Engadget http://www.engadget.com Engadget http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.engadget.com/media/feedlogo.gif Engadget http://www.engadget.com en-us Copyright 2012 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/<![CDATA[Yaskawa Electric's SmartPal VII lets you clean up grandma's house using Kinect (video)]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/11/21/yaskawa-electrics-smartpal-vii-lets-you-clean-up-grandmas-hous/http://www.engadget.com/2011/11/21/yaskawa-electrics-smartpal-vii-lets-you-clean-up-grandmas-hous/http://www.engadget.com/2011/11/21/yaskawa-electrics-smartpal-vii-lets-you-clean-up-grandmas-hous/#comments SmartPal VII The world's largest industrial robot manufacturer, Yaskawa Electric, wants to invade your grandmother's home. Alright, maybe invade isn't the word we're looking for, but if your Grams is anything like ours she probably wouldn't be happy about you dropping off a robot helper (she can take care of herself, don't you know). The SmartPal VII is a telepresence bot that can be controlled remotely using a Kinect. (Seriously, what can't Microsoft's gaming controller do?) The head-mounted stereoscopic cameras and infrared sensor enable it to navigate a room autonomously, while the light-weight arms equipped with touch sensors make it safer for human interaction. The demo of the bot picking up toys and putting them in a bin isn't the most exciting in the world, but it does show just how much control an operator has using simple hand gestures. Check out the video after the break.

Continue reading Yaskawa Electric's SmartPal VII lets you clean up grandma's house using Kinect (video)

Yaskawa Electric's SmartPal VII lets you clean up grandma's house using Kinect (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 21 Nov 2011 22:13:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>kinectMicrosoftmicrosoft kinectMicrosoftKinectrobotrobotssmartpalsmartpal ViiSmartpalViiTelepresencevideoyaskawa electricyaskawa electric smartpal ViiYaskawaElectricYaskawaElectricSmartpalViiMon, 21 Nov 2011 22:13:00 EST<![CDATA[Telesar V robot brings new meaning to escapism (video)]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/11/07/telesar-v-robot-brings-new-meaning-to-escapism-video/http://www.engadget.com/2011/11/07/telesar-v-robot-brings-new-meaning-to-escapism-video/http://www.engadget.com/2011/11/07/telesar-v-robot-brings-new-meaning-to-escapism-video/#comments The esoteric art of telepresence is all about that sweetest of dreams: being somewhere you'd rather be. So far, though, it's hardly teleported much beyond our head movements and kisses. What we really need is a fully-fledged avatar that can also feed sensory information back to us -- and that's exactly what the Telesar V claims to be. The user dons a pair of VR goggles that control the robot's head and see through its eyes. A pair of gloves not only control the Telesar's hands, but also transmit force and temperature data back from its sensors. Drag yourself away from that violent BF3 simulator and check out the smoochiness after the break. (And yes, the inventor's surname is just about perfect.)

Continue reading Telesar V robot brings new meaning to escapism (video)

Telesar V robot brings new meaning to escapism (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 07 Nov 2011 08:13:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>avatargogglesjapanjapaneseKeio UniversityKeioUniversityProfessor TachiProfessorTachisensationsensorsensorssensoryTachitelepresencetelesarTelesar VTelesarVtelexistencevirtual realityVirtualRealityVRVR glovesVR gogglesVrGlovesVrGogglesMon, 07 Nov 2011 08:13:00 EST<![CDATA[Sony makes floating-head telepresence avatars a reality, Sean Connery digs out gun and red speedos]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/05/16/sony-makes-floating-head-telepresence-avatars-a-reality-sean-co/http://www.engadget.com/2011/05/16/sony-makes-floating-head-telepresence-avatars-a-reality-sean-co/http://www.engadget.com/2011/05/16/sony-makes-floating-head-telepresence-avatars-a-reality-sean-co/#comments


The real world just got a little more Zardoz thanks to Tobita Hiroaki and his colleagues at Sony Computer Science Laboratory, who've built a telepresence blimp that projects the operator's face across its meter-wide surface. The looming, translucent face can float about like any other blimp; an interior camera allows the user to see where it's going. The whole thing is ominous in a completely different way from, say, a tiny googly-eyed robot perched on your shoulder, but something about its nearly silent movements still gives us the creeps - and unlike the Anybots QB, it's not going to pick up your scone from the café. But if your dreams include having others bow before your god-like visage, you'll have to wait awhile, as the technology's still in its early stages. In the meantime, you can practice intoning "Zardoz is pleased!" while watching the video above.

Sony makes floating-head telepresence avatars a reality, Sean Connery digs out gun and red speedos originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 16 May 2011 07:39:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>avatarblimpCSLfloatfloatingFloating AvatarFloatingAvatarresearchrobotsSonySony Computer Science LaboratorySony CSLSonyComputerScienceLaboratorySonyCsltelepresenceTobita HiroakiTobitaHiroakivideovideo callvideo chatvideo conferenceVideoCallVideoChatVideoConferencezardozMon, 16 May 2011 07:39:00 EST<![CDATA[Google and iRobot team up to put Android apps on Ava telepresence bot]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/05/12/google-and-irobot-team-up-to-put-android-apps-on-ava-telepresenc/http://www.engadget.com/2011/05/12/google-and-irobot-team-up-to-put-android-apps-on-ava-telepresenc/http://www.engadget.com/2011/05/12/google-and-irobot-team-up-to-put-android-apps-on-ava-telepresenc/#comments iRobot Ave at Google I/O Remember that Ava telepresence bot that we were gaga over at CES? Well Google has decided to lend iRobot a hand in getting the tablet-topped automaton rolling with some Android apps. The two companies have teamed up to create Ava specific programs that can be run from an Android slate perched on the extending neck of this silicon-brained companion. Apparently any 'ol tablet will do, so you'll still be able to play Angry Birds, but where's the fun in that? The exciting stuff will be apps that can communicate with the robot and pass it directions, meaning we need to figure out what our new, mechanical best friends should do for us. We've already got plenty of options for killing and beer serving -- how about one that folds our laundry? Oh, wait. Well, we'll think of something. While we ponder you check out Ava's cameo at Google I/O and the PR after the break.

