Attack of the Telepresence Robots!

Telepresence robot smackdown!

Let's examine how the key features and specs of these five telepresence robots compare. While they each have a number of unique features and characteristics, I've summarized the main specs of all these telepresence robots in the table below. As you'll see, there's quite a range in pricing.

Summary of features & specs for five telepresence robots

	MantaroBot "TeleMe"	VGo Communications "VGo"	Anybots "QB"	Suitable Tech "Beam"	Revolve Robotics "Kubi"
Height	60 in.	48 in.	34 or 74 in.	62 in.	16 in.
Weight	20 lbs	18 or 22 lbs (depends on battery)	35 lbs	95 lbs	3 lbs
Motion type	tilt/swivel; locomotion	tilt/swivel; locomotion	tilt/swivel; locomotion	tilt/swivel; locomotion	tilt/swivel
Wheels	2 active, 1 passive	2 active, 2 passive	2	2 active, 3 passive	n/a
Max speed	2 ft/sec	2.5 ft/sec	5 ft/sec	5 ft/sec	n/a
Obstacle sensors	yes	yes	yes	none	n/a
Battery capacity	6 or 8.5 hrs (battery dependent)	6 or 12 hrs (battery dependent)	6-8 hrs	8 hrs	4 hrs
Display	depends on tablet	6-inch diag LCD	3.7-inch diag LCD	17-inch diag LCD	depends on tablet
Cameras	1 (via tablet)	1	2	2 wide-angle HD	1 (via tablet)
Microphones	1 (via tablet)	4	3	6	1 (via tablet)
Laser pointer	optional	no	yes	no	no
Wireless	WiFi	WiFi; 4G (option)	Wifi	2 dual-band 2.5/5GHz radios	Bluetooth + WiFi or cellular (depends on tablet)
First shipments	Q3 2012	Q4 2011	Q1 2011	Q4 2012	Q2 2013
Base price	$1,500 (+ tablet)	$6,000	$9,700	$16,000	$249 (+ tablet)

Telepresence video demonstrations

The videos below breathe a little more life into the concept of telepresence robots.

Suitable Technologies "Beam"	VGo Communications "VGo"
Anybot "QB"	Revolve Robotics "Kubi"
MantaroBot "TeleMe"

The bottom line

Slowly but steadily, mobile telepresence robots are insinuating themselves into our work environments, especially in situations where they provide services that would not otherwise be available. For example, some of their first successes are in hospitals, nursing homes, and home health care.

Whether the ability to meander through a remote location is necessary, or even practical, depends a lot on the facility's layout. Are there doors that must be opened? Stairs to climb? Multiple buildings to move between? And then there's the need to recharge before running out of power and going into a shut-down mode.

Bear in mind that what we're seeing here is the emergence of a new industry; and if Moore's Law applies here as it does to so many IT spheres, it won't be long before these gadgets are inexpensive, commonplace, and far more flexible and intelligent.

Let's just hope they don't get too smart, and decide to take over!

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Further info

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More information about the products discussed above are available from the companies' websites, as listed below:

• MantaroBot: "TeleMe"
• VGo Communications: "VGo"
• Anybots: "QB"
• Suitable Technologies: "Beam"
• Revolve Robotics: "Kubi"