Sico inviting new friend for a dance on his platform.

  
Sico demonstrating superior communication and attention gathering skills at recent trade shows for France Telecom, General Motors and Dupont.

IRI-3000
DESCRIPTION

IRI proudly announces the creation of a brand new type of remote-controlled, mobile, interactive robotic technology. This state-of-the-art technology represents the finest and most dependable mobile interactive adult-size Robotic personalities in the world today, and it is especially engineered to withstand the demanding traveling schedules and trying physical conditions of a year-round official Spokesperson / Mascot / Host / Entertainer. New fabrication methods have been developed to produce this latest generation Robot at a fraction of the cost of our world renown passenger-carrying robotic personalities pioneered by International Robotics over 30 years ago. While IRI will happily custom engineer a Robotic concept from the ground up to match your physical and engineering requirements, we submit the IRI-3000 concept to you as a starting point for obtaining a well proven formula of design, engineering, scale, aesthetics, ergonomics, advanced and miniaturized wireless remote operation or optional automated computer control, or a combination of both operating modes; all at a fair price.

The IRI-3000 has been painstakingly developed as a result of countless requests we have received from our Clients for selling robotic personalities similar in features to our extremely popular Sico (see-co) type robots which many of you have rented or leased from us over the years. With the IRI-3000 standard Robot design and features described in this document, and the many optional features also offered below, we now offer you a rare opportunity to own your own roll-around Robotic Mascot. Now, more than ever, is the time to benefit from the enormous public appeal of such mascots for marketing, advertisement, entertainment, PR, licensing and merchandising. With over 30 years of experience in the pioneering fields of Robot-to-People Behavioral Psychology and Techno-Marketing™, IRI is not only in a position to deliver the finest product of its kind to you, but we will also gladly act as your consultants to show you how to maximize your consumer and media impact through the strategic development of marketing, advertisement, Public Relations, promotions, licensing and merchandising programs.

As with our exclusive Sico series Communication Robots, this new IRI-3000 robotic technology, and the many options shown below, offer all of the same popular features and integrity you have become accustomed to. This new technology also makes use of the latest advances in manufacturing, design, engineering, polymers and alloys, miniaturized electronics and the world famous proprietary IRI pocket-size micro-processor-assisted remote-control system. The standard IRI-3000 series described below are themselves crammed with built-in features. The IRI-3000 distinguish themselves from the Sico models only by the elimination of the passenger-carrying platform; a feature you can find again the options list at the end of this document..

What is the cost difference?:
· The one-of-a-kind Sico-type robots we have custom designed for our clients in the past several years, with passenger-carrying platform feature and all their related Electric-Vehicle engineering/safety requirements, have typically cost between $450,000 to $550,000 to produce as a one-of-a-kind character.

· By comparison, the new IRI-3000 mobile robotic character has been standardized in terms of the internal frame structure and all of its working components so as to drastically reduce the manufacturing costs. The IRI-3000 comes standard with a beautifully designed outer body (custom designed outer skins are also possible and optional), minus the passenger-carrying feature. The cost of this Robot, in the Standard formula described further on, is now reduced to $85,000. This price can be further reduced when your Robot is purchased at the same time as other similar projects we might be doing for other clients. On such occasions, the additional volume helps us to save money by producing many components at the same time, and we simply pass this saving on to you.
· Keeping in mind the many marketing, PR, advertising, licensing and merchandising activities surrounding this world-class product, the cost of an IRI-3000 Robot can typically be amortized during the first year of use. It should be noted that all Communication Robots produced by IRI over the past 30 years are still in working condition today, which should give you sufficient confidence as to the longevity of your Robot Mascot.

We thank you for the opportunity of presenting this project to you as a preferred IRI customer and hope to have the pleasure of counting you amongst the proud owners of this new Communication Robot system.