Continue reading Google and iRobot team up to put Android apps on Ava telepresence bot

Google and iRobot team up to put Android apps on Ava telepresence bot originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 12 May 2011 03:10:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>androidappappsavagooglegoogle iogoogle io 2011GoogleIoGoogleIo2011ioio 2011Io2011iRobotirobot avaIrobotAvarobotroboticsrobotstablettabletstelepresencevideoThu, 12 May 2011 03:10:00 EST<![CDATA[RoboDynamics Luna: the 5-foot tall personal robotic platform (update: video)]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/05/11/robodynamics-luna-the-5-foot-tall-personal-robotic-platform-tha/http://www.engadget.com/2011/05/11/robodynamics-luna-the-5-foot-tall-personal-robotic-platform-tha/http://www.engadget.com/2011/05/11/robodynamics-luna-the-5-foot-tall-personal-robotic-platform-tha/#comments It's a new era for personal robotics. Meet Luna, the fully-programmable robot companion platform that will ship this year. As a platform, RoboDynamics -- a Santa Monica-based company previously grounded in telepresence -- is trying to position Luna as the 5-foot tall "beige box" of modern robotics. She comes with her own one-click Luna App Store, eight "Luna Expansion Ports" (think 12/5 volt USB for robots), and Luna CloudNet where third-parties can sell additional functionality like face recognition to app developers. The robot ships with a number of personality packs and features an 8-inch touchscreen, two cameras, wireless connectivity, a three-mic array, and a variety of sensors. Oh, and she's portable. Remember, Luna's not a prototype, but a real working robot that you can actually take home for the price of an entry-level fully-loaded laptop.

Update: While $1,000 is the ultimate target price, the initial batch of limited edition Luna robots will ship in Q4 for $3,000. General availability will begin in the second half of 2012 with final pricing coming later this year.

Gallery: RoboDynamics Luna: the 5-foot tall personal robotic platform that retails for $1,000

Continue reading RoboDynamics Luna: the 5-foot tall personal robotic platform (update: video)

RoboDynamics Luna: the 5-foot tall personal robotic platform (update: video) originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 11 May 2011 02:46:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>cloudnetcompanioncompanion robotCompanionRobotdomesticdomestic robotDomesticRobotlinuxlunaluna app storeluna cloudnetluna expansion portLunaAppStoreLunaCloudnetLunaExpansionPortlunaoslxppersonalpersonal robotPersonalRobotplatformrobodynamicsrobotic platformRoboticPlatformtelepresencevideoWed, 11 May 2011 02:46:00 EST<![CDATA[Students build self-balancing TIPI robot, plan new world order (video)]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/03/28/students-build-self-balancing-tipi-robot-plan-new-world-order/http://www.engadget.com/2011/03/28/students-build-self-balancing-tipi-robot-plan-new-world-order/http://www.engadget.com/2011/03/28/students-build-self-balancing-tipi-robot-plan-new-world-order/#comments Remember this guy, the QB robot that was priced at a whopping 15 grand? Seemingly, the webcam wheeler inspired a team of young minds at the University of Waterloo, who've unleashed the DIY in themselves to build one of their own. TIPI, or Telepresence Interface by Pendulum Inversion, was designed to give humans the feeling that they're not actually talking to a six-foot tall cyclops cyborg with an LCD face and webcam eye, but rather, evoke the emotions drawn when speaking the old, conventional, face-to-face way. Thanks to this team of mechatronics engineers, the low-cost TIPI uses an accelerometer, gyro and pendulum to balance by itself and can be remotely controlled while communicating via its Beagle Board and Polulu Orangutan SVP brain. Head past the break to see the robot struttin' its stuff -- oh, and get ready to rave. You'll see what we mean.

Continue reading Students build self-balancing TIPI robot, plan new world order (video)

Students build self-balancing TIPI robot, plan new world order (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 28 Mar 2011 17:32:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>accelerometerbalancebeaglebeagle boardBeagleBoardboardDIYdo it yourselfdo-it-yourselfDoItYourselfgyroscopeinterfaceinversionlcdorangutanpendulumpendulum-balancePoluluPolulu Orangutan SVPPoluluOrangutanSvprobotrobotsself-balancingspeakersvpTelepresenceTelepresence Interface by Pendulum InversionTelepresenceInterfaceByPendulumInversiontipiuniversityuniversity of waterlooUniversityOfWaterloovideowaterlooMon, 28 Mar 2011 17:32:00 EST<![CDATA[TEROOS robotic avatar gives your long-distance girlfriend a tiny, googly-eyed face (video)]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/03/25/teroos-robotic-avatar-gives-your-long-distance-girlfriend-a-tiny/http://www.engadget.com/2011/03/25/teroos-robotic-avatar-gives-your-long-distance-girlfriend-a-tiny/http://www.engadget.com/2011/03/25/teroos-robotic-avatar-gives-your-long-distance-girlfriend-a-tiny/#comments Do you pine for animatronic eyes and robots that whisper sweet nothings in your ear? Well, geeks with distant girlfriends rejoice, because TEROOS, the shoulder-mounted, remotely-controlled telepresence avatar has arrived. Created by researchers from Keio University in Japan, the little bot has a camera and mic so far away friends can see and hear what you do, while a directional speaker keeps your conversations private. Communication's courtesy of Skype, while some custom code lets users control the device's six-axis articulating head. It's not an independent system, however, as it relies upon a smartphone to relay commands from a PC to the avatar through Bluetooth. Users can also change the bot's facial expressions thanks to a couple of googly eyes and mechanical eyelids, though it doesn't have quite the emotional range of other androids from the land of the rising sun. Intrigued? Check the vid after the break.

