iRobot Ava is a mobile robotic platform designed for acting in a home or public places for a virtual visit of the user. Placed at home, the telepresence robot is an indispensable operator that provides care for elderly people, or a tool for a virtual doctor visit. In public spaces, Ava can be located in many places starting with retail or factory virtual visits, and to offices for virtual meetings.

The story of Ava starting in 2011 when the robot was revealed at New York by iRobot Chief Executive Colin Angle. Since then, iRobot push the Ava project to gravitate toward health care applications. This is an opportunity for the Ava telepresence robot to make his presence in many more places and start the new telemedicine industry.

Ava was built using friendly technology for interfacing with users, for example the primary interface with users is a tablet located at the top of the robot. Even it is used an iPad or any other Android tablet, the user has the opportunity to install applications for more effective communication. The three wheeled robot can change their emotional state by changing her lights in various colors such as red, green or blue.

The weaknesses of the iRobot Ava telepresence robot are the WiFi connectivity, cleaning mode in case of applications in hospitals, and the failure of sensors in autonomous mode. If the connection between the operator and the robot is missing due to lack of Internet signal, the robot cannot be controlled. Used in hospitals, the telepresence robot is subject to microbial hazards especially from wheels that are in permanent contact with the floor and the touch screen that is used by the doctor or patient. Used in autonomous mode, if a sensor failed the possibility to avoid obstacles decreases while the risk of crashes is increased.

Navigation and Control

Sensors are the primary parts used in navigation and the whole control of robotic systems is done with a tablet. Ava cannot navigate autonomously without Kinect, laser and ultrasonic sensors, as well as a powerful Intel computer. Autonomous navigation implies the existence of a map and sensors in order to detect the presence of human/objects and avoid these. The robot gives feedback when an object is accidentally bumped via LED located at the base of the robot.

After the user set points where the robot must reach, Ava enters in autonomous mode and uses the sensors and his brain to reach that point.

If the robot is in a new place, it uses the sensors and a video camera to map the location and store the necessary information for navigation in autonomous mode. After the digital map is created, users can add labels for rooms, set up the speed for that location, or enter restriction for a zone.

The operator can see in real-time on the map where is Ava and it can redirect the robot to another place.

The user can operate the robot using the tablet interface located at the top of the machine. There, it can have access to any Ava feature and when the tablet is not used to operate the robot, the “head” is used for video conference.

Ava Head

The head is split between the docking station for tablet, Kinect sensor, and a rounded disk where are placed the speakers.

The head of iRobot Ava is a tablet that can be rotated at 90 degrees depending on the application. Even the head is an iPad or any Android tablet, the robot has the same behavior plus new features that come with the developed applications. Ava has emotions, any emotion can be expressed by colors or facial expressions that appear on the touch screen.

The head is used for user interfacing as well as display video images in a conference or graphic animation when the Kinect sensor is used.

Wheeled Base

Ava is moving on wheels and at the base are located the batteries, motors for driving the wheels, and an adjustable mast. At the top of the telescopic mast is located the “brain” of the robot.

With a triangular frame, all sensors used in navigation are integrated in the mobile base including the scanning laser or ultrasonic sensors. Since it is an autonomous robot, when the battery is low, Ava starts the autonomous recharging system for recharging and moving at the loading point.