was Panasonic's PICO. It's a concept—or rather, a platform—on which Panasonic is testing different technologies, though there's something about its look and its way of expressing itself that certainly stands out.
https://www.youtube.com/embed/Xb3zkCxRCygPICO connects to the cloud via Wi-Fi and uses artificial intelligence to process language. Its hardware is built on the ARM Cortex-A53 architecture, with its SoC reporting a 1.2 GHz clock speed, though the core count isn't disclosed (our guess is four). Five infrared sensors and an eight-megapixel camera help PICO "see," and when it opens, it reveals a projector with a resolution of 854 by 480 pixels and 50 lumens of brightness. The integrated 6,600 mAh battery gives PICO an estimated six-hour runtime, with a top speed of 3.5 kilometers per hour. Technically, that last figure isn't all that relevant since PICO is meant to roam on your desk, but at 49 centimeters tall and 3.5 kilograms heavy, I'd say putting it on the floor isn't a bad idea.
In essence, Panasonic's goal with PICO is feedback. The Japanese giant has already filed several patents and design registrations related to the robot, which doesn't entirely rule out a commercial launch, but the most reasonable assumption is that this won't be the final design.
