iRobot and Cisco TelePresence Join to Market Ava 500 Video Collaboration Robot 

Photo courtesy iRobot Corp.

By Holly Gonzalez 



IRobot announced the signing of an agreement with Cisco Tele Presence EX60 personal video endpoint to put to market the Ava 500 Video Collaboration Robot. 



The high-resolution screen of the TelePresence EX60 is mounted on top of the mobile robotics platform, allowing iRobot’s autonomous navigation capabilities and Cisco TelePresence to produce a robot with virtual and visual abilities. 



This robot allows offsite workers to access manufacturing facilities, laboratories, customer experience centers, and remote facilities in a mobile visual manner, the companies said. Ava 500 uses an iPad interface that the user taps to select a location, and the robot will physically travel in that remote location. Public or private mode can be used; but in public mode Ava 500 can stop and allow one to have a conversion with a person in the location. When the user is done, the robot automatically returns to the charging station. 



Youssef Saleh, vice president and general manager of iRobot’s Remote Presence business unit, said “iRobot has been successful in introducing autonomous remote presence platforms to hospitals. Ava 500 will unlock new markets and applications for telepresence in the workplace.” 



Ava 500 will be used in the enterprise market in remote team collaboration, executive management, tours, inspections and remote corporate training/presentations. Ava 500 also features autonomous navigation, interoperability and enterprise-grade security, the companies say.