Not all telepresence robot use centers on the work environment. They’ve also been adopted by a few school and higher-education institutions.
While a few students use the robots to attend class, one notable user uses his as a matter of safety, as going to school could prove extremely dangerous. The student in question is 7-year-old Devon Carrow-Sperduti of West Seneca, N.Y., who is afflicted with severe allergies that could prove potentially fatal if he incurs an allergic attack of any kind -- he was diagnosed with eosinophilic esophagitis disease and anaphylactic shock syndrome. In order for him to attend class, Devon’s parents opted for him to use the VGo telepresence robot.
The VGo is outfitted with a 6-inch LCD screen, a high-resolution camera with automatic/manual tilt and pan for streaming video and taking pictures, indication LEDs, and a programmable input pad situated on the robot's head. The bot is also equipped with four microphones and built-in speakers for communication. Its base is outfitted with sensors for navigation and safety, a 12-hour rechargeable battery, headlights, and two independently controlled wheels. Not only can Devon attend his classes, but he can also socialize with his friends at lunch and recess. It gives him and his friends the sense that he’s actually there.
Earth isn’t the only place where telepresence robots are used. NASA has adopted them for use outside the Earth’s atmosphere, including aboard the International Space Station (ISS).
Conceptualized by DARPA and developed by GM and NASA, the Robonaut 2 (R2) is essentially the current pinnacle (as of today) of telepresence use, as the robot can be controlled by those onboard the ISS itself or from those situated on Earth. R2 is also capable of performing autonomous tasks such as sensor monitoring and adjustment, tool handling for minor repairs, and other minor tasks as needed.
The robot is equipped with an impressive amount of hardware, including more than 350 sensors and 38 radiation-shielded PowerPC processors, two independently controlled arms with articulated hands (with 12-DOF each) capable of lifting 40 lbs., and four cameras (3 HD and 1 IR) mounted in the head, and it runs off of the ISS DC feed. The robot weighs in at roughly 330 lbs. (mostly because of its steel and aluminum frame) and has a fire-retardant skin, electromagnetic shielding, and ultra-efficient super-quiet heatsink/fans that allow the robot to work longer without overheating. R2 can be affixed to just about anything such as a moon-rover or work area, and NASA states future upgrades may bring about legs as well as the ability to work out in the vacuum of space itself.
While telepresence robots are mostly used in the tech industry’s workshops and offices, it’s easy to see them adapted for use just about anywhere that humans don’t have direct access to because of health or distance. As we enter 2013, it’s becoming clear that with businesses looking to expand their services in the global markets, the demand for telepresence technology will grow beyond its relative infancy. Chances are it will become a common sight to see co-workers using them in the office and boardroom. They may become so popular that we will see them being used for shopping or doctors using them to make house calls. Plus, who wants to go in to work anyway?
Great report, Cabe. I've wondered for some time when some corporate accountants will start to decide that it's cheaper to keep employees at home because it reduces the size and overhead costs of centralized facilities. If that happens, then telepresence robots seem like the next logical step.
I telecommute 100% of the time. On occasion I must deal with unruly coworkers. So my question is: will there be a robot available that will let me roll up to a coworker in the office and slap them upside the head to get their attention or announce my displeasure? That would be progress indeed.
Definitely a novelty at this point in time. In order for systems like this to more into the mainstream, obviously cost is an issue, but there is also a need to target the necessary set of features that would draw a larger following (especially if the cost is still high). Very interesting concept.
I see these bots as more of a novelty in most cases. People who need to interact with co-workers and have to be mobile would benefit. But I think the tech concept really shines in the situation with Devon, the sick child who attends school with it. It's the best alternative to being there.
I remember when telepresence was a wheeled in tube television and a stationary camera. It's about time this exists. I just hope the price comes down in the near future. Affordable high-end tech spurs innovation. Look at the smartphone's tech bloom.
Well, these robots are certainly pretty cool and give telecommuting a whole new meaning. But like some of the other comments made, I also am not sure how useful they would be unless someone's actual physical presence was really required at work. In my experience, the joy of telecommuting is that people don't necessarily get to see you while you're working at home--it sort of defeats the whole "working in your PJs" mystique (guilty as charged!). The technology itself is interesting, though, and certainly could have its valid applications.
Battar, you are so right. On the other hand, right now my wife is the one who works late. Frankly my sons appreciate the situation.
I am not sure of the actual utility of these robots at work. If your job requires constant interaction with a group of people then this may not be the way to go. You should probably be there.
In a recent blog I wrote on the growth of service robots http://www.designnews.com/author.asp?section_id=1386&doc_id=257119 a commenter asked about the difference between professional and personal service robots. The robots in Cabe's article here are a good example of personal service robots based on a design platform very similar to some professional service robots: the medical telepresence robots used increasingly in hospitals, which DN's Elizabeth Montalbano wrote about here: http://www.designnews.com/document.asp?doc_id=249227
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