HELP ME CHOOSE THE RIGHT ROBOT TECHNOLOGY

So many robots…so little time! We know, it can be a little confusing but you're in the right place. On the pages below, we briefly describe the robot technologies offered by IRI, many of which are available for Rental or they can be custom designed to suit your specific needs.

They can be rented, they are mobile, and they can communicate with anyone in any language. Designed exclusively by International Robotics, Inc., these remote-controlled and/or programmable machines known internationally as "SICO," are the result of almost 30 years of experience in the fields of communication, psychology, education, entertainment, engineering, and design. Because of their mobility and experience alone, a Communication Robot from IRI is one of the most powerful Techno-Marketing™ tools you can use.

A SICO Series robot is usually six feet tall and typically works an eight-hour day. The patented Passenger Platforms at the base were designed for dancing or carrying products. These robots were also designed to travel in any conventional aircraft as a passenger (it's no fun in a crate!), and you can book a performance for a day or several months depending upon availability. The SICO Series is interchangeable meaning the heads and body shells are reconfigured based upon the requirements of a particular assignment and availability.

Mobility, reliability, and communication skills combined with an uncanny ability to comfortably interact with any segment of society - including the media, government officials and VIPs, make these robots superb for any event or promotion.

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Your Own TechnoMascot!

IRI can design and build an exclusive TechnoMascot for business or entertainment, which will give you decades of reliable service. For maximum success, IRI also offers sound knowledge - knowledge hard-won and well documented in the form of a detailed business plan- on what to do with your TechnoMascot once it arrives. How long will it take to build? 120 to 180 days from final approval of design, depending upon time of order and features desired.

Did you know that every IRI built robot over the last 25 years is still in operation today? We pride ourselves on creating the most durable mobile robots in the industry, and we will help you select and train your own Robot Animator(s).

Much care is invested in these world-class machines…they are built to survive demanding environments: schools, malls, amusement parks, trade shows and sports events. To bring your robot to life, our designers will work closely with you. Would you like to see some of our past and current custom design work? Go to Gallery of Robot Designs. IRI created all of the Custom Robots you see on those pages. Whether your theme is ancient, contemporary or futuristic, IRI can design a robotic personality that is uniquely original.

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Delightful but generally small and simply designed remote-controlled machines used for light entertainment assignments, birthday parties, promotions, etc., for which they are ideally suited. Promotional robots are a respected segment of this industry however their simplicity of engineering creates a more demanding maintenance program. Promotional Robots never found their way into high level, long term corporate marketing and entertainment arenas because few were willing to attach their corporate image to simpler devices. IRI does not sell or lease Promotional Robots but when budget constraints are a major factor, a Promotional Robot is a charming alternative.

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For high end users: These robots can be rented or custom designed.

All stationary robots are referred to in the industry as animatronic characters, meaning that they are generally attached to a floor or a stage and controlled by a nearby computer. You've seen them in theme parks as pirates and Presidents. Initially designed to give continuous pre-programed performances, recent technological advances have propelled relatively simple animatronic characters into world-class interactive machines that move with an astonishing fluidity called, "compliance."

We are extremely proud to be able to offer literally, the finest compliant robots in the animatronic industry. We call ours," AnthroBots." The name is a shortened version of the word, "anthropomorphic," meaning, "humanlike." AnthroBots are not only graceful more importantly, they are reliable.

Compliance means an ability for the entire body to react to programmed movements by naturally giving in - or responding to - that movement as the human body does in its natural state, with much less of the "springboard" or "jerkiness" often seen in non-compliant animatronic figures. So superior is this engineering concept that many spectators will often confuse the AnthroBots for real human actors when seen on stage.

As with most intricate technologies, a compliant AnthroBot comes with a higher price tag, and is in some cases, of such an advanced level of engineering as to require greater levels of ongoing maintenance and attention throughout its operating life. But the visual results and the impressive impact on an audience are not to be denied. Nevertheless, buyers of this technology should be prepared to set aside the necessary budget for permanent operation and maintenance by skilled engineers and technicians.

