内容来源：https://lifehacker.com/tech/upgrade-of-the-week-beni-camera-robot?utm_medium=RSS

内容总结：

童年看过《星球大战》后，我一直梦想拥有一个机器人。现在，我终于有了一个：它是来自Mondo Robotics公司的新产品Beni。它不仅是我本周的升级，而且可能是我一生中的升级。Beni是一款全地形相机机器人，最初是Kickstarter上的一个项目，但与许多其他Kickstarter项目不同，它真的很酷。它可以拍摄4K视频，同时自主跟随拍摄对象。如果你想拍摄动作镜头，无需麻烦地使用三脚架或找另一个人帮忙：你可以用遥控器控制它，或者让它跟随你。它还可以被设置为从侧面跟踪你或环绕你，你可以通过应用程序或遥控器随时调整它的动作，因此只需极少的努力，它就能拍出各种精心设计的镜头。此外，它还很可爱。看看这个小家伙：如果Beni只是一个噱头，可爱与否并不重要，但它拍摄的镜头实际上令人印象深刻。看看这段视频，我没有任何计划就录制了它；我只是把Beni的相机锁定在这个滑板者身上，并告诉它无论他去哪里都要跟着：看到它多么平稳地滑过不平整的混凝土了吗？它多么轻松地处理斜坡？我甚至把它从一个巨大的坡道上发射出去，它落在另一边，自己扶正，然后继续工作。这里有一个例子，当你把它置于“环绕你”模式时，你会得到什么样的镜头（再次强调，这是在没有事先计划的情况下录制的）：它就这样滑到长椅下面？拜托。那真是太酷了。是的，Beni是一个有点傻气的产品，但作为有点傻气的产品，它无可争议地很棒。以下是我喜欢Beni的几件事：它非常容易使用。我把它从盒子里拿出来并下载应用程序后，几分钟内就让它运行起来了。你可以很容易地随时弄清楚它是如何工作的。它是一个多地形机器人。你可以额外购买一套更大、更坚固的轮子，但即使使用标准轮胎，这东西在不平整的混凝土、草地和泥土上也表现得很好。它很坚固。虽然Beni确实有障碍物检测能力，但它还是经常撞到东西，但这不是问题。Beni可以承受巨大的、史诗般的摔倒，撞到墙上，被孩子们踢，它会自己扶正并顺利继续前进。看着它真令人惊叹。它确实按照你期望的方式工作。我知道这是一个很低的标准，但一个炫目的科技产品真正兑现其承诺是很罕见的，而Beni做到了。它很可爱。为了让Beni看起来尽可能友好，我们做了很多工作——它会做技巧，眨它的“眼睛”，对姿势做出反应，你甚至可以给它一顶小棒球帽。Beni的氛围是积极的。它非常适合社交互动。如果你有一个小机器人跟着你，人们会想和你说话。我不是一个喜欢人群的人，但如果你想在公园里交朋友，这个机器人至少能打开一扇门。它没有你想象的那么贵。Beni基础型号售价750美元，“探索组合”（包括更大的轮子、充电座和一顶小帽子）售价899美元。虽然750美元不便宜，但考虑到你得到的东西，这实际上是一笔相当划算的交易。现在什么东西都贵得要命！你值得拥有一个机器人。如何购买Beni相机机器人Beni还没有准备好首次亮相。现在，你可以在Mondo Robotics网站上预购一台，预计在11月初发布。这是该公司的第一款产品，所以目前还不清楚Beni是否会在亚马逊等第三方零售商处销售。

中文翻译：

作为一个童心未泯的极客，我从小看《星球大战》时就梦想拥有一个机器人。现在，我真的有了一个：它就是Beni，来自Mondo Robotics的一款新玩意，让我忍不住感叹：“R2-D2算啥？”这不仅仅是我本周的升级，可能是我这辈子最棒的升级。

Beni是一款全地形摄像机器人，最初是Kickstarter上的一个众筹项目，但与许多其他众筹项目不同，它是真的很酷。它能拍摄4K视频，同时自主跟随拍摄对象，无论对方走到哪里。如果你想拍动作镜头，不需要麻烦三脚架或另找一个人帮忙：你可以用遥控器操控它，也可以让它跟着你走。它还可以设置为从侧面跟踪你或绕着你转圈，你可以通过应用程序或遥控器随时调整它的动作，所以只需 minimal 的操作，它就能拍出各种精巧复杂的镜头。而且它还特别可爱。看看这个小家伙：

如果Beni只是个噱头，可爱也没用，但它拍出的画面确实令人惊艳。看看这段视频，我拍的时候完全没有任何计划，只是把Beni的镜头对准这个滑板玩家，然后让它跟着他走：

