Mannetron began manufacturing a line of roll around robots for International Robotics, Inc. These are mobile entertainment robots used for public events that can go right to the visitor and carry on a conversation while getting their interest directed to the client's products.
The operator wears a push button, remote transmitter along with an audio transmitter. Using a hidden microphone, the operator converses with the public, which gives the impression that the robot is talking directly to them. Their 42 sound effects make these mascots some of the most entertaining figures of a client's show especially when they hear the infamous R2D2 squeak.
Cheil van Praag, one of the first to purchase a Roll Around Series robot, has gone as far as having a van painted up just for transporting their robot, which they named, Milo.
Technical specifications: Control system is MR1 controlling a 30 button, digital, remote keypad. It also operates all 42 sound effects, up/down, left/right head motions, arms and hands, forward/reverse and turning, light effects, LED mouth motions-synched to operator.