Actual R2-D2 Units For Your Home

Fans of George Lucas’ Star Wars movies have dreamed of the day when robots like R2D2 and C3PO become a reality. I mean, wouldn’t it be great to have a droid in your own home that could look after you, entertain you, and serve you? How long do you think it will be before real R2 robots roam the halls of our own homes. 100 years from now? 50 years? 20 years? How about… today! Real, working R2D2 units are beings sold to consumers for home use!

So what does a real-life R2-D2 really do? Well, unfortunately he won’t be able to fix the hyperdrive on your spaceship– but that’s only because you don’t have a spaceship, do you? What R2D2 can do is listen and respond to voice commands, serve you, and entertain you! Just like George Lucas’ Artoo unit, my home version uses real sonar to navigate around the house! He obeys commands, beeps and whistles, flashes his lights and swivels his head. He even has an extending arm for serving drinks!

I’m sure you have a million questions going through your head, so let’s review them.

Q. Does R2-D2 need batteries?

A. Yes. He’ll need 4 AA and 4 D batteries.

Q. What words does R2-D2 recognize?

A. Rd-D2 will have a different reaction to 30 words. Some of the words R2 knows: Luke Skywalker, Han Solo, Anakin, Obi-Wan, Chewbacca, Jabba the Hut or his best friend, C-3PO, Princess Leia. He also responds to voice commands.

Q. What voice commands does R2 know?

A. Some of the words include: Go on patrol, Behave yourself, Switch off, Turn around, Go forward, Turn Right, Turn Left, Plot Course, Light tag, Answer this, Dance program, Room guard, and lots more. You can say, for example, “Artoo! Turn around! Go forward three units! Turn Left!” He’ll obey your every command. Sometimes Artoo will act a little crazy. When he does this, just say, “Behave yourself!” and he snaps out of it.

Q. Give some examples of what R2 does when I say the names of Star Wars characters?

A. If you mention Darth Vader, R2 will shake with fear. If you mention Princess Lein, R2 will emit excited whistles.

Q. What games does R2D2 play?

A. R2 can play tag, follow you, or find a person in a room using his infra-red sensor.

Q. Does R2 talk?

A. Sort of. He beeps and whistles, just like he does in the movies. He can also answer yes/no questions. You will quickly learn that his sounds represent words. He has a beep for “yes.” A different beep for “no.” A different beep for “I don’t understand.” He’ll also play dialogue from Star Wars movies.

Q. Can I use R2 on a table?

A. You can use R2 on a table if you place the wheels in the locked position.

Q. How much does R2-D2 weigh?

A. About 7 pounds.

Q. How much does R2D2 cost?

A. The price varies depending on where you buy it. At the time I’m writing this, the best price I can find online is $119.95.

write by Julio Figueroa