Donut-shaped robots make life easier for the directionally challenged
Posted 04.08.2010 at 12:25 pm
9 Comments
Robot Guides
Robot guides help visitors navigate a banking center in Madrid.
Y Dreams
In an innovative solution to the problem of crowd control in a business complex filled with 5,500 employees, a banking center in Madrid has assembled a team of stylish, helpful robots to help people navigate. According to the robots' designers, the helmet-shaped Santander Interactive Guest Assistants (SIGA) are the first machines to use "swarm robotics in a commercial context" -- as opposed to, say, in submarine exploration or flying art.
After meeting the robots, guests choose their language and destination on the console's touchscreen. The robotic butlers then take them anywhere, from the meeting room, to the auditorium, to the exit toward a bus stop.
Check out the video to see the guidebots in action. We daresay that these mechanical donuts are as cute as they are functional.
[via Gizmodo]
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that is cool
Awesome. (:
Very, very cool...
Ivan Malagurski
a couple of improvements i might add.
a seat so the donut can carry the user to their destination in case they get tired
trunk space for the users luggage.
------------------------------------
other use: replacement for guide dogs.
Thats too hot... I like the tweaks that extremechiton added how about bomb sniffing and mri tech added to it as well and use them in these over crowded air/space ports!!!
ALIEN NATION
What's with those trees?
COOL, buy one please
So in a crowded space you want to add a robot that takes the person there?
If it is already too crowded how is adding more to the crowd a help??
These things just take up space in the halls. Makes no sense.
Interactive map on the walls maybe?
Now if you added a vacuum or mop to the thing and it could clean as it went it would at least have some purpose other than holding your hand through an office building.
Maybe add an air purifier and water dispenser, and it would be a multipurpose bot. It could clean up spills, purify the air, and give you a drink.
The future is really very exciting with all these things coming out.