Droid Engineer Archive

White Box Robotics has been working very closely with VIA Technologies, Inc. to create and define an entirely new industry called PC-BOTS. Read more: www.viatech.com/en/robotics/pcbots.jsp These robots are powered by an industry standard VIA Mini-ITX mainboard. This mainboard along with other hardware (hard drives, CD-Burners, DVD drives, web cams, etc.) are then installed in the White Box Robotics 912 mobile platform. The end result is an amazingly high-tech, functional mobile robot!

Our platform, or "rig" as we call it, is based off of standard PC architecture. Similar to an industry standard PC case in construction, almost any off-the-shelf PC hardware can be used on the 912 platform with little or no modification. Any computer store in the world becomes your own personal robot parts bin! The great thing is that anyone who can operate and\or tinker together a PC can use or build one of these incredible machines! The finished robot runs Windows 98/ME/2000/XP as an operating system. For its robotic functions, such as motion or obstacle avoidance, the 912 uses Evolution Robotics Robot Control Center software.
Why buy or build your next PC when you can have one of these amazing robots? They can do ANYTHING a PC can do, plus patrol your house for intruders, run errands, and allow you to check on your house while away from home (telepresence) - you see what the robots sees via a remote internet connection, plus much, much more!

The 912 platform is primarily designed for PC based hardware. However, the platform is SO flexible, ANY hardware can be easily used to control the robot (BASIC Stamp, PC104, ISOPOD, etc.) The platform uses a system of easily removable trays to mount hardware. The 912 is truly an affordable, professionally manufactured mobile robotic platform!

For PC enthusiasts and traditional robot builders alike, the 912 was designed from the start to be cut, drilled, painted, accessorized, and modded!

We want PC modders, PC enthusiasts, and the robotics community to take this platform and run with it. It is an opportunity to dream, to have fun. We have produced some insanely "modded" versions of the robot ourselves including the 912 "MP3", an outrageous multimedia concept robot, The 912 "HMV" security concept robot, the 912 "ARSENAL" and 912 "COMANCHE" both rugged, military looking concept robots. We want the white box website FILLED with photos of enthusiast built robots. Let's see some weathered droid-like robots, "real" autonomous fighting machines, or aggressive looking sentry robots!

For those of you less mechanically inclined, we plan to offer assembled versions as well.

We are very, very, aggressively moving the 912 from prototypes to production. The 912 rig should be available summer 2004. Prices have not yet been set, but we do promise it will be very affordable. Plan on building or buying the 912 for about the cost of a decent PC.

White Box Robotics
Dream in White