Continue reading TEROOS robotic avatar gives your long-distance girlfriend a tiny, googly-eyed face (video)

TEROOS robotic avatar gives your long-distance girlfriend a tiny, googly-eyed face (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 25 Mar 2011 12:26:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>avataravatarsbluetoothchatkeio universityKeioUniversityrobotrobotsskypetelepresenceTEROOSvideovideo chatVideoChatFri, 25 Mar 2011 12:26:00 EST<![CDATA[Danish professor crafts a robotic twin: behold the Geminoid-DK (video)]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/03/07/denmark-professor-crafts-a-robotic-twin-behold-the-geminoid-dk/http://www.engadget.com/2011/03/07/denmark-professor-crafts-a-robotic-twin-behold-the-geminoid-dk/http://www.engadget.com/2011/03/07/denmark-professor-crafts-a-robotic-twin-behold-the-geminoid-dk/#comments

Uncannily realistic telepresence humanoids aren't just for the Japanese -- this week, it was revealed that Denmark is home to a brand-new Geminoid -- the Geminoid DK. Modeled after professor Henrik Scharfe at Aalborg University, this Geminoid-F derivative was constructed by Kokoro and ATR, the very same organizations that built the last few we've seen. The more things change, the more they stay the same: DK pulls off the beard quite nicely, but it still looks downright creepy when it smiles, blinks and breathes. See for yourself in plenty of video footage, both above and after the break.

Danish professor crafts a robotic twin: behold the Geminoid-DK (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 07 Mar 2011 00:19:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Aalborg UniversityAalborgUniversitydenmarkgeminoidGeminoid DKgeminoid-DKGeminoid-FGeminoidDkHenrik ScharfeHenrikScharfehumanoidrobotstelepresencevideoMon, 07 Mar 2011 00:19:00 EST<![CDATA[Johnny Chung Lee makes DIY telepresence bot out of an iRobot Create and a netbook]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/02/11/johnny-chung-lee-makes-diy-telepresence-bot-out-of-an-irobot-cre/http://www.engadget.com/2011/02/11/johnny-chung-lee-makes-diy-telepresence-bot-out-of-an-irobot-cre/http://www.engadget.com/2011/02/11/johnny-chung-lee-makes-diy-telepresence-bot-out-of-an-irobot-cre/#comments Most of us don't have $15,000 to drop on an Anybot, even though having one around would be nice in the event we don't feel like leaving the house to get some coffee. To help those of us with more humble means, our old friend Johnny Chung Lee (of Wiimote hacking and Kinect dev team fame) has utilized his prodigious DIY talents to create a video chat robot for the relatively paltry sum of $500. Using an iRobot Create ($250), a netbook with Skype ($250), a cable to connect the two, and some control software he wrote himself, Mr. Lee built a digital surrogate on the cheap. Johnny isn't the first person to so leverage iRobot's hacking platform, but he added a stand on top of the robot to get the PC closer to human height, attached a fish-eye lens to the webcam for better remote viewing, and even did some re-wiring to allow the netbook to charge via the Create's base station. The code and how-to instructions are up on his blog, so hit the source link if you're feeling up to making one yourself. Seems like Johnny Lee's putting that Google 20 percent time to good use thus far -- keep 'em coming. Check the video of this latest creation after the break.

Continue reading Johnny Chung Lee makes DIY telepresence bot out of an iRobot Create and a netbook

Johnny Chung Lee makes DIY telepresence bot out of an iRobot Create and a netbook originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 11 Feb 2011 23:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>creatediyhow tohow-toHowToirobotirobot createIrobotCreateJohnny Chung LeeJohnnyChungLeerobotrobotsTelepresencetelepresence robotTelepresenceRobotvideoFri, 11 Feb 2011 23:40:00 EST<![CDATA[Robot buys a scone in a coffee shop, that's all you really need to know (video)]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/02/09/robot-buys-a-scone-in-a-coffee-shop-thats-all-you-need-to-know/http://www.engadget.com/2011/02/09/robot-buys-a-scone-in-a-coffee-shop-thats-all-you-need-to-know/http://www.engadget.com/2011/02/09/robot-buys-a-scone-in-a-coffee-shop-thats-all-you-need-to-know/#comments Robots. Constructed by man to make our lives easier and provide opportunities for sloth that might not have arisen otherwise. One resident of Mountain View, California decided that commanding his Anybot to fetch a scone from Red Rock Coffee was a good use of the $15,000 telepresence automaton. And here we thought bot proliferation would either freak us out or engineer mankind's demise -- turns out it'll just add a few more folks in line while we wait to order our next cup of joe.