Robot Description: (The Technical Stuff)

a) MATERIAL: Fiberglass body over metallic and polymers frame construction.
b) SURFACING: Body and head to be painted in a two-color arrangement as per the preferred color scheme of the Client. Paint is to be a high quality automotive paint, plus a clear protective coat applied over the surface of the paint for smoothness and protection.
c) SCALE: Overall height of the robot is approximately 6 feet (important element for keeping your robot visible at all times when surrounded by heavy crowds, and for appeal to adult audiences as well as children).
d) POWER: Robot comes with rechargeable, sealed batteries included. Robot will operate approximately 4-6 hours per charge, depending on the extent of body movements, distance traveled, etc. Recharging the robot between performances will extend the daily performance time considerably.
e) CHARGING: An automatic battery charger will be incorporated inside the robot, requiring only an electrical cord to plug the robot directly into any electrical outlet. Clients may request 110v AC or 220v AC system.
f) VOLTAGE STATUS: There is a battery voltage indicator mounted on the surface of the body to inform the operator of the battery status at all times.
g) RECHARGE STATUS: There is a separate battery charge indicator mounted on the surface of the body to inform operator of the battery charge status during charge periods.
h) POWER SWITCH: An electric key-operated lock is mounted on the rear surface of the robot to be used as the primary on/off switch. This switch cannot be operated by anyone without the proper key (spare keys will be provided).
i) SYNTHESIZER: The voice circuitry is equipped with an on-board synthesizer permitting the operator to pre-adjust the voice to sound like that of a male, female or variety of robotic-like voice-effects.
j) AUDIO TAPE-DECK: The audio system includes a high quality tape player for music. This tape player is remote-controlled and can be used to play music or deliver pre-recorded speeches.
k) SPEAKERS: There is a total of 6 high quality speakers. Two main speakers located in the head, plus four tweeters, are dedicated to the voice. Two additional main speakers located at the base of the body are dedicated to the tape player for music or commercial messages.
l) WIRELESS TRANSMITTER (ANIMATION): The wireless animation transmitter (for controlling body movements) is a custom design created by IRI to allow performers to walk about freely amongst the audience and operate the robot in full view of that audience without easy detection. The miniaturized transmitter and pocket-size keypad are completely concealed under the operator's clothing and will enable the operator to conceal the equipment under his/her clothing in order to operate the robot in full view of the audience without easy detection. This is an extremely important feature as it permits the entertainer/operator to always have the robot under their line-of-sight for safer operation, and to observe as well as hear every aspect of the audience's behavior. Unlike the older bulky remote control systems (or the optional wireless video-camera remote station described below), which require that the operator conceal themselves away from the audience, this form of operation helps you to deliver a safer, richer and far more entertaining performance, simply because your operator can now see and hear all, as opposed to being limited to a remote camera's point of view, and the single wireless conversation being transmitted back to the entertainer as a spectator's voice is picked up by the robot's optional microphone. When the transmitter is turned off, this has the effect of keeping the robot disabled. When the transmitter is turned on, this will cause the robot's computer to initiate and boot-on, placing all of the internal and external components in their operating mode. The operation of the internal and external components are then under the direct control of the operator by way of the control keypad located in the operator's pocket.
m) REMOTELY OPERATED FEATURES: The remote-controlled body movements are accessed by pressing individual buttons on the pocket-size remote key-pad, either singularly or in combinations so as to produce several responses simultaneously. Those controls include:

· Robot on/off
· Forward
· Reverse
· Left turn
· Right turn
· Forward right combination
· Forward left combination
· Reverse right combination
· Reverse left combination
· Head turn right
· Head turn left
· Head tilt up
· Head tilt down
· Head up/right turn combination
· Head up/left turn combination
· Head down/right turn combination
· Head down/left turn combination
· Right arm up
· Right arm down
· Left arm up
· Left arm down
· Left hand open/close
· Right hand open/close
· Message Display on/off
· Music/sound message on/off
· 24 Sound Effects on/off
· 8 different voice effects on/off

