Intel’s Jimmy robot is mostly comprised of 3D printed parts.
Attendees of Re/code’s Code Conference this week saw all manner of futuristic gizmos, from Microsoft’s real-time Skype Translator to Google’s latest, electric-powered self-driving car, which lacks a steering wheel or brakes. Presumably, Google’s new prototype still runs Linux, like its earlier, Ubuntu-based autonomous Prius.
Intel couldn’t quite match those sci-fi revelations, but it had some magic of its own to share at Code. CEO Brian Krzanich showed off an open source Linux robot kit called Jimmy, as well as a sensor-laden Smart Shirt for health monitoring. Both devices are based on its Linux-ready Edison computer-on-module. Presumably, the products run on the Atom E3800-based version of the Edison rather than the originally announced Quark-based version, which is still on the schedule for future release. In either case, it’s highly likely the products use Linux.
In a further sign that Krzanich is pushing his company beyond business as usual, Intel announced its first licensing partnership for Atom processors. In 2015, China’s Rockchip will spin off variations on a new quad-core Sofia Atom processor aimed at low-end Android tablets (see farther below).