PROJECTS MultisenseTM WiFi® Robots The dream of an affordable computer controlled robot that is both fun to play with and can provide the platform for real research has been realized in Telepresence Technologies' new MultisenseTM Rovers. Based on over four years of serious research, the MultisenseTM Rovers represent a significant leap forward in robotic design. With a retail price of under $300, these rovers pack an incredible feature set: PC control On-board video and audio, displayed through the PC Four wheel independent drive means incredible maneuverability and awesome terrainability (a tilt sensor is necessary to keep this thing literally from climbing walls) WiFi (802.11b) communications pathway allows for massive data transfers Multiple sensors on-board allow for remote interaction with the environment Single-board MultiplugTM construction provides a rugged platform Patent pending connectors allow for the addition of Smart SensorTM technologies for amazing expandability Multiple software scenarios for "out of the box" fun Open interface architecture to allow the serious researcher to expand its capabilities A Mars-themed unit will be available for sale in the second quarter of 2004. Expansion packs with additional sensors will be available in the third quarter of 2004. RoboNanny lets you keep an eye on your baby while you work. Robo-NannyTM An up-rated version of the MultisenseTM Rover, with a larger footprint and customized software, Robo-NannyTM makes the perfect surveillance platform. Imagine sitting in your office and being able to check up on your home through a browser interface displaying live video and audio from the Robo-NannyTM. Can't see anything from where the Robo-NannyTM is? Then simply drive it around your house. Leaving your house (or beach home) for an extended period? Program Robo-NannyTM to take a daily "stroll" and record the condition of the house and download it to a remote computer. Available - Fourth quarter, 2004. "Flight to the Moon"TM Ride Film Working with ViRtogo, Telepresence Technologies is creating an entertaining and educational motion ride film for the science center, museum, or Location Base Entertainment (LBE) location. "Flight to the Moon" takes the participants on a 5 minute thrilling ride to the Moon, based on actual NASA footage, and state of the art computer graphics. The creators have talked with a number of Apollo astronauts who walked (and rode) on the lunar surface, and have asked them to share not only what the saw, but what they felt as well, so we could incorporate it into this motion ride. After strapping into the ViRtogo 6-DOF motion platform, the ride begins a pan upwards of the giant Saturn V rocket, with President Kennedy's famous challenge to a generation "We choose to go to the Moon in this decade, not because it is easy, but because it is hard." The giant F-1 engines roar to life in surround sound, and your entire world shakes as the Saturn V lifts off. After staging, you're "go for Trans-lunar Injection" and the Moon awaits. Before you know it, you're at the Moon, and the Lunar Module pitches over to give a view of the landing site. And then you're there with the Apollo astronauts as they plant the American flag, declaring that "we come in peace, for all mankind." It's time to explore! You hop aboard the lunar rover, and shake, rattle, and roll over the lunar surface. But you can't stay there forever, and soon it's time to light the ascent state of the LEM and return to dock with the Apollo Command module. Then it's back to the big beautiful blue Earth, and a safe splashdown to end the experience. Immersive User Interfaces for Planetary Robots MultisenseTM technology is not just about fun and toys. The Telepresence Technologies team has engaged in serious research into designing immersive user interfaces for planetary robots for almost ten years. Hardware innovations include: Real-time motion platform systems Surround-sound systems including Very Low Frequency (VLF) woofers imbedded in the seat to translate the "rumble" sound into feel Hot and cold fans to provide the user a sense of temperature changes Forcefeedback joystick control which "fights back" as the user tries to either drive up hills, or, in the case of an intelligent remote robot, where the user attempts to direct the rover in an unsafe direction Dry-charge scent capsules to quick convey smell Software interfaces include: Control of "virtual" rovers over datasets Control of remote robots Motion and other "sense mixer" control interfaces Vote2DriveTM interface to allow large numbers of people to collaborately operate a remote robot The Ultimate Goal: Ever notice when trying to view a 3-D image that sometimes it takes a second or two and then - SNAP! - you're seeing 3-D? Think about that happening not just with vision, but with multiple other senses simultaneously. Our experience shows that if all of the senses are "dialed" in correctly, the user experiences that same SNAP!, except that instead of just seeing stereo, your senses literally are transported to the remote location. The difficulty is that each individual is unique, and how their various senses relate to their environment is different. Thus, "dialing in" the proper amount of each sensual stimulus is difficult. Telepresense Technology is working on a "sensation mixer" which will allow the user to quickly become acclimated to the various sense inputs, and more quickly be transported to the remote location. Ultimately the goal is to build a completely emersive system that can convey all of these senses simultaneously to a large number of people, as well as establish a protocol for the transmission of data whereby such future TXP's can be plugged into a variety of robots in remote locations.