Tipron by Cerevo

First introduced at CES 2016, Tipron – a mobile robot projector – is the brainchild of Japanese smart device manufacturer Cerevo. Capable of beaming an 80-inch screen onto any wall in your home from approximately 10 feet away (3 meters), Tipron is an app-controlled smart projector designed to roll into action whenever the family craves their media fix.

Intelligent Design

The HD-quality 1280 x 720 picture quality is rather impressive, especially since it comes from a 32″ high robot that looks like a rolling eyeball. When not in use, Tipron folds into a compact version of itself measuring only 11.81″ x 13.38″ x 16.53″ (WDH). Upon summoning its projection services via the iOS/Android compatible Cerevo app, Tipron transforms into an 11.81″ x 13″ x 32″ (WDH) robot that’s ready to stream your next queued up YouTube video.

Tipron’s Technology

Equipped with a full arsenal of obstacle avoidance sensors (IR distance camera, depth sensor, 5MP video/still camera), Tipron can remember specific locations in your house and when commanded to do so via the app, will use its embedded camera to return back to familiar spots. According to Cerevo, before you wake up, “the projector could leave its charging stand and navigate toward your bed, angling itself toward the ceiling.” If you love to start your day with a quick rundown of the news, want the latest traffic information, or need access to your appointment calendar, Tipron will have it ready to go for you upon wakeup.

Compatibility

Whether you want to access Twitter, stream videos from Netflix, or upload individual video files, Tipron is compatible with an ever-growing list of media platforms. With a simple press of a button, a projection head is extended and the projection mode is activated. From accessing angle and keystone changes to selecting the desired content from a list of preset streaming services, the Tipron companion app allows you full control over picture quality and media content.

Connectivity

If you want Tipron to be your one-stop-shop for all things media related, the robot projector comes with an HDMI port allowing you to connect to video game consoles, PC’s, or other media devices. The action-packed Internet-connected Tipron comes with built-in speakers giving viewers a rather impressive home entertainment experience anywhere in the home. With the option of operating Tipron manually, you can change the orientation of the screen, adjust the volume, or switch the content.

Practicality

As for practicality, I would put Cerevo’s mobile robot projector into the category of a smart home luxury item. It’s just a cool gadget to have whipping around the house but by no means does this replace the smart projector designed for an immersive moving watching experience – especially for the die-hard movie buff or the serious gamer.

The price of $2,299 is a bit steep, in my opinion. For that price, there is a wide selection of high-quality DLP/LCD smart projectors that come with incredible picture quality and state-of-the-art sound systems. Granted, they don’t move from room-to-room or wake you up with the news projecting above your bed, but I’m ok with walking into the living room to get my entertainment fix without summoning my robot friend.