Double telepresence robot uses iPads for control, comms
updated 07:15 am EDT, Wed August 15, 2012
Self-balancing iPad stand includes remote height controls
Double Robotics has shown off a telepresence robot using a Segway-style method to move around and stay upright. Dubbed the Double, the self-balancing slate stand uses one iPad in the robot's holster, serving as the "face" and camera, while another is used as a remote control from another location, connecting over the Internet.
The remote iPad uses a downloadable app to select which Double to take control of, and can control the motion of the robot as well as the stand's height. The video-chat aspect forgoes FaceTime and instead will be using OpenTok, a video chat service from Tokbox.
Telepresence robots have been worked on for a considerable amount of time by various companies, although usually accompanied by a hefty price tag. iRobot, creators of the Roomba autonomous vacuum cleaner, showed off its Ava prototype in public last year and during CES, but has not revealed how much it will eventually cost.
Double is set for preorders at $2000 with shipments aimed to be sent by December, with the price rising to $2500 after release. The iPads required for its use are not included. [via The Verge]