WATER
Our affiliate, Mannetron, has developed breakthrough technology using water. Appropriately called, "Aquadraulics", this technology derives its name from the fact that it is able to operate from plain water as opposed to hydraulic fluid. This technology features extraordinary engineering innovations, a compressor-free mode of operation, as well as unparalleled reliability and low maintenance.

All of the above features combine for making the Aquadraulic system the single most attractive stage-robotic technology in the world. The tremendous ease of operation and low-maintenance requirements of the system make it undeniably the most inexpensive technology of all in the long-term, and this water-based hydraulic system also enables the owner and Animator to benefit from all the advantages of its more human-like behavior. Years of research and development have gone into creating this superior system. Major hurdle? To overcome the numerous technical difficulties and additional expenses of operating systems which function on hydraulic fluid, and are hence prone to periodic leaks because hydraulic fluid systems are required to operate under far greater pressure in order to achieve the same degree of fluidity and speed of the Aquadraulic system. High pressure, and the more intricate engineering system necessary to support it are the major contributors to the legendary higher cost of hydraulic fluid based anthropomorphic figures.

Our Aquadraulic compliant AnthroBots are offered either as fully computerized and programmable machines, and/or with the revolutionary optional remote operation system by 'tele-presence'. This permits Animators to control their figures through live remote operation for the first time. With this application, the Animator stands in a remote room, wearing an exo-skeleton Body-Sensor Suit, and a virtual-reality helmet. With the VR helmet, the Animator is able to see and hear the audience clearly through the 'bionic' eyes and ears of the robot on stage (actually miniature video cameras and ultra-sensitive microphones). To interact with the audience, the Animator moves his/her body, and the Body-Sensor Suit instantly causes the robot to replicate those same movements on stage. In this manner, the Aquadraulic robot is able to look directly at any member of the audience and have a totally improvisational conversation in real time. This is a truly entertaining and mesmerizing experience and well worth the investment in this optional feature.

Aquadraulic technology can also be used to create animated displays, even full-bodied statues or busts out of imitation stone or copper. For example, museums can use these imitation metal or stone statues to deliver information. Upon sensing the presence of a person, these apparent stone or copper statues suddenly come to life and deliver their impressive performance with facial head and body movements. Aquadraulic AnthroBots can be made with an infinite variety of features, number of movements, and electronic control systems.

HYDRAULIC FLUID SYSTEMS

Hydraulic Fluid systems are the most expensive due to more demanding engineering requirements.

Highly compressed hydraulic fluids systems are usually considered to be the better choice (as opposed to air or electricity) for more precise human-like motions, because of the technology's ability to replicate smooth linear movement with gentle proportionate starts and stops. Hydraulic systems typically require more attention and maintenance than pneumatic (air) or electro-mechanical systems because of their more refined and intricate engineering. Concurrently, there is a definite advantage (consumer appeal) to the more life-like animation. Disadvantage? If leakage occurs, hydraulic fluids can cause damage to their immediate environments including character skins and costumes, and must therefore be monitored continuously and carefully maintained by a skilled engineer.

PNEUMATIC (Air) SYSTEMS

If budgets are restricted and an animatronic technology is still desired, the pneumatic animatronic has often been the technology of choice

A pneumatic or compressed air system is generally considered to be the simplest and least expensive. Due to the more limited range of precision movement achieved with pneumatic systems, these figures often look somewhat rough in their movements, although some success has been achieved in creating very decent-looking body motions with pneumatic systems. A big advantage of pneumatics is its lower cost and relatively less intricate maintenance requirements (if leakage occurs, only air escapes and this does not create a problem with surroundings and the hardware itself - such as leaking hydraulic fluids on character skin/costumes/surrounding machinery and sets, etc.).

AIR-MUSCLE SYSTEMS

Comprised of a unique patented system of compressed air, which is forced in and out of specially designed flexible bladders as opposed to metallic valves and other hardware. Instead of operating drives and actuators, it is this ingenious bladder that flexes like a human muscle depending upon the movement and direction of air as well as the amount of pressure applied. It is far less intricate in design and engineering than hydraulics or even the more traditional pneumatic systems, yet its flexible design properties allow it to offer very decent looking motions, even to the point of simulating compliance (really fluid motions). Air muscle is particularly well suited to creating large figures such as dinosaurs and other large animals for example.