Continue reading Robot buys a scone in a coffee shop, that's all you really need to know (video)

Robot buys a scone in a coffee shop, that's all you really need to know (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 09 Feb 2011 05:44:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>anybotanybotscoffee shopCoffeeShopqbrobotrobot apocalypseRobotApocalypseTelepresencetelepresence robotTelepresenceRobotvideoWed, 09 Feb 2011 05:44:00 EST<![CDATA[Texas student sends robot to school in his place, can't get it to do his homework]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/02/03/texas-student-sends-robot-to-school-in-his-place-cant-get-it-t/http://www.engadget.com/2011/02/03/texas-student-sends-robot-to-school-in-his-place-cant-get-it-t/http://www.engadget.com/2011/02/03/texas-student-sends-robot-to-school-in-his-place-cant-get-it-t/#comments
You may have recently seen telepresence robots played for laughs on The Big Bang Theory, but they do also have quite a few practical purposes, and high school student Lyndon Baty from Knox City, Texas is now using one to particularly great effect. He has a weakened immune system that prevents him from actually attending school, so he's using a remotely-controlled Vgo telepresence "robot" that allows him to move from class to class and interact with teachers and other students using nothing more than his laptop and webcam at home. The bot itself is four-feet tall, self-balancing, and simply packs a basic video conferencing system up top that allows its operator to interact with their surroundings -- at $5,000, it's also considerably cheaper than some other similar options. As Popular Science notes, however, this isn't the first time that a telepresence bot has gone to school -- a student in Russia suffering from leukemia has also been using a similar bot since September of last year as part of a pilot project from the robot's designers. Head on past the break for the local news report from Texas.

Continue reading Texas student sends robot to school in his place, can't get it to do his homework

Texas student sends robot to school in his place, can't get it to do his homework originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 03 Feb 2011 19:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>boteducationrobotschoolTelepresencetelepresence robotTelepresenceRobotvgovideoThu, 03 Feb 2011 19:45:00 EST<![CDATA[Self-balancing Anybots QB now shipping, the future of telepresence is now (video)]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/02/01/self-balancing-anybots-qb-now-shipping-the-future-of-telepresen/http://www.engadget.com/2011/02/01/self-balancing-anybots-qb-now-shipping-the-future-of-telepresen/http://www.engadget.com/2011/02/01/self-balancing-anybots-qb-now-shipping-the-future-of-telepresen/#commentsSelf-balancing Anybot now shipping, the future of telepresence is now First they came for our telepresence, and we did not speak because we couldn't afford them. Then they came for our physical presence, and there was no one left to speak out for us. Yes, Anybots are coming, the self-balancing QB robot available for purchase and shipping now, but at $15,000 we're thinking not too many of you will be jumping on this bandwagon to start. As we saw in our hands-on in December the self-balancing bots enable you to be somewhere that you aren't, controlled through a simple web interface and enabling executives to remotely monitor and run over the toes of their peons toiling in the office while said execs sit comfortably at home. There's some footage of one of the bots in action below, which you'd better watch before one of them captures footage of you maintaining a state of inaction.

Continue reading Self-balancing Anybots QB now shipping, the future of telepresence is now (video)

Self-balancing Anybots QB now shipping, the future of telepresence is now (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 01 Feb 2011 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>anybotsavailablenow availableNowAvailableqbrobotself-balancingtelepresencevideowifiwirelessTue, 01 Feb 2011 11:00:00 EST<![CDATA[iRobot AVA chills with us at CES, will turn Android and iPad app developers into roboticists (video)]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/01/07/irobot-ava-chills-with-us-at-ces-will-turn-android-and-ipad-app/http://www.engadget.com/2011/01/07/irobot-ava-chills-with-us-at-ces-will-turn-android-and-ipad-app/http://www.engadget.com/2011/01/07/irobot-ava-chills-with-us-at-ces-will-turn-android-and-ipad-app/#comments We just got a chance to meet iRobot's AVA and talk to iRobot's CEO Colin Angle about his plans for this intriguing new bot. What we're looking at right now is basically a developer platform, or a "concept car" as Colin put it, showing off ideas for a consumer-facing bot with a lot more smarts than a Roomba, with hopes to attract developers who can extend its functionality. What wasn't clear to us before is that the tablet perched atop the bot can be any iPad or Android tablet -- not some first-party model by iRobot -- and the point of that is to let existing iPad and Android devs to develop apps using their regular tools that can control the bot through an API iRobot will give them access to. That means, unlike some robotic SDKs out there, developers won't have to learn the ins and outs of robots before they build an app for the AVA, they just have to pass simple instructions to the bot which can be interpreted by iRobot's already impressive software. For instance, the robot can already drive itself around a building and map it entirely, so then a software dev would just have to pick a point on a map and send AVA on its way -- no complicated navigation work on the app dev's part. iRobot also sees potential for game devs, which is particularly interesting because they could combine two of the "hot" areas of current game development: Kinect-style motion controls and touch controls. It's all very exciting, we assure you, so we suggest you follow after the break and watch this video -- before we sic AVA on your ass.

