Telepresence Robots: When You Can’t Be There in Person

Popular Science reports that California-based Anybots are producing telepresence robots which could act as surrogates for telecommuting workers. They are expected to cost between $10,000 and $15,000, so the robots are not for everyone, but environments which require a lot of physical movement and oversight such as overseas manufacturing plants could benefit from the device.

Popular Science explains:

The robots are equipped with a screen displaying your smiling mug to your co-workers, as well as a camera that beams a feed straight to your computer screen. They’re also mobile, so you can still drop by co-workers’ offices unannounced, presumably to let them know that a robot will be filling in for you today. There are a few variations that Anybots is toying with, including one with long arms and hands, and another with a laser pointer that, while useful for pointing things out in a physical environment, will prove slightly less cool than Johnny 5′s shoulder-mounted laser cannon.

Watch a video demo below.

Popular Science: “Robotic Surrogate Takes Your Place at Work”