AVA 500: Innovative mobile robotic telepresence from iRobot and Cisco for remote locations

Telepresence in remote locations without leaving home is the innovative proposal of the AVA robotic system 500, fruit of the technological collaboration between iRobot and Cisco, ready for marketing 2014.

Two very different manufacturers, one telecommunications infrastructure provider (Cisco) and another developer of smart vacuum cleaners and robots (iRobot), have combined their technological knowledge to create AVA 500, a robotic telepresence system to hold business meetings in remote locations.

Although the first AVA prototype, fruit of technological collaboration between both manufacturers, was presented in the edition 2011 from the CES fair (International Consumer Electronics Show) held in Las Vegas, It is now that its commercialization is closer than ever after some improvements.

AVA 500 it's a robot, height adjustable, which moves on a three-wheel chain and has sensors with the company's 3D detection technology PrimeSense (similar to those of Microsoft Kinect), as well as sound sensors and laser meters to avoid collisions or hits against objects or people while moving.

This development is based on the Cisco TelePresence EX60 system installed on an iRobot robotic platform, with the ability to move autonomously, which is controlled by an iPad app, so the remote user selects the caller name, its location on the facility map, etc. so that AVA traces the route to follow and reaches the destination.

To execute your telepresence functions (in addition to the Cisco system mentioned), The system has a 21” screen and a camera on its mobile platform. (webcam) in high definition, as well as microphones for the emission and reception of high quality sound.

The remote user can control the robot from his computer and set the recipient selection, whether it is a specific office or the meeting room, etc. and even allows sharing between multiple users. Both the screen and the webcam can be active while AVA 500 moves to the destination or on standby.

This robotic system has a charging station (around six hours, like the ones iRobot uses in its smart devices) to replenish energy. AVA's marketing forecast 500 It is expected at the beginning of 2014, also in rental mode, exclusively for corporate environments (companies, industrial facilities, workshops, etc.).