n) WIRELESS TRANSMITTER (VOICE): The wireless microphone transmitter used by the robot operator to transmit his/her voice into the robot is a true diversity system and will provide adequate range in most conditions and environments. It, too, is compact enough to be easily concealed under the clothing of the operator. IRI will teach your operator(s) its unique techniques for both the operation of the animation and voice transmitters, as well as our unique communication and entertainment psychology, comedy routines, etc. (see training below)
o) EYES/MOUTH: Eyes and mouth area will contain decorative lights. Mouth lights are animated when the robot speaks.
p) PROGRAMMABLE, MULTI-COLOR LED MESSAGE DISPLAY: This is a specially designed, multi-color moving message display incorporated into the robot's body design, allowing you to program and reprogram your entertainment, educational or commercial messages as frequently as desired, to be prominently displayed on the robot while it is performing. You may program these messages with your own laptop or desktop computer with the help of the software which will be provided with this equipment.
q) REMOTELY OPERATED SOUND EFFECTS: This consists of approximately 24 digitally stored sound effects inside the robot's computer, which are remotely accessible to add fun or educational/entertaining elements during the robot's live presentations. As the operator interacts live with your audiences, he/she is able to remotely trigger these sound effects, which may optionally be customized to reflect your environment, industry or business; this may include music, comical F/X, voice impersonations, etc.

OPTIONAL FEATURES:

As always, a host of optional features are made available to embellish your robot character as much as desired. Please note that the features listed below marked with an (X) can be added to your robot personality any time after the initial purchase, allowing you to start at the base price then progressively enhance your robot with the passing years. For those of you who are in need of the most complete and full-featured mobile, interactive robot as a Mascot or Spokesperson, or for Film/TV work, the full featured computerized and programmable Millennium Robot can be seen described in its own separate document following this IRI-3000 description.:
· (X) SPARE TRANSMITTERS: This is a highly recommended feature for those of you who will use the robot frequently and assign it lots of marketing, PR and entertainment responsibilities. Should your operators ever lose a transmitter or cause it some accidental damage, your robot operation will never be halted as a result of such mishaps as you will always have spare transmitters on hand. If a transmitter should need maintenance beyond your local capabilities, you would then be able to forward the damaged unit to us by overnight services, while still operating your robot with the help of your spare. Cost for this spare transmitter is $2,800 for the voice and $3,200 for the animation (control of robot's movements) when ordered with your primary robot character. If ordered at a later time, the construction of these transmitters would be $3,600 and $4,100 respectively. These transmitters are specially designed into our proprietary belt-warn battery packs. IRI invented this concept of a miniature and nearly invisible transmitter, enabling the operator to freely move about as you have seen with our Sico character without being easily observed by the audience. These are the world's smallest, and only, transmitters of their kind designed specifically for use with our Communication Robots and other IRI robotic technologies.

· LIGHT BEAM IN HEAD: This is a light source that we can design into the robot's body and which you may use if you intend to operate your robot in subdued lighting or for more dramatic stage entrances, etc. If you are planning on operating your robot in normal or brightly lit environments, this feature is not necessary. The material, engineering and installation cost of this feature, including the added expense for the remote control for that feature, would be $1,200.
· MOTORIZED IRIS IN EYES: A camera-lens type large Iris can be installed inside your Robot's eye, operated by two individual motors to open and close over the internally lighted eye chamber. This motorized featured is accessed at will by the wireless remote control. For materials, engineering and installation, including integration of the feature into the wireless remote control electronics, the cost for this feature would be $2,800
· FIBER-OPTIC ANIMATED MOTION EYES: We can design fully animated eyes and their related movements as well as complete color changes, using our new Fiber Optic Animated Motion technology and our solid-state digital color wheel with no moving parts. Our eyes are capable of 16 million colors and would be remotely controllable by the operator or fully programmable when programming feature is requested. Suggested animations are a) white eyeball with blue pupil and green eyelid. b) white eyeball with red blood veins appearing for a tired or angry/mad look. c) pupil color changes to reflect different robot emotions. d) upper eyelid closes partially over pupil. e) upper eyelid closes all the way or blinks. f) lower eyelid closes partially over pupil. g) lower and upper eyelids both close partially over center pupil. h) lower and upper eyelids both close completely over center pupil. i) pupils move right, left, up or down. j) pupils automatically move right/left/up/down in anticipation of head movements. k) upper eyelids automatically and randomly close up and down in unison as Robot speaks. Includes design and engineering of Fiber Optic display, computer control board, link to wireless remote control, and fabrication of custom molded eye components for Fiber Optic housings. Price with remote control access to movements as described above $9,600. Price for Fiber Optic animated eyes with automated movements responding to head movements only as described above, $7,400. Price for fixed Fiber Optic eyes with no movement $5,700.