Gallery: iRobot AVA chills with us at CES

iRobot AVA chills with us at CES, will turn Android and iPad app developers into roboticists (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 07 Jan 2011 16:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>avacesces 2011ces2011hands-onirobottelepresencevideoFri, 07 Jan 2011 16:59:00 EST<![CDATA[iRobot debuts AVA telepresence robot with tablet controls]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/01/06/irobot-debuts-ava-telepresence-robot-with-tablet-controls/http://www.engadget.com/2011/01/06/irobot-debuts-ava-telepresence-robot-with-tablet-controls/http://www.engadget.com/2011/01/06/irobot-debuts-ava-telepresence-robot-with-tablet-controls/#comments 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 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>avabreaking newsBreakingNewscesces 2011ces2011irobottelepresencetelepresence robotTelepresenceRobotvideoThu, 06 Jan 2011 22:43:00 EST<![CDATA[DIY telepresence robot uses PrimeSense Kinect drivers for extremely awkward push-ups (video)]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/01/03/diy-telepresence-robot-uses-primesense-kinect-drivers-for-extrem/http://www.engadget.com/2011/01/03/diy-telepresence-robot-uses-primesense-kinect-drivers-for-extrem/http://www.engadget.com/2011/01/03/diy-telepresence-robot-uses-primesense-kinect-drivers-for-extrem/#comments
From enhancing your WoW game to putting you in Tom Hanks's shoes, DIYers the world o'er really do seem to love Kinect. And what do we have here? Taylor Veltrop's Veltrobot remote telepresence 'bot uses the PrimeSense open source Kinect drivers for tracking the user's skeleton, with a modified Kondo KHR-1HV mirroring the operator's movements (which are received via 802.11n WiFi). Right now he is only controlling the arms, but with any luck we should be seeing complete control over all the robot's movements soon enough. Once the thing is finalized, Veltrop plans on releasing an open source development kit. And then? That's right: robot avatars for everyone!

Continue reading DIY telepresence robot uses PrimeSense Kinect drivers for extremely awkward push-ups (video)

DIY telepresence robot uses PrimeSense Kinect drivers for extremely awkward push-ups (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 03 Jan 2011 14:16:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>diydriverhackhacksKHR-1HVkinectKondoKondo KHR-1HVKondoKhr-1hvmodopen sourceopenniOpenSourceprimesenseproject natalProjectNatalrobotrosside kickside-kickSideKickTaylor VeltropTaylorVeltroptelepresenceveltrobotvideowillow garageWillowGarageMon, 03 Jan 2011 14:16:00 EST<![CDATA[EngKey telepresence robot teaches English to Koreans by way of the Philippines]]>http://www.engadget.com/2010/12/28/engkey-telepresence-robot-teaches-english-to-koreans-by-way-of-t/http://www.engadget.com/2010/12/28/engkey-telepresence-robot-teaches-english-to-koreans-by-way-of-t/http://www.engadget.com/2010/12/28/engkey-telepresence-robot-teaches-english-to-koreans-by-way-of-t/#comments
You know, for all the hubbub we've been hearing about le robots (the robots), you'd think we'd see them put to better uses than chasing our pets and killing people. Right? Right. Well, the best use we can think of is education, and that's exactly what they're doing at an elementary school in Daegu, South Korea. Developed by the Korea Institute of Science of Technology (KIST), EngKey is just under three-and-a-half feet high, features a video display for a face, and seems hell bent on taking all those "teach English in Korea" jobs away from shiftless American college grads looking to postpone responsibility for one or two more desperate years. There are currently twenty-nine such devices, which -- get this -- are actually operated remotely by teachers in the Philippines. Is this the end result of globalism? Not quite yet: for the time being, the robots are still too cumbersome to operate and expensive to justify putting into production. But who knows? Maybe someday, kids.

EngKey telepresence robot teaches English to Koreans by way of the Philippines originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 28 Dec 2010 22:03:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>daegueducationEngKeyKISTkoreaKorea Institute of Science of TechnologyKoreaInstituteOfScienceOfTechnologyremoterobotrobotssouth koreaSouthKoreateachteachertelepresenceTue, 28 Dec 2010 22:03:00 EST<![CDATA[Anybots QB hands-on]]>http://www.engadget.com/2010/12/10/anybots-qb-hands-on/http://www.engadget.com/2010/12/10/anybots-qb-hands-on/http://www.engadget.com/2010/12/10/anybots-qb-hands-on/#comments This week at GigaOM's NetWork 2010 conference in San Francisco, we briefly mingled with our robot overlords and survived to tell the tale. Anybots was letting its $15,000 QB telepresence robot decimate roam the crowd, and we were invited to interact with one and then take another for a spin by way of remote control. The experience was entertaining but still rather impersonal, mostly due to the lack of two-way video, something that's billed as "coming soon." There's no word on whether the robots -- which are starting to (literally) roll off the assembly line -- were amused or not. Based on our abysmal remote-control skills, we can only assume our lives were spared for one reason: to write this post. Take a look at our videos after the break!

Gallery: Anybots QB hands-on

Continue reading Anybots QB hands-on

Anybots QB hands-on originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 10 Dec 2010 14:03:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>anybotanybotshands-onqbrobotrobot apocalypseRobotApocalypsetelepresencevideoFri, 10 Dec 2010 14:03:00 EST<![CDATA[MantaroBot telepresence robot works via Skype, offends our aesthetic sensibilities]]>http://www.engadget.com/2010/12/07/mantarobot-telepresence-robot-works-via-skype-offends-our-aesth/http://www.engadget.com/2010/12/07/mantarobot-telepresence-robot-works-via-skype-offends-our-aesth/http://www.engadget.com/2010/12/07/mantarobot-telepresence-robot-works-via-skype-offends-our-aesth/#comments
We don't see much in this space from Mantaro, an engineering and development company that usually works on things like network management systems and switches for telecoms. That's why we were pleasantly surprised when the company announced an affordable telepresence robot. How affordable, you ask? Well, in a marketplace where these things can easily cost well over ten grand, MantaroBot can be yours for a cut-rate $3,500. Unfortunately, in a marketplace where these things can easily cost over ten grand, MantaroBot also looks like it cost a cut-rate $3,500. But you know what? Sometimes one must choose function over form. And what you get here is pretty straightforward: the remote operator steers the robot and communicates using a Skype plug-in (PC only) that also allows 180 degree panning and tilting of the onboard HD camera. This bad boy also features infrared sensors for obstacle detection, communication link monitoring (if you go offline, MantaroBot stops in its place) and more. Available now. PR after the break.

