Getting to Know Beni, the Autonomous Camera Robot from Mondo Robotics: Price and Specifications
Science fiction concepts are now becoming a reality. Mondo Robotics has officially introduced Beni, an autonomous camera robot, via the Kickstarter funding platform. Before its official launch, the company showcased a series of trials proving the robot’s robustness in recording user activities independently without human interference.
Beni is designed as a portable camera robot capable of following its user across various terrains. Equipped with a wheeled drive system, the robot features automatic tracking technology and obstacle avoidance capabilities, allowing Beni to capture video footage from various dynamic angles.
One of Beni’s primary advantages is its ability to jump up to 25 centimetres to overcome obstacles in its path. If it falls, the robot possesses a system that allows it to return to its original position automatically. With a maximum speed of up to 29 kilometres per hour, Beni is claimed to be able to keep pace with high-intensity activities, such as extreme skateboarding.
Despite its toughness, Beni’s compact design provides a unique characteristic to its visual output. Due to its small size, the camera angles tend to be close to the ground (low angle), providing a different perspective compared to recordings made by human operators or conventional tripods.
Mondo Robotics views this as a solution for content creators. “Using a tripod or asking for help from others is often a constraint when wanting to capture moments. This causes some of the most inspiring and touching moments to go unrecorded,” stated the company.
Beni functions not only as a recording tool but is also designed as an expressive companion. The robot features a facial display with eyes that can change colour, animated expressions, and even simple gaming features. Users can even personalise Beni with additional accessories such as colourful “ears” and mini baseball caps.
Shuo Yang, Chief Technology Officer (CTO) of Mondo Robotics and former developer of the Optimus humanoid robot at Tesla, emphasised the importance of human-robot interaction. According to him, robots should be companions that make activities more enjoyable.
“When a robot can be right beside you at a skate park or during a family walk, robotics becomes something personal. This allows you to be fully present in important moments,” said Yang.
For operation, users can control Beni via a companion application or a wrist-mounted motion controller equipped with a joystick. The application also includes an automatic editing feature capable of processing recordings into short clips ready for upload to social media.
Currently, Beni is offered through a Kickstarter campaign with an early bird promotional price of US$400 or approximately Rp8.1 million (assuming an exchange rate of Rp16,300). After the promotional period ends, the normal retail price will be set at US$799 or approximately Rp13 million.
Mondo Robotics aims to ship the first units to backers starting this October. To date, the company claims that 30 users have tested the Beni prototype in various real-world scenarios to ensure product readiness before widespread marketing.