Romo gen 3 gains Lightning connector, we go hands-on (video)

[ ](http://www.engadget.com/2013/01/10/romo-gen-3-gains-lightning-connector-we-go-hands-on-video/)

Remember [Romo](http://www.engadget.com/tag/Romo/), the adorable iPhone-faced track-equipped robot? We met up with Romotive in Vegas at [CES 2013](http://www.engadget.com/tag/CES2013/) to play with the 3rd generation model that was [recently launched](http://www.engadget.com/2012/10/16/romos-return-the-cute-little-smartphone-robot/) on [Kickstarter](http://www.engadget.com/tag/Kickstarter/). The company also gave us an exclusive first look at a 3rd generation prototype with [Lightning](http://www.engadget.com/tag/Lightning/) connector. We sat down with CEO Keller Rinaudo to discuss the new robot and catch up on what the team's achieved over the past year.

As a refresher, we [first encountered](http://www.engadget.com/2011/10/09/insert-coin-romo-the-smartphone-robot-video/) Romo when we covered it for our [Insert Coin](http://www.engadget.com/tag/InsertCoin/) feature in October 2011. Back then, the robot used rudimentary analog electronics and plugged into the iPhone's headphone jack. After a successful initial Kickstarter campaign, Romotive moved from Seattle to Las Vegas where we caught up the team [on our stage](http://www.engadget.com/2012/01/13/live-from-the-engadget-ces-stage-an-interview-with-romotive/) during CES 2012. The 2nd generation model was available both pre-assembled and it kit form with support for iOS, Android and Windows Phone. It was upgraded to digital electronics but still used the audio interface to control its tracks and featured hacker-friendly auxiliary ports. Hit the break for more.

**Gallery: [Romo gen 3 hands-on](http://www.engadget.com/photos/romo-gen-3-hands-on/)**

[](http://www.engadget.com/photos/romo-gen-3-hands-on/5536691)[](http://www.engadget.com/photos/romo-gen-3-hands-on/5536690)[](http://www.engadget.com/photos/romo-gen-3-hands-on/5536693)[](http://www.engadget.com/photos/romo-gen-3-hands-on/5536692)[](http://www.engadget.com/photos/romo-gen-3-hands-on/5536674)

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Filed under: [Cellphones](http://www.engadget.com/category/cellphones/), [Robots](http://www.engadget.com/category/robots/), [Mobile](http://www.engadget.com/category/mobile/), [Apple](http://www.engadget.com/category/apple/)

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URL: http://www.engadget.com/2013/01/10/romo-gen-3-gains-lightning-connector-we-go-hands-on-video/