· (X) INTERACTIVE SOUND EFFECTS WITH MULTICOLORED SWITCHES AND PANELS ON VARIOUS PARTS OF THE ROBOT'S BODY: This consists of our designing into the robot's outer shell a number of colorful and lighted push-buttons, which people often love to press while interacting with the robot. These buttons are linked to a digital sound-effects microprocessor inside the robot and each button, when pressed, will trigger amusing and varied sound effects. This added feature, including hardware, design and engineering, installation and programming of sound effects, will be $3,200.

· (X) SPARE PARTS KIT: Although the robot is indeed under warranty, there are a number of spare parts which can be assembled on your behalf in order for you to keep such a kit on hand at all times (during and beyond the warranty). The advantage of this feature is that you will most often be able to access replacement parts to perform maintenance on the spot without delays, should there ever be a need to replace some critical parts. This is a sound investment, which obviously will last you well beyond the warranty period of the robot. Again, this feature is for those of you who need the convenience of fast access to spares because you are using your robot in frequent and important environments, this has nothing to do with your warranty. Should there ever be parts from this Spare Parts kit you would need to use as a result of a replacement of a defective or damaged component in the robot during the warranty period, we would simply replace that part in your kit at no cost to you. The cost of this spare parts kit may vary between $5,000 and $8,000 depending on the budget you wish to assign to this feature and the different number of parts included. More details on these parts will be made available once you have decided on the final design and features/options of your character.

· (X) DETACHABLE HAND-CART: If it is your intention to travel extensively with your Robot character, it may not be suitable to always enclose the character in a crate, then open this crate and unpack the robot at your destination. For a more expedient and simpler mode of short-range transportation, we recommend this Detachable Hand-Cart, custom-made to attach itself to the back of the robot, with the head removed. Once this is done, the operator can simply tilt the robot backwards and push or pull the robot on the two large wheels provided with this system. In addition, the sled-like underside of this hand-cart enables you to tilt the robot on its back towards the edge of a small van, for example, then lifting and sliding the robot into its transportation, where it will ride safely without the need for having to enclose the machine in a crate. When used, this procedure takes only 5 minutes, both in and out of the vehicle, and the robot is therefore readied to work very rapidly. If you plan to use the robot in the same location most of the time, this feature is not necessary. The cost of this custom made Hand-Cart is $1,300.
· (X) PROTECTIVE CLOTHING: Should you wish to transport your robot frequently, and would plan to do so using the Hand Truck, we also suggest a custom-made protective coat for your robot. The two part coat is made of protective quilted fabric for extra impact and scratch resistance, with one Hat and one Coat, both placed over the robot and secured with Velcro. This Protective Clothing can be a real life saver in terms of preventing scratches during transportation, helping to extend the life of your robot's outer paint surface. Cost for this feature is $1,600.
· EXTRA PAINT COLORING: Your IRI-3000 or IRI-4000 come with a two-color automotive quality paint finish. Please ask our office for the metallic color samples you may choose from as well as a robot template which will enable you to colorize your robot on paper and experiment with various looks prior to making your final color decision. It is also possible to request a special color match, or a 3 to 4 color design for your Robot. Special color matching or color requests outside of our standard color chart will add $1,200 to your finishing cost. Additional colors above the two included colors will require more time and labor in our shop, also adding $600 per additional color up to 4 colors maximum.
· VIDEO SYSTEM: We can also install a Liquid Crystal, full-color flat-screen video monitor in the robot's body, which itself will be linked to a miniature video tape player, as well as a miniature video camera and wireless miniature video/sound transmitter. With these features, you may a) display commercial videos on the robot's screen as played through the internal mini-video-cassette player; b) display the image of the person standing in front of the robot through the head-mounted miniature video camera, or c) wirelessly retransmit the point-of-view of the robot's head-mounted miniature video camera to a remote television monitor or Video Wall. This complete system will add an additional $12,500 to your robot.
· PASSENGER-CARRYING PLATFORM: This feature, and the associated engineering, convert your robot into an electric vehicle, able to physical transport passengers of most ages and weights on a platform conveniently designed into the lower front of the robot's body. This patented feature has long been a way of identifying IRI robots and has always been extremely popular with audiences of all age groups. Because the task of safely transporting people of various weights requires a different approach to engineering, as well as different electrical, electronic and mechanical components able to sustain the additional weight demands without imposing any undue wear and tear on the robot, such an option adds a cost of $8,400 to your robot.
· CUSTOM BODY DESIGN AND CONSTRUCTION: Should you wish to have IRI create a totally exclusive outer-body design (consisting of the main body shell and the head shell) for your IRI-3000 Robot, this can be done at an additional cost of $23,000, including one set of original drawings showing your custom design from the front, side and rear views, all engineering required to assimilate your exclusive outer design to the inner mechanical frame of the robot, fabrication of a life-size sculpture for mold-making, all molding process, fabrication of your custom outer-body from molds, mechanical connections, mounting of all hardware, painting and connection to robot body. This price does not include any additional display or other equipment technology which you may request to have added to the surface of your custom body.

