iRobot debuts AVA telepresence robot with tablet controls

iRobot’s first attempt at a telepresence robot, a modified Roomba, was a false start , but now they’re back with an all-new bot called AVA which should right all wrongs. The bot can adjust its own height from three feet to five feet tall to meet you at eye level, with a tablet perched on top (this is CES 2011, after all). Its base is an odd three-wheeled configuration for maneuverability, and the robot has DARPA Challenge-style environment mapping to avoid bumping into anything or anybody. For sensors the AVA is using dual Kinect-style PrimeSense sensors, along with laser rangefinders, scanning acoustic sensors, and bump sensors. There’s naturally a microphone and camera for the bot’s primary purpose: video telepresence. What’s more interesting, however, is that iRobot has an apps platform for this, which will allow developers to build new functionality. There’s no word on price or when this will go on sale, but we already know one thing: we want one. Check out some quality time that PC Magazine ‘s Lance Ulanoff spent with AVA after the break. Continue reading iRobot debuts AVA telepresence robot with tablet controls iRobot debuts AVA telepresence robot with tablet controls originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 06 Jan 2011 22:43:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink

Posted by on January 7, 2011. Filed under News, Tech. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can leave a response or trackback to this entry