Telepresence. That’s what this is about. The Double takes an iPad, puts it on a long stick, attaches it all to a set of self-balacing wheels and creates a telepresence robot that lets you “be there” without being there. You control it from a distance with yet another iPad, and your face (or whatever) is broadcast to the screen on the Double so that people can see you. The height is adjustable, and there are kickstands when it isn’t being used so that energy is conserved. Driving the bot around is a simple matter of pressing on some D-pad like controls. The battery should last about 8 hours on a 2 hour charge.
The Double is useful for a bunch of things, like bossing your employees around the office, creeping kids in the neighbourhood (good way of getting your iPad stolen though), and going on dates. It’s $2,000, but the first batch sold out, so now you have to wait until 2013.
Hit the jump for a video of The Double in action, as well as links.
Double by Double Robotics – Pre-order Now from Double Robotics on Vimeo.
[ Product Page ] VIA [ DVice ]
