Everyone, it seems, wants to build a telepresence robot that moves. Revolve Robotics, however, wants to build a telepresence robot that doesn’t break the bank.
So Revolve built Kubi, a robot that swivels and tilts … but stays put wherever you place it.
“The whole moving avatar thing is pretty cool,” CEO Marcus Rosenthal admits. “But, not only is it a bit creepy — with people driving up behind you and looking over your shoulder — it’s pretty expensive.”
In fact, Rosenthal says, 80 percent of the value of a telepresence robot is in a specific room, not in moving around. And 90 percent of the cost is the ability to move. Sold on those two premises, the Revolve team built a, yes, revolving robot that neither walks nor rolls.
Simply attach your iPad to the Kubi base, and you’ve got instant telepresence capability.
via Venture Beat
