“Facetime on wheels” has been used to describe this particular telepresence robot known as Double, and just to get an idea on the kind of potential it has in the market, we are looking at a cool $1 million worth of pre-orders in just three weeks of its announcement. David Cann, the founder and CEO of Double Robotics said, “It’s a Segway for your iPad.” Basically, when you hook up an iPad to your Double, it will function as a roving telepresence device (although not on Mars). Sporting a sturdy aluminum base, urethane and plastic wheels, the Double comes with custom control systems and iOS software so that you can drive it around remotely, carry out video chats with whoever it encounters, and also help you see what the camera on your iPad picks up.
Seems to be the ideal device for one who wants to send in a “body double” for inspection purposes, and if it is capable of all-terrain movement, it would be extremely useful in investigating dangerous areas such as a collapsed mine or being of use to the military in gathering intelligence. Not only that, it helps you attend a meeting when you are unable to be there physically, although I believe that we would be more comfortable with a holographic representation like how the top Umbrella Corporation management meet instead of talking to an iPad.
Each Double unit will have a starting price of at least $1,999, and that excludes the price of the iPad, of course.
By Ubergizmo. Related articles: Shimi the personal robotic DJ, Fujitsu explores software robot to tackle college entrance exams,
Students will definitely perk up and sit straight upon hearing that Fujitsu will be working on a project that will create artificial intelligence that hopefully, will be able to ace college entrance exams. At least, we are looking at the math segment at one of Japan’s top universities. Eventually, the final goal of Fujitsu’s research division is to create software by the year 2021 which is capable of completing the exact same math test which teenagers sit for when applying to enter Tokyo University, one of the country’s higher institutions of learning that is “famous” for its grueling entrance requirements.
The police as well as military have had their fair share of help from animals such as bloodhounds and guard dogs on the field, but how about enlisting an unfeeling, unflinching individual that does not tire out or show any emotion? Yes, I am referring to a robot, and the Bergen County Police recently demonstrated an underwater search robot that can make dives into murky, contaminated water, sparing the officers in a wet suit from doing so along the way.
