Personal robots seem to be the next big thing in the world of robotics, and that has been exemplified by the likes of iRobot.
iRobot has just announced that they would be teaming up with Google to get Android apps for the AVA robot which they unveiled recently. AVA is a cute pedestal robot that can navigate itself through a crowd in an autonomous manner.
The best feature of the robot is that you could attach an iPad or any other tablet in place of its head, and the head would double up as a display as well. AVA would first be tested and developed for Android apps, which means Android too can finally live up to its name, which originates from robotic science. Many reviewers feel that AVA with its Google i/O could be the beginning of a new arena in the world of personal robotics, which might soon become common place in our homes.
The idea was to make AVA as people-friendly and human environment ready as possible. The video that was taken at the Google I/O 2011 reveals how that dream has been crystallized.
AVA’s processing is ‘head-independent’, which means the robot does not require the help of the tablet computer which would be used in place of its head. The processing happens in its body, and the navigation takes place with the help of two Kinect sensors.
With a top speed of 2 meters per second, the bot could outrun us many times over. AVA has been designed with a larger purpose, which is to allow Android developers to make their apps physically mobile. When that happens, one can assume that there could be any number of Android apps installed on your AVA, to do just about anything in your house or elsewhere.
You could also take a look at the Luna Robot, which adds to the Personal Telepresence experience. Also do take a look at Travel Assist Robots that we had listed earlier.
