Preorders start for Gatebox Virtual Home Robot

Source: Gatebox. The
GTBX-100.

LINE’s consolidated subsidiary Gatebox, previously called Vinclu, has begun to take orders for the latest model of Gatebox, the world's first virtual home robot.

The Gatebox uses the latest in projection and sensing technologies to create the interactive virtual character. A limited-run model (the GTBX-1) of 300 units - which became popularly known as a virtual anime 'waifu' - went on sale in 2016 and sold out in just one month, despite costing approximately JPY300,000 (about S$3,650). When an addition run of 39 units went on sale in 2017, the company received some 1,000 orders.

Gatebox has responded to continued demand with a new, mass-production model, the GTBX-100. The new Gatebox unit has been completely redesigned, so that the body is now about the size of a sheet of A4 paper. The new model features design refinements over predecessors, including improvements to the realism of the character and her ability to communicate conversationally.

Two microphones are embedded in the top of the Gatebox unit, allowing owners to talk to the character from greater distances than were previously possible. The camera and motion detector allows the unit to register faces and movement, allowing the robot to engage in appropriate communication with users, such as smiling when she sees the user's face or greeting them when they come home.

Gatebox is equipped with wireless, Bluetooth and infrared sensors, so the unit can notify owners of the weather, news, and other information from the Internet, or act as a remote control for other electronic devices in the room.

When the GTBX-100 model is initially shipped, it will feature a pre-trial version of the original character, Hikari Azuma. An upgraded, full version of Azuma is expected to be released in December 2018, with updated features such as the capability to celebrate anniversaries.

Going forward, Gatebox expects to work on solutions that make use of the AI assistant Clova, through a partnership with LINE Corporation.

Details:

There is a monthly fee of JPY1,500 (about S$18.25) excluding taxes which will be waived until March 31, 2019.

Preorders for Japan will cost JPY150,000 (about S$1,825), excluding taxes and products will ship from October 2018. The robot is only available in Japanese at this time; Gatebox will add support for more countries in the future.

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