看到它在不平整的混凝土路面上多么平稳地滑行了吗？上下坡多么轻松自如？我甚至把它从一个巨大的坡道上发射出去，它落到另一侧后自行翻正，然后继续工作。

下面是一个例子，展示你把它设为“绕你转圈”模式后能拍到的画面（再次说明，这段视频事先没有任何计划）：

它就这样从长椅下面滑过去？不是吧。太丝滑了。

没错，Beni是一个有点傻气的产品，但作为有点傻气的产品来说，它无可争议地很棒。以下是我喜欢Beni的几个理由：

它超级好用。我把它从盒子里拿出来、下载好应用程序后，片刻之间就让它跑起来了。你可以轻松地在使用过程中搞明白它是怎么运作的。

它是一款多地形机器人。你可以额外购买一套更大更粗壮的轮子，但即使使用原装轮胎，这东西在不平整的混凝土、草地和泥地上都表现得非常出色。

它很皮实。虽然Beni确实有障碍物检测功能，但它还是经常撞到东西，不过这都不是问题。Beni能承受巨大的、史诗级的摔落，猛撞墙壁，被小孩踢来踢去，它都会自行翻正，然后毫无障碍地继续前行。看着它这样真是太神奇了。

它确实能按照你的预期工作。我知道这个标准很低，但一款花哨的科技产品能真正做到它承诺的事情是很罕见的，而Beni做到了。

它很可爱。为了让Beni看起来尽可能友好，设计团队花了很多心思——它会做特技动作，会眨它的“眼睛”，会对姿势做出反应，你甚至可以给它戴上一顶小棒球帽。Beni的气质很积极向上。

它非常适合社交互动。如果有一个小机器人跟着你到处走，人们就会想跟你聊天。我不是特别喜欢和人打交道，但如果你想在公园里交朋友，这个机器人至少能帮你打开一扇门。

它没有你想象的那么贵。Beni基础款售价750美元，“探索组合”版售价899美元，包含更大的轮子、一个充电座和一顶小帽子。虽然750美元不便宜，但考虑到你得到的东西，这实际上相当划算。反正现在什么东西都贵得要命！你值得拥有一个机器人。

如何购买摄像机器人Beni

Beni还没有正式上市。目前你可以在Mondo Robotics的网站上预购，计划于11月初某个时候发货。这是该公司的第一款产品，所以目前还不清楚Beni是否会在亚马逊等第三方零售商处销售。

英文来源：

Like any pure-hearted geek, I've wanted to own a droid ever since I saw Star Wars as a kid. Now, I actually have one: It's Beni, a new gadget from Mondo Robotics, and it has me saying, "Artoo who?" It's not just my Upgrade of the Week; it's possibly the upgrade of my life.
Beni is an all-terrain camera robot that was born as a project on Kickstarter, but unlike so many other Kickstarted projects, it's actually really cool. It takes 4K video while autonomously following its subject wherever they go. If you want to get action footage, there's no need to hassle with a tripod or another person: You can control it with a remote, or you can make it follow you. It can also be set to track you from the side or circle you, and you can adjust what it is doing from the app or remote control on the fly, so with minimal effort, there's no limit to the kind of elaborate shots it can pull off. Plus it's adorable. Just look at this little guy:
Being cute wouldn't matter if Beni was just a gimmick, but the footage it takes is actually really impressive. Check out this clip, which I recorded with no planning of any sort; I just locked Beni's camera on this skater and told it to follow him wherever:
See how smoothly it glides over the uneven concrete? How effortlessly it handles inclines? I even launched it off a huge ramp and it landed on the other side, righted itself, and got back to business.
Here's an example of the kind of footageyou'll get when you put it in "circle you" mode (and again, this was recorded with no prior planning):
The way it just slides under that bench? Come ON. That's just slick.
Yes, Beni is a slightly silly product, but as slightly silly products go, it's pretty inarguably awesome. Here is a short list of things I love about Beni:
It's super easy-to-use. I got it up and running moments after taking it out of the box and downloading the app. You can easily figure out how it works on the fly.
It's a multi-terrain robot. You can get an extra set of bigger, beefier wheels, but even with the stock tires, this thing worked great on uneven concrete, grass, and dirt.
It's rugged. While Beni does have obstacle detection ability, it runs into things a lot anyway, but that's not a problem. Beni can take massive, epic spills, slam into walls, and get kicked by children, and it will right itself and proceed on without a hitch. It's amazing to watch.
It actually works the way you expect it to. I know that's a low bar to clear, but it's rare for a flashy piece of tech to actually do what it says it promises, and Beni does.
It's adorable. A lot of work went into making Beni as friendly-looking as possible—it does tricks, blinks its "eyes," responds to gestures, and you can even give him a little baseball cap. Beni's vibe is positive.
It's great for social interaction. If you have a little robot following you around, people will want to talk to you. I'm not a huge fan of people, but if you want to make friends at the park, this robot will at least open the door.
It's not as expensive as you might imagine. Beni will run you $750 for the base model, and $899 for the "Explore Combo" with larger wheels, a charging stand, and a little hat. While $750 isn't cheap, for what you get, it's actually a pretty solid deal. Everything costs a fortune now anyway! You deserve a robot.
How to buy Beni the camera robot
Beni isn't quite ready to make its debut yet. Right now, you can pre-order one on Mondo Robotics site, with a release planned for some time in early November. This is the company's first product, so it's not yet clear if Beni will ever be sold via third-party retailers like Amazon.