MarsCat, the robotic pet
January 9, 2020Robot companions are increasing in popularity, especially if they are built to mimic physical and behavioral traits of a cat or dog. A company called Elephant Robotics has done just that. It has developed a robotic cat that aims to offer a familiar level of companionship and interactions, with the use of of sensors and clever programming.
It’s called the MarsCat. and it’s powered by a quad-core Raspberry Pi that is connected to a plethora of sensors and modules like vision, haptic, microcontrollers, gyros and others. These components work together to allow MarsCat to operate and interact with its humans.
Elephant Robotics are the makers of robotic arms for various real-world applications. They are especially useful for industries that require high-precision robotic movements to accomplish tasks for assembly, testing and handling of goods.
What can MarsCat do?
It can feel your touch, respond to voices, track faces and play with toys. Elephant robotics says that it is able to mimic the behavioral characteristics of an actual cat. It is able to walk, run, ‘sleep’, bite nails, kneads and, when the time calls for it, buries its litter.
MarsCat is built on an open source platform, which means it can be taken apart and customized to ones liking. In fact, the company says its ideal for the education and research sectors. It’s inexpensive way to help stimulate young minds and pave the way for a more sophisticated robotic future.
Where can I get one?
MarsCat is currently on Kickstarter. Backing various pledges gets you some interesting stuff. If you pledge USD$649 (2 spots left), you get the MarsCat, gift pack, pet toys and access to the software development kit. Estimated delivery date (anywhere in the world) for this, is March 2020.
If you fancy an autonomous pet, one that will not only keep you company but will also be a source of entertainment, then this cat might be of interest to you. Granted, this tech is still in its infancy, and shouldn’t be considered as an actual substitute to a real cat. But it can take an entertaining second place.
Photo Credit: Elephant Robotics, Kickstarter
