It’s a beautiful sunny Thursday afternoon as you lounge on your beach chair in the Bahamas. You feel the warm ocean breeze on your skin while you attend a work meeting at your office in upstate New York. You tease your coworkers about the snowstorm they’re experiencing as they…wait a minute. How can you be in the Bahamas and at an office meeting in New York at the same time? Sounds too futuristic? Maybe not. The new telepresence robot that pairs with Android tablet may make this scenario a reality sooner than you think.
What is a telepresence robot?
A telepresence robot is a remote controlled mechanism you can utilize when you cannot physically be somewhere. It uses a video enabled device that allows you to see and be seen, giving you a physical presence while you’re somewhere else in the world.
The telepresence robot that pairs with Android is not the first of its kind on the market, but its price and key features may make it more mainstream and accessible. Both iRobot and Double Robotics have wheeled versions that were released in the past few years. The latter pairs with the iPad and navigates its environment using a Segway.
What’s the deal with the Android version?
The Android tablet version that couples with the telepresence robot is called Origibot and is currently being crowdfunded on Indiegogo. Yes, that means there is a chance it may not see the light of day. However, after raising almost 70% of its $18,000 goal in less than a month, people are clearly excited about the tech behind it. There are twenty-four days left, so chances are high that the Origibot will become a reality.
The Origibot is roughly 29.5 inches high, made from both aluminum and stainless steel, and moves around on wheels. Also, it comes with an optional arm and gripper. According to its creators, the Origibot can fill your pet’s bowl with water, carry drinks, water your plants, and even bring Grandma her meds! Unfortunately, there is no artificial intelligence involved, so the idea of having a fully functional robot butler is still only a dream- a dream that needs to be realized in our lifetime….
From a business perspective, an Origibot can take your place at the office if you’re a telecommuter. Then you’ll literally have a physical presence for meetings while you’re at home on your sofa or taking care of another matter. Until someone invents a flying car that runs off of oxygen, working remotely is the best way to save on fuel, as you will make less trips to the gas station.
How does it work?
Simply attach your Android tablet to the Origibot. Your tablet then connects with another Internet-enabled device that you control, through the company’s secure Cloud service.
Your connected device acts as a remote control for the Origibot, while the tablet allows you to see and hear what is happening in the space your Origibot occupies. Just think of the possibilities. If you use this robot and buy your groceries online, you’ll never even have to leave your house again. It’s a hermit’s dream come true!
The advantages of Origibot
There are other telepresence robot options available, but what makes Origibot different is its price. If you pledge in advance on Indiegogo, you can get an Origibot from anywhere between $329 and $599, depending on the version. Once it hits retail, that price is projected to rise to $499-$899.
Compared to its competitors, this is extremely affordable – iRobot and Double Robotics both cost over $2,000. If you want a telepresence robot, the Origibot will save you over $1,000. You could buy a lot of groceries with that. Or pizza.
The other difference is its size. The metal bar of the Origibot’s body is just a few inches in diameter and the wheeled base is 12.5 by 14 inches. This will make it easy to get through narrow places or maneuver around people. It would be perfect for serving up pizza at a party you cannot attend in person. Just make sure someone cleans the gripper first.
