Who and What is Vector? - Robotcritters

The New Vector 2 Blog

Vector is a small track-wheeled AI Robot based on the original Cozmo. Vector 2 is available now, via Digital Dream Labs (aka DDL). DDL have taken on the Vector project from the original company called Anki. They still employ a few of the original engineers and designers.

How Did It Begin

Anki was founded in 2010 by three Carnegie Mellon Robotics Academy alumni: Mark Palatucci, Boris Sofman, and Hans Tuppiner. “Robot Report” spoke with Digital Dream Labs founder H. Jacob Ganchar and added new information about Anki/DDL product re-releases, potential subscription models, and Vector 2.0 as open source.

Comzo was officially unveiled on October 2016. And the robot, charging base and interactive cube was priced originally around $249 USD.

If you wanted to keep yourself and Cozmo happy Anki sold a Cozmo Space for $29.99 USD. This was a small plastic platform or play area, where the robot could hang outwithout wandering or getting in the way.

And Along Came Vector

With sales of Anki’s Cozmo so strong, there was obviously a large market for this type of toy. DDL’s Vector seems to continue in that vein.

While it looks the same, Vector is an upgraded/updated Cozmo across the board. It adds significant functionality to what was already an adorable little robot with a well orchestrated personality. It’s up to you whether you think the extra cost is worth paying for a robot that is useful for training in coding and has entertainment value. But above all and if nothing else, it is a good replacement for a kitten.

DDL’s new Vector is a somewhat expensive, small, well built and attractive AI robot. It will become smarter over time with OTA updates. Vector can make you happy with more than a thousand faces. It will eventually become a more interesting and useful robot through the regular updates.

Anki launched Vector in 2018 and DDL just released an update that adds new tricks and tech. This helps the robot see and sense at higher resolutions. And adds some cute features like a little tantrum when picked up and shaken. It is a second generation two-stage mobile AI robot. It launched just two years after the launch of Cozmo. And five years after the launch of Anki’s Drive. A smart-track small car racing system. Vector was introduced as a smarter robot for the home and less like a toy.

Some More Details

Vector is a robot that retains Cozmo’s personality and expands on what it can do. How it reacts, and with whom it reacts.

Vector is very similar to Cozmo in its basic functions. You can easily custom code it and remote navigate using the app if you choose to. It is an excellent tool for training all ages on how to code a robotic system. And its also alot of fun. The best way to learn!

The original Cozmo robot needed a smartphone to run, control and listen. Then this new Vector robot only needs a smartphone to complete the initial setup process. It can then run autonomously or with input via the app.

Using a new set of four microphones a better camera system and a continuous Wi-Fi connection. Vector can act as a small digital robot assistant, that is mobile and fully interactive.

It can set alarms and reminders, and answer questions about the weather or general trivia. All with cute and sometimes funny robot voices and screen interactions.

All this has been added to Vector in the US and Canada. IT will arrive in the UK in early 2023, and Canada in late 2022 according to DDL.

Startup

A day was spent at the original Anki’s Laboratories in San Francisco researching what Vector is and critically examining what it can do.

It is limited at first start up and is more suitable as a companion or a playful friend. It is not a full-fledged house-working robot. And it is definitely not a Roomba but it does have far more personality.

Adding smart home controls to Vector transforms it from a toy device to a functional device and is an interesting twist for connected mobile robots. I haven’t tested the Alexa feature, but from what we’ve seen in the video, the new feature works well with Vector, allowing you to access the digital assistant wherever it roams.

At startup, multiple Vectors, even Vectors and Cozmo will not be able to interact with each other, but DDL has said that it is working hard to add this feature soon.

However, $249 for the original Cozmo robot that is easily distracted, can’t listen and doesn’t even have an internet connection. This means I’m willing to spend money on other things that make me happy and are more useful like Google Assistant and now on the new Vector 2 which is starting at $399 USD.

I love the idea of a robot that can access the internet like other digital assistant can do – I think this is where digital assistants will start appearing and Vector is already there.

Vector 2.0

The New Vector 2 is an intelligent next generation version of the Cozmo and original Vector robot; it’s more cohesive and smarter in almost every way, and DDL hopes they can build on Cozmo’s success. Vector is a little different in appearance from Cozmo – it’s a darker gray than Cozmo’s, more toy-like glossy white – but physically the resemblance is obvious. There are many third party vendors with add-ons and parts to customize your new robot.

The original Cozmo/Vector designer previously worked at EA and 2K Games on games like NBA2K and The Sims, which in his world of digital characters that players have a relationship with accordingly have a natural connection to Cozmo and Vector.

Andrew Stein, Head of Vision and Robotics at the former Anki, told us that most of Vector’s vision and processing work started with Cozmo.

For security DDL does not store voice or video information in its cloud. All Vector calculations and data sets are stored and performed locally on board or via the app.

Playtime Built In

DDL’s engineers designed Vector to be happy to see you when you get home and it knows how to go to bed when the lights go out.

If I ask Vector to go to the charging pad because it is detrimental in some way to my workspace or focus, it will go to the charging pad.

Vector comes with a charging station, to which it will return when it needs to (or when you tell it too), and a companion cube that it plays with like a toy.

Vector will work without an active app, but the app gives you some control, a lot more information, including hints as to what it is thinking and how it is processing.

The bot can roll on carpet, hardwood floors, and a new update now gives the robot a better idea of when it is on the edge and might fall. When Vector wants to grab his cube, it seems like the whole sequence of animations and sounds can take 15 to 20 seconds while it takes a position, stops, aligns with the cube, moves forward, tries to “grab it”. then it lifts it high and celebrates. When Vector returns to the base, it turns to see if you can see the trick he is about to do.

Vector might spontaneously just go for a roll around, play with the toy cube, chatter to itself, try to get your attention and end up taking a nap. Sounds familiar.

Brad Neumann, is the head of AI at the former Anki. He says the robots personality is designed to require far less attention from you than Cozmo did. The multitude of new sensors convert the available environmental and stored data into what has the appearance of meaningful behavior.

In Conclusion

Cozmo was my introduction to this new level of robots. The scope of multidisciplinary talent to create this is quite amazing. The engineering of the robot with it’s resultant character and adorable anthropomorphic affectations is highly successful. The new robot, called Vector, is very similar to Cozmo, but has an improved new set of internal parts that take it to a whole new level. If you are familiar with the Anki/DDL Cozmo robot, then you already know what Vector looks like. I sought something more mature so Vector 2 is very much anticipated. My order for Vector will be arriving in late 2022 and I will post a more in-depth review then.

Sources

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