Categories
Robots/Drones

Aijia Pro smart robot monitors your home, tells you what a pen is

The age of the robot is upon us. Take a gander at any social media feed and be met with dozens of stories about how they’re all going to either radically improve humanity or completely decimate it. While popular opinion lives in the extremes, robots still need to achieve a lot more to get there — although it’s certainly not stopping some from trying to some robotic presence into our lives sooner.

The Aijia Pro is sequel to a previously successful Indiegogo campaign (whose link doesn’t exist anymore) that peddled a ‘smart healthcare robot.’ Wisely, Delong Tech has decided to eschew any claims to healthcare features because they don’t exist in this version. Instead, the robot can monitor a household by moving around and rotating, using its motion detector to identify suspicious activity. This triggers an alert mode that sets up a real-time video call to the user’s smartphone.

Categories
Robots/Drones Tablet Accessories

EMotion helps move telepresence robotics into more affordable territory

editors-choiceTelepresence robots allow people who are away from home to check in on their pets and make sure burglars haven’t broken in. Regular viewers of the TV show The Good Wife know that telepresence robots can also be used to take part in office meetings when users are home sick or on a business trip. Such devices can also conceivably be used so that sick kids don’t miss important lessons at school. One major problem so far has been that these devices are too costly.

EMotion is designed to be a more affordable option for consumers who want a telepresence robot. The moving robotic device works in conjunction with iPads or Android tablets. Additional functions that can be done with it include video chatting with friends and family via services such as FaceTime or Skype. EMotion ships in June at $599, although early bird Kickstarter backers can get one for a pledge starting at about $178. Its makers hope to raise $48,146 by March 3.

Categories
Connected Objects

Telemba crosses an iPad and Roomba for cheap DIY telepresence

telembaTelepresence robots are becoming more popular as they become cheaper. Remote-controlled devices provided by companies like Double Robotics allow users to attend meeting or classes without actually leaving the home. Telemba functions on the same principles, only without the big cost often associated with robotics. Telemba essentially serves as a bridge between a tablet and a Roomba, giving users remote control and access using the Telemba website. By driving the Roomba and communicating through the tablet, Telemba makes it easier than ever to begin telecommuting robotically using items homeowners may already have. Telemba comes in two sizes that cost $150 or $170, and will deliver to backers in October 2014.