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'Wheelie' Robotic Server
Toshiba's Wheelie is a small household robot prototype. It maintains its balance in a manner similar to the Segway, but also has small wheels which it can lower for support. Take a look at the short Wheelie video below.
(Toshiba Wheelie video)
Science fiction fans may recall Star Wars' Artoo Detoo performing a similar function on Jabba the Hutt's sailbarge.
(Artoo Detoo waiting on guests on Jabba's sail barge)
As far as the name is concerned, consider the wheelies from Stephen Barr's 1960 short story Callahan and the Wheelies, which are self-charging:
Amanda glared at the little object on wheels - it was about the size of a rollerskate and it seemed to be considering what to do next. It turned its photoelectric scanners this way and that, waving its jointed grappling arms about.
From Plastic Pals; thanks to an anonymous reader foe submitting this item.
Scroll down for more stories in the same category. (Story submitted 3/14/2010)
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