Plen, designed by Systec Akazawa in Osaka is billed as a “desktop robot” which stands 23 cm tall, and can be controlled from a PC or mobile phone via Bluetooth technology. There are 18 joints in the body, and the battery pack rests on the back like a backpack. The central location of the backpack is designed to improve over all balance, as the battery is the heaviest component and establishes the center of gravity. Plen can not only walk, but also move around quite well on roller skates and a tiny skateboard. Systec was taking reservations to purchase Plen for 250,000 yen, well over $2,000, a hefty price to pay for what is essentially a toy. The site has not been updated for nearly two years, and it remains unclear if it will every be mass released.
Here we can see the Plen show off its moves.
