{{Short description|Programmable Tux figure}} thumb|The Tux Droid'''Tux Droid''' is a wireless robotic penguin figure based on the Linux mascot, Tux, released around 2007.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |last=Paul |first=Ryan |date=2008-03-14 |title=Make a penguin do your bidding: a review of the Tux Droid |url=https://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2008/03/tux-droid-review/ |access-date=2024-05-02 |website=Ars Technica |language=en-us}}</ref> It was manufactured by a company named KYSOH.
== Description == The Tux Droid measures 210mm × 180mm × 140mm with lowered wings. It supports Linux kernel 2.4 or later and needs an 800 MHz CPU and 128 MB RAM. Communication from Tux Droid to the computer is via signaling operating in the 802.11 WLAN band, but not compatible with Wi-Fi. The Tux Droid receives signals from a plastic fish-shaped USB receiver. An infrared remote control is supplied; signals from this are received by Tux Droid and sent to the host software over the wireless link. It needs an internet connection for media detection. The mascot is driven by Atmel AVR RISC microcontrollers. The Tux Droid only supports Linux computers.<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":1">{{Cite web |last=Kingsley-Hughes |first=Adrian |date=2008-01-24 |title=Friday Fun - OK, so who owns a Tux Droid? |url=https://www.zdnet.com/article/friday-fun-ok-so-who-owns-a-tux-droid/ |access-date=2024-05-03 |website=ZDNET |language=en}}</ref><ref name=":2">{{Cite web |last=Smith |first=Tony |date=2007-12-07 |title=Spinning, flashing Linux logo droid comes to UK |url=https://www.theregister.com/2007/12/07/uk_gets_tux_droid/ |access-date=2024-05-03 |website=The Register |language=en}}</ref>
== Functions == The Tux Droid can spin around, flap its wings, and light up its eyes. It came with bundled open source software to customize its functionality.<ref name=":2" /> It can announce events by its gestures such as dancing, flapping, and spinning,<ref name=":3">{{Cite web |last=Crouch |first=Christina |date=2007-12-06 |title=Tux Droid – A Penguin With Information |url=https://www.slashgear.com/tux-droid-a-penguin-with-information-068878/ |access-date=2024-05-03 |website=SlashGear |language=en-US}}</ref> and by ALSA driven sound. The events are detected by specific gadgets, which are handled by the Tux Gadget Manager.<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":1" />
== Reception == The Tux Droid received positive reviews for its functionality, the open source software, and its humor and novelty value.<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":3" /><ref name=":2" /> Some reviewers did note the high asking price at the time, at £89.95, and that the software only worked on Linux.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Jobling |first=Hugo |date=2008-02-16 |title=Tux Droid - Talking Linux Penguin |url=https://www.trustedreviews.com/reviews/tux-droid-talking-linux-penguin |access-date=2024-05-03 |website=Trusted Reviews |language=en}}</ref>
==See also== *Speech synthesis *List of computing mascots
==References== {{reflist}}
== External links == {{Commons|Tux Droid}} * https://www.tuxdroids.com/ * [https://web.archive.org/web/20080112122803/http://www.tuxisalive.com/ Original Homepage (archived)]
Category:Linux Category:Free software culture and documents Category:Open-source robots Category:2007 robots Category:Animatronic animal robots