COCA-COLA COBOT

Who made their debut at the 1980 Sochi Winter Olympics in Lake Placid as the world’s first ever ice-skating robot?

COBOT !!!

The 4 foot tall life-sized robot could skate with the best of them, appearing in news features with figure skating coach Gus Lussi and figure skating champion Jojo Starbuck .

Coke produced the life size COBOT units for use in promotional appearances .

The COBOT is remote-controlled - The remote control moves the robot around , controls the dome and turns on the 8 Track player to play the selected track .

Other Features:

The face of the dome says "SMILE" and/or "Coke Is It" .
The dome turns around and has a flashing light .
Magnetic Coke and Diet Coke logo can be put on the front and/or back of the body .
On top of the left and right feet are 3 Coke glass bottles which can be changed to Diet Coke glass bottles .
The COBOT has a loud speaker and a 8 Track tape which plays the following tracks :
Have a Coke and a Smile
Robot Bleeps
Computer Tones
Space and Laser Sounds


Manufactured - 275, by Creative Systems Group, Norcross, Georgia - for 21st Century Robotics, Inc.

Years produced:
Company:
Units made:
Original price:

Dimensions :




UPI Archives Nov. 14, 1984

The Coca Cola Co. is seeking an out-of-court settlement...

SEOUL, South Korea -- The Coca Cola Co. is seeking an out-of-court settlement in a $16 million damage suit filed by a South Korean toymaker against the giant U.S. beverage maker, business sources said Wednesday.

Coca Cola's legal stand was revealed after three U.S. lawyers arrived in Seoul Sunday to question witnesses representing Nam Hwa Co. Ltd., the plaintiff in the case.

Coca Cola proposed $4 million but the amount should go much higher,' one source said.

The questioning of witnesses in Seoul is part of a case in U.S. District Court for northern Georgia. A ruling is expected around Jan. 21.

Nam Hwa filed the suit after it went bankrupt in 1981 under heavy debts it incurred to install equipment in anticipation of Coca Cola's large purchases of Cobot -- a robot toy to be used as a Coke promotion tool.

The remote-controlled 'Cobot' is modeled after the 'R2-D2' robot in the movie 'Star Wars.'

Nam Hwa's dispute developed from an unfulfilled purchase order for 205,000 Cobots issued by Unicorn Industries, an agent for the Coca Cola, in March 1980 and an irrevocable letter of credit for 100,000 Cobots issued by Coca Cola Trading Co. in December 1980.

Nam Hwa oficials said Coca Cola backed away from the contracts after saying it had failed to obtain a license agreement from Lucasfilm Ltd., producer of 'Star Wars' and owner of the patent design for the 'R2-D2.'

Lucasfilm, the officials said, gave worldwide exclusive sales rights for 'Star Wars' toys to a U.S. toy company, with which Coca Cola had yet to negotiate to use the design right.

Nam Hwa claimed in the lawsuit that it was 'fradulently' induced into the deals, because Coca Cola had no right to use the design of 'R2-D2' when the contracts were signed.

Court documents available in Seoul indicate Coca Cola has failed in two preliminary legal motions to have Nam Hwa's suit dismissed.

Ruling against the Coca Cola motions, U.S. District Judge Marvin H. Shoob said in a Dec. 30, 1983, order that evidence 'might support a finding of fraud in the creation of the contract.'

'Coca Cola apparently had mentioned to Ham Hwa at one point that there was a dispute about Coca Cola's ability to employ the design of the robots,' Shoob said.

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Nice one James, love the keyring mate

James, that's a cool little key chain. What do you think the manufacture date is? I didn't see anything in your pictures?

Commander Clint wrote:James, that's a cool little key chain.   What do you think the manufacture date is?  I didn't see anything in your pictures?

I would guess between 1980 to 1985 but it's really hard to find any specific information on any COBOT stuff . If we could find someone to translate the Japanese writing on the side it may have the date

That's a great new addition. Well done.

very cool thread mate, lots of great info

Cool pic on the cup, and great pickup Clint!