Photo courtesy iRobot Corp.

by Scott Kesselman



IRobot Corp. has unveiled its uPoint Multi-Robot Control system, a universal control for iRobot’s security and defense robots, such as the PackBot, running on Android touchscreen devices.



Operators can control multiple robots in the vicinity from the same application, switching back and forth easily. The program also enables users to move the robot with the touch of a finger; includes predictive drive lines for navigation through tight spaces, autonomous driving modes, data sharing with other team members and video recording.



Prior to uPoint, each unique iRobot model had their own custom controller that got increasingly complex when companies added additional tools and sensors to robots. Trained operators would even require five to 10 minutes to familiarize themselves with the controls before every use, according to a company press release.



“Success as a robot operator during high-stress, critical operations depends on precise and reliable control, so the interface needs to be intuitive,” says Frank Wilson, senior vice president and general manager of iRobot Defense and Security. “The uPoint MRC system drives mission effectiveness by decreasing training time and increasing overall ease of use. With uPoint, you point and the robot goes.”