Continue reading MantaroBot telepresence robot works via Skype, offends our aesthetic sensibilities

MantaroBot telepresence robot works via Skype, offends our aesthetic sensibilities originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 07 Dec 2010 10:06:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>conferencingmantaromantarobotrobotskypetelepresencevideo conferencingVideoConferencingTue, 07 Dec 2010 10:06:00 EST<![CDATA[Screen Grabs: Willow Garage's telepresence bot guest stars on The Big Bang Theory]]>http://www.engadget.com/2010/10/04/screen-grabs-willow-garages-telepresence-bot-guest-stars-on-th/http://www.engadget.com/2010/10/04/screen-grabs-willow-garages-telepresence-bot-guest-stars-on-th/http://www.engadget.com/2010/10/04/screen-grabs-willow-garages-telepresence-bot-guest-stars-on-th/#commentsScreen Grabs chronicles the uses (and misuses) of real-world gadgets in today's movies and TV. Send in your sightings (with screen grab!) to screengrabs at engadget dot com.
CBS's The Big Bang Theory is the super popular sitcom about brilliant nerds. If you've been watching, you've undoubtedly seen Steve Wozniak's recent guest spot -- but there have been other notable presences, too. Willow Garage's Texai telepresence robot recently made an appearance as "Shel-bot" -- a stand in for the character Sheldon. While we didn't get to see the hilarious high jinks ourselves, we can tell from the screen shots that it was a pretty good time. Hit up the coverage link to learn more about Willow Garage's Texai.

Screen Grabs: Willow Garage's telepresence bot guest stars on The Big Bang Theory originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 04 Oct 2010 02:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>big bang theoryBigBangTheoryrobotrobotsscreen grabsscreengrabstelepresencetexaiwillow garageWillowGarageMon, 04 Oct 2010 02:02:00 EST<![CDATA[Hiroshi Ishiguro creates his creepiest robot yet, the Telenoid R1 (video)]]>http://www.engadget.com/2010/08/02/hiroshi-ishiguro-creates-his-creepiest-robot-yet-the-telenoid-r/http://www.engadget.com/2010/08/02/hiroshi-ishiguro-creates-his-creepiest-robot-yet-the-telenoid-r/http://www.engadget.com/2010/08/02/hiroshi-ishiguro-creates-his-creepiest-robot-yet-the-telenoid-r/#comments Sure, creating freakish humanoid clones is Hiroshi Ishiguro's primary hobby, but his latest work takes a couple steps outside the Uncanny Valley. The Telenoid R1 telepresence robot trades extremities for an androgynous doll-like body, which researchers at Osaka University and ATR describe as "soft and pleasant" but strikes us as something we'd see crawling out of the depths of hell on stump-like arms. (Perhaps Ishiguro was going for Casper the Friendly Ghost.) The $35,000 prototype transmits both the voice and head motions of a remote operator, allowing dutiful Japanese individuals to visit their elders via internet-equipped PCs, and a final version will actually go on sale later this year for around $8,000 should said elders agree with the latest in puffy white design. Watch a sample visit after the break.

Continue reading Hiroshi Ishiguro creates his creepiest robot yet, the Telenoid R1 (video)

Hiroshi Ishiguro creates his creepiest robot yet, the Telenoid R1 (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 02 Aug 2010 04:34:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Advanced Telecommunications Research InstituteAdvancedTelecommunicationsResearchInstituteATRAtreyuGeminoidhiroshi ishiguroHiroshiIshiguroJapanosaka universityOsakaUniversityrobotroboticsRobotstelenoidtelenoid R1TelenoidR1TelepresencevideoMon, 02 Aug 2010 04:34:00 EST<![CDATA[Anybots QB telepresence robot: nag employees remotely for $15,000]]>http://www.engadget.com/2010/07/29/anybots-qb-telepresence-robot-nag-employees-remotely-for-15-00/http://www.engadget.com/2010/07/29/anybots-qb-telepresence-robot-nag-employees-remotely-for-15-00/http://www.engadget.com/2010/07/29/anybots-qb-telepresence-robot-nag-employees-remotely-for-15-00/#comments
Anybots has a new telepresence robot, the QB -- and while it certainly seems to be an advance on the QA, which we saw at CES 2009, we gotta admit that it's not nearly as cute as its predecessor. Marketed towards CEO-types, this bad boy can be controlled via your PC (or eventually your Mac), and it features WiFi b/g connectivity, 5 megapixel camera, speaker, microphone, and a max speed of 3.5 MPH. To be honest, having your boss follow you around the office with a webcam-on-wheels sounds more like a NewsRadio plot than effective office management, but certainly there's someone rich and crazy enough to drop $15,000 on one of these. The first hundred to put down ten percent get membership in the prestigious 100 Club! For reals! Which reminds us, it's been awhile since we've listened to our Sex Pistols Live At The 100 Club CD. PR, video after the break.

