Audio Video News

We’re now officially living in the future. That was our first thought when we heard about Tipron, the roving video projector. Roving, as in a small Star Wars-like robot that tools around the house on a perpetual entertainment mission.

Thing is, Tipron is connected to the internet and equipped with a video projector that can beam an 80-inch image onto the wall, floor, or ceiling from a distance of around 10 feet at any angle. Think movies, pictures, web pages — whatever your projector needs, Tipron is there to accommodate.

Developed by Japan’s Cerevo, the robo-jector ($2,299) stands about a foot-and-a-half tall in “compact mode” and rises to 2.7 feet when it’s show time. You control Tipron via a smartphone app that provides a list of content options, including built-in YouTube support so you can watch any video on the planet anywhere in the house. Tap a button and the robot transforms into a projector, complete with auto-focus and keystone correction.

One of the coolest features: Tipron can be programmed to recall a predetermined position at a preset time and even project specific content. Once you’ve maneuvered him to the desired location (Cerevo insists Tipron is male), he can be set to remember the spot and return on his own with the help of a built-in camera and sensors. We can imagine a couple scenarios — like a regular movie night in the family room or having the local news projected onto the ceiling above your bed when it’s time to start your day.

Tipron is good to go for up to 4 hours with two batteries (2 hours with one battery) and automatically returns to his charging station when his battery is running low. Resolution is 1280 x 720 and the projector has a built-in 5-watt speaker plus USB and HDCP-compatible HDMI connectors.

For more information, visit tipron.cerevo.com.