Anybots rolls out QA, the telegenic telepresence robot

Also making the scene in Las Vegas this week, QA is designed specifically for telepresence. This guy stands 5 feet tall and is kitted with a 5 megapixel camera, forward-mounted display, WiFi and optional 3G connectivity, and a laser pointer for, well, pointing at things. Available for purchase sometime in late 2009, the price will be somewhere in the $15,000 - $25,000 range. Video after the break.

[Via Get Robo]

[Les @ Jan 9th 2009 11:25PM]

Like dem curves!

lol

[Kamil @ Jan 9th 2009 11:25PM]

I, for one, welcome our new telegenic telepresence robot overlords.

[redleader158 @ Jan 9th 2009 11:32PM]

ALL YOUR BASE ARE BELONG TO US

[andres @ Jan 10th 2009 12:41AM]

for great justice, let it die already.

[Bloo @ Jan 9th 2009 11:44PM]

So that is how man will fall to the robots, blinded by laser pointers.

[AxelFury @ Jan 9th 2009 11:51PM]

Uncle Paulie will love it!

[ImaYam @ Jan 10th 2009 12:05AM]

A Segway powered robot!



Kinda freaky to have that thing scanning down your neck while you drink your coffee.

[andres @ Jan 10th 2009 12:42AM]

it's looking for a weak spot

[STINK @ Jan 10th 2009 12:38AM]

Exterminate! EXTERMINATE!!

[J @ Jan 10th 2009 1:08AM]

Pay no attention to the man with the Apple Mac.

Wizard of TeleOz

[B3astofthe3ast @ Jan 10th 2009 1:08AM]

Just wait till it becomes self aware...

[A1e @ Jan 10th 2009 1:24AM]

Robot thinking: wow that is a next gen!

[yrag @ Jan 10th 2009 1:44AM]

OK!

Now it's STARTING to actually look like the future that was promised.

Just let me know when I can order my own pretty Cameron TOK715—uh—minus all the violent Terminator programming of course.

I'll just sit here and hold my breath until it's time.

Waiting. Waiting. Still waiting . . .

. . . feeling . . lightheaded . . . room spinning . . . everything go . . go . . going daarkkk . . . . . . .

[Electromodo @ Jan 10th 2009 3:11AM]

$15,000+ is way too high. The Giraffe robot that essentially does the same thing is expected to retail for $1,800-$3,000

http://www.headthere.com/products.html

Of course, Giraffe looks minimalistic in comparison with QA, but Giraffe has bigger screen and costs 5+ times less.

[Alex @ Jan 10th 2009 3:33AM]

Why give a robot arms when you could give it LASER POINTERS!

Logic at its finest.

I have one question though - what is the obsession with making robots white? Seriously they could make it red like a ferrari, or shiny black and steel like a mac, but nooooooooo they make it white like your mum's old fridge (without all the yellowing around the edges).

I think I'll start up my own business to get into this niche market - robot magnets! Now you can decorate your boring white robot like your boring white fridge! Why use its screen when you can attach post-it notes all over it!

I'll be down here in my bunker waiting for the inevitable takeover of the Fridge Robot.

[Bloody Good @ Jan 10th 2009 4:58PM]

The snow white colour has its reasons. For once it makes a more stylish appearance when stained with blood and seconds it is easier to spot the blood stains.

[yrag @ Jan 10th 2009 12:25PM]

@ Electromodo
"$15,000+ is way too high. The Giraffe robot that essentially does the same thing is expected to retail for $1,800-$3,000
http://www.headthere.com/products.html"

Thanks! Pretty damn cool. Huge price difference. The video really said it all—well almost all, I would have like to had some footage from the tele-guest's view point.

A couple points:
• The laser pointer on the Anybot QA would be useful (although hardly essential) on the Giraffe
• both units might benefit from having some sort of "headlights" to turn on in darker areas.

Very interesting times are certainly coming (new millennium Depression not withstanding).