Continue reading Anybots QB telepresence robot: nag employees remotely for $15,000

Anybots QB telepresence robot: nag employees remotely for $15,000 originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 29 Jul 2010 10:53:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>anybotsanybots qbAnybotsQbqbrobotrobotsTelepresencevideoThu, 29 Jul 2010 10:53:00 EST<![CDATA[Mahru robot dances via telepresence, Kate Gosselin never had it so good (video)]]>http://www.engadget.com/2010/04/28/mahru-robot-dances-via-telepresence-kate-gosselin-never-had-it/http://www.engadget.com/2010/04/28/mahru-robot-dances-via-telepresence-kate-gosselin-never-had-it/http://www.engadget.com/2010/04/28/mahru-robot-dances-via-telepresence-kate-gosselin-never-had-it/#comments
We are such suckers for a cute robot. Take Mahru, for instance -- every time it does a jig or grabs a slice of toast we are charmed just a little bit more. And while the thing is impressive, it might be the manner with which they program the device that might be the most interesting part. Apparently, the gang at KIST have a system in place whereby an operator can wear a motion capture suit and send movements to the robot in real-time (well, mostly real-time -- there is still quite a bit of lag below the waist, so to speak). The video below shows said operator waving his arms and moving his torso, only to have the robot mirror his every move. Wild, huh? And if that ain't enough, the thing has learned a dance or two since we last laid eyes on it. Talk about giving Asimo a run for his money! Peep for yourself after the break.

Continue reading Mahru robot dances via telepresence, Kate Gosselin never had it so good (video)

Mahru robot dances via telepresence, Kate Gosselin never had it so good (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 28 Apr 2010 11:09:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>body trackingBodyTrackingdancekistkist mahruKistMahrukoreamahruprogrammingrobottelepresencevideoWed, 28 Apr 2010 11:09:00 EST<![CDATA[MIT's MeBot makes telerobotics fun again]]>http://www.engadget.com/2010/03/01/mits-mebot-makes-telerobotics-fun-again/http://www.engadget.com/2010/03/01/mits-mebot-makes-telerobotics-fun-again/http://www.engadget.com/2010/03/01/mits-mebot-makes-telerobotics-fun-again/#comments We know how you feel. Sure, telerobotics has changed your life for the better, allowing to interact with people as if you're really there, coasting through the halls of an institution of higher learning, dropping knowledge on anyone within shouting distance. But something's missing. You aren't happy, you aren't free. MeBot, developed at MIT's Personal Robotics Group and prepped for presentation at the Human-Robot Interaction conference in Osaka, Japan, looks to solve this. It adds movement to the equation, hoisting an OQO aloft for a head and adding in gesticulating arms to the equation. The idea is to allow the teleoperator to be more engaged through "head" and "arm" movements, with the arms being moved by handheld controls, and the head movement created by tracking the face of the operator. We could obviously conceive of a more elaborate representation, but the off the shelf components like the OQO brain seem worthy of commendation. Check out some video of the bot in action after the break.

Continue reading MIT's MeBot makes telerobotics fun again

MIT's MeBot makes telerobotics fun again originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 01 Mar 2010 17:33:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>botmebotmitoqopersonal robotics groupPersonalRoboticsGrouptelepresenceteleroboticsMon, 01 Mar 2010 17:33:00 EST<![CDATA[CoolerBot photographs nature, gets its power from it]]>http://www.engadget.com/2009/12/14/coolerbot-photographs-nature-gets-its-power-from-it/http://www.engadget.com/2009/12/14/coolerbot-photographs-nature-gets-its-power-from-it/http://www.engadget.com/2009/12/14/coolerbot-photographs-nature-gets-its-power-from-it/#comments If you're into real life bunny wabbits and other such wildlife, but not a fan of the cold, wet and windy outdoors, what do you do? We'd say just boot up the console and shoot you some pixelated peoples, but Steve Norris' idea might be just a tad more practical. He has authored the above mobile snap-station, which is equipped with an infrared video camera, a Nikon DSLR, and pairs of motors, 10Ah batteries, and solar panels. Power flows from the latter into the former to turn wildlife stalking into a pleasurable pastime for even the most indoorsy of folks. Video demonstration of the hardware after the break.

Continue reading CoolerBot photographs nature, gets its power from it

CoolerBot photographs nature, gets its power from it originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 14 Dec 2009 06:53:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>botcoolerbotdiydronedslr videoDslrVideoeco-friendlyhomebrewhomebuilthomemadeinfraredinfrared video cameraInfraredVideoCameranaturenikon dslrNikonD90NikonDslroutdoorsphotographyrobotruggedsolarsolar panelssolar powersolar-poweredSolarPanelsSolarPowersteve norrisSteveNorristelepresencewaterproofMon, 14 Dec 2009 06:53:00 EST<![CDATA[iRobot's ConnectR gets sent to wherever robots go when they die]]>http://www.engadget.com/2009/01/10/irobots-connectr-gets-sent-to-wherever-robots-go-when-they-die/http://www.engadget.com/2009/01/10/irobots-connectr-gets-sent-to-wherever-robots-go-when-they-die/http://www.engadget.com/2009/01/10/irobots-connectr-gets-sent-to-wherever-robots-go-when-they-die/#commentsiRobot's ConnectR gets sent to wherever robots go when they die
It's a sad, sad day for telepresence. iRobot's ConnectR, the Roomba with a webcam on top, has been given the knife, deemed "not yet practical enough" for all you oh-so practical consumers out there. The device, which pledged to let you call home and explore your abode like some domesticated rover, stood poised to open new avenues for the confusion of cats and other small pets. Perhaps $500 was a bit too steep for the beta group, or maybe users spending that much wanted something that looked a little less like a sentient vacuum, but, regardless of the reason, we're not expecting anything like this to hit retail until we pull ourselves out of these economic doldrums.

