Robotic Printer Fits In Your Pocket

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The pocket-size Mini Mobile Robotic Printer runs on batteries and rolls around on top of a page, laying down ink as it goes.

Imagine a pocket-size printer that can still print on any size paper, runs on batteries and connects to mobile devices as well as computers. Sounds pretty cool, right? The Mini Mobile Robotic Printer by ZUtA Labs claims to do just that, and it's currently on Kickstarter, starting at $180.

Unlike other printers, the Mini Mobile Robotic Printer doesn't have a print tray or a place to feed paper. In fact, ZUtA Labs, a Jerusalem, Israel-based startup, describes it as essentially a print head mounted on wheels. The printer rolls across the paper, laying down ink as it goes.

MORE: Best All-in-One Printers 2014

The Mini Mobile Robotic Printer is a tear-shaped cylinder about 4 inches high and 4.5 inches across. It connects to Android and iOS mobile devices as well as, Linux, OS X and Windows computers via USB or Bluetooth, and has a polycarbonate cover that comes in either white or black.

The Pocket Printer, as it's also called, uses a high-resolution optical laser sensor to detect its position on the page. ZUtA Labs says that the printer's weight will hold the paper steady, and its slow speed will ensure minimal smudging or other errors.

The final prototype will be able to fill an 8.5 x 11 inch sheet paper in less than a minute, though it can print on any size paper, or even surfaces other than paper. However, it is limited by its battery life of one hour.

The first round of Mini Mobile Robotic Printers will print in grayscale only, though ZUtA Labs says on its Kickstarter page that it plans to release a full-color version in the near future. The Mini Mobile Robotic Printer also uses standard HP print cartridges, so buying new ink is no more expensive than with most other home printers.

"There's one office tool that is still stuck behind, that hasn't changed in the past decade and isn't mobile: the printer," said ZUtA Labs in its Kickstarter video. It seems that plenty of people agree: The Mini Mobile Robotic Printer is already well on its way to being funded on Kickstarter, with more than half of its $400,000 goal achieved just a few days into the Kickstarter campaign.

Email jscharr@techmedianetwork.com or follow her @JillScharr and Google+.  Follow us @TomsGuide, on Facebook and on Google+.

Jill Scharr

Jill Scharr is a creative writer and narrative designer in the videogame industry. She's currently Project Lead Writer at the games studio Harebrained Schemes, and has also worked at Bungie. Prior to that she worked as a Staff Writer for Tom's Guide, covering video games, online security, 3D printing and tech innovation among many subjects. 

7 Comments Comment from the forums
  • lpedraja2002
    I'd like to see a video of how this works, seems pretty interesting.
    Reply
  • rwinches
    Reminds me of the VW bus that road the record grooves, going round and round.
    Terrible sound and it damaged your record.
    KickitToThe Curb.

    Reply
  • danwat1234
    Wow that is epic. The printer moves about the paper. Video plz!
    Reply
  • Haravikk
    That's a really cool gadget, but I especially love how its slow speed is suddenly a feature! I dunno, while being able to print on the go is very novel, that seems to reduce the target market to people who print very little but want it to be really cool when they do, or those that go on business and need to print in a hotel room (just have to hope there's a good table and some paper!)
    Reply
  • Pailin
    I've been wondering how long it would take for something like this to come to market.

    Other devices I have heard of were still thinking too far into the future and we don't have that kinda tech yet...

    But this simply uses what we all know works, folks are going to have fun with this and future versions I suspect ^^
    Reply
  • DrBackwater
    Now this's technology, just hope facebook doesn't buy them too.
    Reply
  • DrBackwater
    Tattoo any one?
    Reply