Celestial Robotics' TiBeast Can Pack an Entire PC, Ties In to the Unity 3D Engine for Codeless Dev
Looking like a shrunken Spot, the TiBeast is available in three models — the top-end of which packs an entire Windows 10 PC.
Celestial Robotics has started crowdfunding for a robot dog heavily inspired by Boston Dynamics' iconic Spot — but on a considerably smaller scale, and with a link to the Unity 3D engine for code-free programming.
"TiBeast is a robotic dog that revolutionizes the entry-level robot market by bridging the gap between consumer and professional level robotics," Celestial Robotics' Yilun Zhao claims of his company's new design. "We have gone through 5 iterations of design, development and testing to finalize TiBeast 1.0. And we will continue to improve TiBeast for better performance and usability."
While externally TiBeast looks an awful lot like a Boston Dynamics Spot which shrank in the wash, its internals are unusual: The top-end TiBeast PC includes a Windows 10 Pro computer in there, running on an Intel Celeron J4125 quad-core processor with 8GB of LPDDR4 RAM, wired gigabit Ethernet and dual-band Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 4.0, two HDMI ports, 3.5mm audio, and a 256GB hard drive. The TiBeast PC also includes a bundled GPS receiver and the ability to operate autonomously - though autonomous operation functions, the company explains, "have to [be] developed by users and Celestial Robotics bear no responsibility for any AI related accidents and issues."
The mid-range TiBeast, meanwhile, strips out the PC in favour of simpler internals, while retaining a loudspeaker, on-board camera with remote live view, and back and side plates which are compatible with LEGO blocks for mounting additional hardware. The entry-level TiBeast Lite, to round out the range, drops the speaker, camera, and LEGO compatibility, "for users who want to focus on motion only."
In all cases, the TiBeast can be driven using a range of controllers - and ties into the Unity 3D engine through the company's bundled software development kit. "Cradle Studio is our in-house development software for operating and managing TiBeast, that makes everything easier," Zhao explains. "Inside Cradle Studio, a 3D digital twin of TiBeast is available, which could synchronize its state to TiBeast in real-time, and run in simulation mode without the actual TiBeast machine.
"BeastSDK is a Unity 3D compatible development package that includes 3D model, scripts, sprites etc. It allows developers to access all sensors, actuators and Mental Blueprint feature on TiBeast, to quickly create applications for TiBeast, or integrating TiBeast into their existing projects. For Unity 2021, visual scripting is officially supported and we will continue to update our SDK to support this feature which enables codeless development of TiBeast."
The TiBeast is now funding on Kickstarter with early bird pricing set at $289 for the TiBeast Lite, $389 for the TiBeast, and $639 for the TiBeast PC. All rewards are expected to ship in October this year.