[Thanks to everyone who sent this in]

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iRobot's ConnectR gets sent to wherever robots go when they die originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 10 Jan 2009 01:54:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>connectrirobotirobot connectrIrobotConnectrtelepresenceSat, 10 Jan 2009 01:54:00 EST<![CDATA[Anybots rolls out QA, the telegenic telepresence robot]]>http://www.engadget.com/2009/01/09/anybots-rolls-out-qa-the-telegenic-telepresence-robot/http://www.engadget.com/2009/01/09/anybots-rolls-out-qa-the-telegenic-telepresence-robot/http://www.engadget.com/2009/01/09/anybots-rolls-out-qa-the-telegenic-telepresence-robot/#comments
Also making the scene in Las Vegas this week, QA is designed specifically for telepresence. This guy stands 5 feet tall and is kitted with a 5 megapixel camera, forward-mounted display, WiFi and optional 3G connectivity, and a laser pointer for, well, pointing at things. Available for purchase sometime in late 2009, the price will be somewhere in the $15,000 - $25,000 range. Video after the break.

[Via Get Robo]

Continue reading Anybots rolls out QA, the telegenic telepresence robot

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Anybots rolls out QA, the telegenic telepresence robot originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 09 Jan 2009 23:21:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>anybotscesces 2009Ces2009QAtelepresenceFri, 09 Jan 2009 23:21:00 EST<![CDATA[Meet Sparky, the DIY Mac mini telepresence robot]]>http://www.engadget.com/2008/11/07/meet-sparky-the-diy-mac-mini-telepresence-robot/http://www.engadget.com/2008/11/07/meet-sparky-the-diy-mac-mini-telepresence-robot/http://www.engadget.com/2008/11/07/meet-sparky-the-diy-mac-mini-telepresence-robot/#commentsMeet Sparky, the DIY Mac mini telepresence robot
When robot builders try to put a human face on their creations, the results usually range between mildly creepy and downright disturbing. Sparky, the Self Portrait Artifact Roving Chassis, dodges that problem entirely by displaying the face of a real, live person on an Erector- and bungee-mounted LCD, creating a package that's far more charming than iRobot's ConnectR. Based on a Mac mini, the bot uses Skype for the video and chat, with a plugin enabling the disembodied head to steer the thing about the room, tossing out Max Headroom quotes all the while. A short vid below gives the basics of how to bolt one of these together, while full instructions are at the read link. We just wish they could teach us how to build ourselves a charming smile like that.

Continue reading Meet Sparky, the DIY Mac mini telepresence robot

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Meet Sparky, the DIY Mac mini telepresence robot originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 07 Nov 2008 13:12:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>diymac miniMacMinimodpluginrobotskypetelepresenceFri, 07 Nov 2008 13:12:00 EST<![CDATA[Nokia's Jeppe video "pet" concept]]>http://www.engadget.com/2008/08/12/nokias-jeppe-video-pet-concept/http://www.engadget.com/2008/08/12/nokias-jeppe-video-pet-concept/http://www.engadget.com/2008/08/12/nokias-jeppe-video-pet-concept/#comments
No matter how much we do it, video conferencing is still one of the most awkward internet-related tasks we undertake on a regular basis. Nokia hopes to bring a more casual air to the event with its Jeppe video conferencing robot pet concept. Similar to most telepresence bots, Jeppe can be controlled remotely -- through a Nokia interface, conveniently -- and zips through the home with its digital compass and sound sensors seeking humans to bother. Unfortunately, the video is at a fixed angle and there's no option wipe that creepy grin of its face, but obviously Nokia has some refining to do before it brings Jeppe to market, if ever. There's video after the break of a couple Finnish engineers proving once and for all that there's no solving the awkward video conferencing problem.

[Via Core77]

Continue reading Nokia's Jeppe video "pet" concept

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Nokia's Jeppe video "pet" concept originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 12 Aug 2008 09:36:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>jeppenokiatelepresencevideo conferencingVideoConferencingTue, 12 Aug 2008 09:36:00 EST<![CDATA[iRobot debuts ConnectR and Looj home bots]]>http://www.engadget.com/2007/09/27/irobot-debuts-connectr-and-looj-home-bots/http://www.engadget.com/2007/09/27/irobot-debuts-connectr-and-looj-home-bots/http://www.engadget.com/2007/09/27/irobot-debuts-connectr-and-looj-home-bots/#comments
iRobot's mission to create the "robot home" got a whole lot more fleshed out this afternoon at the company's DigitalLife keynote. The general idea is to get usable tech into any and every home -- not just for the nerds, not like the Jetsons. "A little boring, but fantastically useful robots." Obviously iRobot has been attempting this a while with its Roomba and related lines, but the new ConnectR and Looj bots really flesh out that vision. On the boring end of things, the Looj is a remote-controlled bot that can clean up to 60 feet of gutter in 10 minutes. It rolls through your gutter tank-style and spits out the debris, and then rolls back to you. It's waterproof for easy cleaning, and is available today for $99. The ConnectR takes a whole new angle for iRobot, offering telepresence instead of the usual drudgery removal. You can "virtually visit" friends and family by controlling the WiFi-connected bot remotely, with live video, audio, controls and sensor data. The camera tilts and zooms, and has a zoom mode high resolution enough for reading text. You can transmit your voice through the bot, and control an LED light to convey mood. ConnectR launches next year for $499, and will be available in a pilot program for $199 to select beta-testing users.

Gallery: iRobot debuts ConnectR and Looj home bots

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iRobot debuts ConnectR and Looj home bots originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 27 Sep 2007 14:56:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>connectrirobotloojrobotstelepresenceThu, 27 Sep 2007 14:56:00 EST