Roomba creator Colin Angle launches Familiar Machines & Magic with dog-sized robotic companion
By
Jennifer Pattison Tuohy
Baker's choice. Dense with flavour, light on filler.
Summary
Colin Angle, the creator of the Roomba and former iRobot founder, has launched a new company called Familiar Machines & Magic. His first product is a dog-sized robotic pet called a "Familiar" — a companion robot designed to resemble a cross between a bear, barn owl, and golden retriever. Unlike the Roomba which was a cleaning device, this robot is built for emotional connection and companionship, featuring an expressive face with movable eyebrows, ears, and eyes. The name draws from folklore about supernatural animal companions.
Key quotes
· 3 pulledColin Angle, the maker of the Roomba and the man who helped put 50 million household robots into people's homes, is back with a new robot.
The first robot from Angle's new company, Familiar Machines & Magic, is a dog-sized robotic pet that resembles a cross between a bear, a barn owl, and a golden retriever.
It has an expressive face, with movable eyebrows, ears, and eyes, and the company calls it a 'Familiar,' a name meant to evoke folklore around the idea of a supernatural companion.
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