FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE SOUND-ACTIVATED PERSONAL ROBOT UNVEILED BY PROBOTICS -- Also Announces Cordless Vacuum Attachment with Power Brush --       PITTSBURGH, Nov. 1, 1999 - A compact personal robot that responds to sound was launched today by Probotics, Inc. The Cye-sr (sound response) robot even dances when you turn on music, rocking and twisting to the beat. With a string of claps, Cye can be directed to carry coffee and donuts to the dining room or to vacuum the carpet, using its optional wagon or vacuum attachments. Cye-sr is programmed to respond to claps. After one clap, Cye-sr beeps to let you know you've got its attention. To send Cye-sr to a destination, clap to indicate where you'd like it to go. For example, use two claps to send it to the kitchen, three claps to send it to the den and one clap to come back to its home base (charger). Cye-sr can also be navigated using the mouse on the PC, which is linked to the robot via wireless communications. The compact Cye-sr (16 inches, by 10 inches by 5 inches) comes in yellow, orange and black/neon green. Its 9-pound rectangular "body" has two spiky wheels, which enable it to move around any room at a speed of three feet per second. Available immediately via the Probotics web site (http://www.personalrobots.com), Cye-sr costs $845. Optional wagon attachment sells for $89. "Cye-sr adds a new level of control to an already powerful robot," said Henry Thorne, inventor and CEO of Probotics, Inc. "Now you can not only control a Cye robot from the comfort of your PC but you can command it around your home or office by clapping your hands, the remote you never lose. This is Robot candy. Kids of all ages love it including power computer user kids like me." New Cordless Vacuum Attaches to Cye to Create Complete Vacuuming System Probotics also announced that a separate cordless vacuum accessory is now available to attach to the Cye robot to create a complete robotic vacuuming system. With this combination, you can easily program Cye to vacuum a room in your home or office. There is no typing required, you just point and click on your PC to do everything from designating areas to vacuum, to turning the vacuum on and off. The cordless vacuum never needs to be charged either because Cye charges it. Cye Product Line Cye-sr is an extension of the Cye personal robot product line, launched in May, 1999. The original Cye ($695) operates remotely from a personal computer, and is controlled by Map-N-Zap, a PC application. Map-N-Zap software shows Cye as viewed from above in your home or office. By just clicking and dragging on the robot icon, the user can manipulate the real robot around the room. Using Map-N-Zap the user collaborates with Cye to "Map" it's environment then "Zaps" Cye to life with flow charts telling the robot where it should be when. Unlike other robots that quickly become lost, Cye can get around homes and offices quite accurately. With Cye, people with minimal PC expertise can now actually get a robot to do real tasks around the home or office like serve coffee to their friends, carry dirty dishes back to the kitchen, or vacuum the living room. Cye communicates to and from the PC 10 times per second via a FCCapproved 900 MHz radio link. About Probotics and Inventor Henry Thorne Founded by robot guru Henry Thorne, Probotics (based in Pittsburgh) specializes in developing personal robots for home or office. Mr. Thorne was trained by the Robotics Institute of Carnegie Mellon University, and has more than 17 years experience in industrial robots. Most notably, Mr. Thorne's patented calibration technology and heavy use of Graphic User Interfaces can be seen in both the industrial products of his other company Cycle Time Corp. and Cye from Probotics. # # # For more media information, contact Lisa Hendrickson, 516-767-8390 or LisaPR@optonline.net.