ELECTRO-MECHANICAL SYSTEMS
This systems category is notable for its ability to stand somewhere between pneumatics and hydraulics, offering certain advantages in the areas of cost and life-like motions.

These characters are operated primarily by way of electric motors (sometimes pneumatic power is used to operate simple non-linear movements, such as eye-lids or a mouth for example). For every motion of the figure, there is an electric motor located directly at the point of, or near, that movement, controlling a corresponding linear actuator, pulling on a cable, etc. Weight limitations in the engineering of life-like human figures will, however, often restrict the number of motors that can be used, and therefore the number of motions. One of the biggest advantages of this technology however is its ability to function reliably for extended periods of time, and to be operated and maintained by a technician of lesser qualifications (and lower salary) than for a hydraulic based system. Repairs are also simple and inexpensive because no intricate network of air or fluid power is involved. On the other hand, electric motors within the figure will not be able to replicate body movements with the speed of hydraulic or pneumatic systems; yet the advantage is in the motors' ability to create smooth linear movement with varied speeds, closely replicating smooth human like motion. Figures using this system can be constructed with various degrees of sophistication and a number of body movements, electronic controls and body features.

WHAT ARE YOUR OTHER ROBOT CHOICES?
Here are some simpler and less expensive alternatives

ELECTRONIC ROBOTIC COSTUMES
These characters consist of very elaborate walking robotic costumes with human operators controlling a sophisticated network of electronic, sound and special effect systems from within the costume.

ROBOT SCULPTURES
Created out of recycled materials, these (up to 20 feet tall) robots look a bit like the Terminator robot in construction and design yet are quite compelling. They are so well made one is prone to think that they will get up and walk.

ROBOTIC TALKING HEADS
These characters consist of heads or torsos without bodies. They are an inexpensive version of the full-bodied Animatronic technology, and can be used effectively in virtually any environment.

VIDEO SCULPTURES & MANNEQUINS
These mannequins or busts/statues stand in a static fashion, but magically display a real live human face speaking with the audience. This is a more recent development of video engineering, essentially taking the traditional concept of a flat-screen television and reshaping it to take on the three-dimensional shape of a human face or object/product, etc. using liquid crystal video technology. Cost effective but still attention getting.

VIDEO PROJECTION HEADS
It is now possible to produce a super-bright LCD color television screen in the three-dimensional shape of any object, product or human face/personality or executive of your choice. Fantastic possibilities. Logos, images or faces rotate and move with or without a glass bubble dome enclosure.

INTERACTIVE VIDEO ANIMATION
We offer two choices.

CHOPS is a computer-generated face, which appears on a video screen or video wall, and is able to interact spontaneously with spectators. There are numerous characters to choose from. A live Operator sits in a remote location, seeing and hearing the audience through a concealed camera and microphone located nearby; speaking into a head-mounted microphone, the talking head automatically moves its mouth in synchronization, while at the same time the Operator manipulates a sophisticated computer tablet. By touching icons and symbols on the computer tablet with an electronic-pen, the operator can instantly express a large variety of facial expressions, add or remove features such as hairstyle, hats, glasses, etc.

The second choice is a Cyber-Netic CharActor. Transform logos, products, people or animals into interactive character cartoons. This technology also uses a remote Operator who works from an "emotional palette" (very advanced proprietary software). Can be viewed on any size monitor.

 

Regardless of choice or budget preference, IRI can make any and all of the above technologies available to our clients. Moreover, it would be our pleasure to submit proposed themes, stories and design concepts, not only for the character(s), but also for the commercial, leisure or consumer environment where the technology would be used. We can also act as your marketing consultants, offering an infinite number of strategies for the presentation and operation of your robotic technology in your targeted environments, including sales and public-relations campaigns as well as licensing and merchandising.

IRI - When being the best, matters most.

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