Bossa Nova Robotics Introduces First Commercial Ballbot at RoboBusiness Leadership Summit

PITTSBURGH, PA--(Marketwire - Oct 23, 2012) -

Core News Facts:

• Bossa Nova Robotics, developer of experiential robotics, today introduced mObi, the first commercially available robot to utilize their patented ballbot spherical-locomotion platform, at the 2012 RoboBusiness Leadership Summit in Pittsburgh.
• The platform's locomotion is based on technology that allows the robot to balance on a ball and move seamlessly with a single point of contact on the ground, enabling natural omni-directional movement, slender design profiles and superior navigation in human environments.
• The locomotion for the mObi development platform was invented at the Robotics Institute at Carnegie Mellon University; Bossa Nova Robotics has been granted the exclusive license for the technology.
• mObi will initially be offered as a research platform that will provide unique capabilities for a broad range of robotics research and Human-Robot Interaction (HRI) applications.
• mObi will be available for researchers and developers in 2013.

Quotes:

Martin Hitch, CEO, Bossa Nova Robotics
"mObi is the pre-cursor for the future of personal robots. Our unique ballbot technology will provide researchers and developers with an incredible platform for developing consumer-facing applications ideal for business and home environments."

Sarjoun Skaff, Co-Founder, Bossa Nova Robotics
"We're proud of our relationship with CMU and the engineering talent we have at our company. The team has successfully developed a path to commercialization for one of the most engaging and challenging locomotion platforms. We look forward to working with a broad range of robotics researchers and HRI specialists as we launch our research platform next year."

About Bossa Nova Robotics:
Bossa Nova Robotics is a developer of experiential robotics. Founded by robotics expert Sarjoun Skaff, the company launched out of the Robotics Institute at Carnegie Mellon University in 2005 with one simple goal: to bring robots out of the lab and into the living room. Previously focused on interactive play experiences for children, the company is broadening its portfolio to encompass personal robotics for the home. Bossa Nova Robotics is headquartered in San Francisco with R&D offices in Pittsburgh. To learn more, visit www.bnrobotics.com