Possibly the first ever robot that speaks Manglish, Robi arrived in Malaysia last week with the launch of the Robi partwork magazine and online store by DeAgostini.
Designed by Professor Tomotaka Takahashi, CEO of Robo Garage Co, Robi is a fusion of sophisticated design and advanced Japanese technology that was designed to provide interactive bonding experiences for the entire family.
Speaking at the official launch, Hajime ‘Jimmy’ Murano, Chief Executive Officer of DeAgostini Japan said, “Today, there are a total of 130,000 assembled Robi robots worldwide, making it the world’s best-selling multilingual humanoid robot.”
Incorporating cutting-edge robotics technology from Japan, Robi can communicate with users, even expressing emotion through the colour of his eyes. He can talk, sing, dance and control selected household appliances. The specially designed Malaysian version of Robi has also been programmed to speak some Manglish phrases, as well as English, Malay and Chinese.
Providing an in-depth understanding of how Robi works, an educational magazine along with instructions and model parts, can be collected over the course of 70 issues, or ordered online. The magazine available weekly at leading retailers, will also include educational materials to teach children more about the field of robotics.
Robi has also been designed so that no prior skill is needed by either adult or children to assemble. The only tool required is a screwdriver that comes along with the magazine. As digitization goes mainstream and becomes more advanced, the hands-on learning experience from building Robi will provide children with the opportunity to understand the basics of robotics technology.
The first issue of Robi is now available at a special rate of RM24.90 and will then retail at RM74.90 per issue at the following retailers; 7Eleven, Borders, Cold Storage, Hamleys, Jason’s Food Hall, Kinokuniya, Mercato, MPH Bookstores, myNEWS.com, Pansing, POPULAR, RadioShack, Times and WHSmith. It is also available for purchase online at http://www.myrobi.my/
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