"IBoardbot" is a drawing robot that can be controlled with a smartphone. As long as you have an internet connection, you can write or draw on the attached whiteboard from anywhere in the world. If you just want to convey a message, you can display it on the LCD panel and it will be much faster and easier, but the point that you bother to let the robot do it with a pen and a board is a wonderful and cute product.

Drawing robot "iBoardbot" that can be controlled with a smartphone
Drawing robot "iBoardbot" that can be controlled with a smartphone

"IBoardbot" has three modes, "character input mode", "drawing mode", and "graphic mode", which can be controlled from a dedicated smartphone app.

The drawing robot "iBoardbot" can be controlled with a smartphone application. It provides "character input mode", "drawing mode", and "graphic mode".
The drawing robot "iBoardbot" can be controlled with a smartphone application. It provides "character input mode", "drawing mode", and "graphic mode".

In "character input mode", just enter characters in the app and tap the send button. The "iBoardbot" will now write the text on the whiteboard.

Characters entered on the smartphone are written one by one on the whiteboard
Characters entered on the smartphone are written one by one on the whiteboard

In the "drawing mode", the picture drawn by the user on the touch panel is accurately reproduced on the whiteboard. However, it is required to be a picture that can be drawn with a pen on a whiteboard.

"Drawing mode" with high reproducibility
"Drawing mode" with high reproducibility

Pictures can be drawn by multiple people at the same time. By applying this, for example, two people can play tic-tac-toe.

In the old days, I used to write ○ × on the ground with tree branches, but ...
In the old days, I used to write ○ × on the ground with tree branches, but ...

In "Graphic mode", select a graphic from the online gallery prepared in the app. You can draw it on the whiteboard.

"Graphic mode" where you can select images from the in-app online gallery
"Graphic mode" where you can select images from the in-app online gallery

Drawing example of the selected image
Drawing example of the selected image

An eraser is attached to the robot arm. When I watch the "iBoardbot" erase letters and pictures, I'm not the only one who remembers the word "Hisashi".

Characters that can be erased instantly on the LCD, but on the whiteboard, it is necessary to erase them steadily with an eraser.
Characters that can be erased instantly on the LCD, but on the whiteboard, it is necessary to erase them steadily with an eraser.

Since the API is open to developers, anyone familiar with programming will be able to apply it in various ways. For example, keep writing tweets with specific hashtags, post weather forecasts on a regular basis, and so on.

It's designed for personal and office use, but it might be interesting to put it in a retail store. For example, it can be used to inform customers who are visiting the store of the current time sale product.

Example used in a store
Example used in a store

The size is width 50 x height 25 x depth 12 cm, and the size of the whiteboard part is width 40 x height 15 x depth 0.6 cm. It weighs 1.95 kg. To operate, you need an environment where you can use Wi-Fi.

A kit sent to the purchaser. If you assemble this and install the smartphone application, you can enjoy the "iBoardbot" system.
A kit sent to the purchaser. If you assemble this and install the smartphone application, you can enjoy the "iBoardbot" system.

Developed by JJ Robots, based in Edinburgh, Scotland. The company is currently running a campaign to recruit investors on the crowdfunding site kickstarter. You can get one "iBoardbot" with a £ 193 investment. The shipment is scheduled for April 2016, and it also supports shipment to Japan.

Is it useful? When asked, "iBoardbot" has no choice but to answer "maybe not so much". However, the strength of "iBoardbot" is that it is cute in many ways. Not to mention the appearance, the appearance of steadily erasing the whiteboard with an eraser is intriguing.

Yeah! It's cute!
Yeah! It's cute!

If the pen attached to the whiteboard runs out of ink, it will need to be replaced manually. However, this work is also quite good.

Good shot
Good shot