ADDED ILLUSTRATIONS FOR YOUR CUSTOM BODY DESIGN: Once you have received your completed set of Custom Robot Design drawings, you do have the option of requesting additional design sessions if your tastes change or lean towards further enhancements of the first design approach. The complete design process is as follows: 1) At the time of your order confirmation, IRI's designers will begin to work on your personalized design. Prior to this process, you will be asked to provide your design preference to IRI by identifying which robot design, amongst the many robotic characters created by IRI, appeal to you the most (please contact our New York office for a list of previous designs). You may also have your own design sources supply one or more illustrations to direct our design department towards your preferred aesthetics or theme. With your creative input, the IRI design team will then begin the exclusive design process to incorporate your preferred features into a final design able to accommodate the IRI-3000 internal body structure and mechanical features. 2) Submitted for your final approval, you will then eventually receive your full color custom robot design art, depicting your character in a front, side and rear view. This entire process is included in the cost of your optional Custom Body Design and Construction as quoted above. 3) Should you at that stage wish to continue with the design process, you may then require as many additional design sessions as you wish for a small additional fee of $1,200 per session. At the conclusion of each additional design session, you will once again receive the revised illustrations for your final inspection as a front, side, rear and 3/4 view. As each design stage requires additional time from our creative team, such efforts would proportionately extend your delivery date by an equal amount of time.
· Many other customized and/or optional features are possible and we invite you to contact our New York office for additional information.

WARRANTY: The IRI-3000 Robots are covered by a 1-year warranty, except for batteries, light bulbs, and other commercial components that carry their own manufacturer's warranty, such as the remotely operated Cassette Tape-Player or CD player, etc. Whenever necessary, you may return the many modular parts of the robot to IRI for warranted repair or a technician may be brought to your location, if preferred, in which case you will be asked to cover all travel and living expenses for the technician.

DELIVERY: Typically 120 to 160 days from final approval of design, depending on time of order and features desired.

TRAINING: Cost includes the free services of one IRI provided technician for a period of three days, at the robot's construction shop in Battle Creek, Michigan, USA (client will need to cover all the travel and hotel/meals expenses of their selected robot operation personnel). The training consists of a thorough explanation of the Robot character and its operating systems, as well as proper maintenance. For a nominal fee, additional operation training can be provided at your location of choice when your robot is delivered. In such instance, an IRI professional Robot Operator will spend a number of days with your selected Robot Operator, for the purpose of training them in the unique psychology of communication when operating an IRI Communication Robot, along with additional preventive maintenance, performance techniques, comedy routines, etc. The cost of this service is $550 per day, plus all travel-related expenses for the IRI Operator.

RENTAL/LEASE: Short-term rental and leasing programs are also available, complete with technical support and talent.

We thank you for the opportunity of presenting this project to you as a preferred IRI customer and hope to have the pleasure of counting you amongst the proud owners of this new Communication Robot system.