Next-generation robot operated using Kinect

November 23, 2011
SmartPal VII

SmartPal VII (credit: Yaskawa Electric)

Yaskawa Electric has developed an upgrade to its SmartPal robot that can be operated remotely using a Kinect motion capture system, DigInfo TV reports.

SmartPal VII”s head now has a stereo camera that can pan and tilt and an infrared sensor, while the moving parts have gyro sensors.

These new features allow the robot to assist people with everyday tasks (even remotely) by bending down and picking things up, for example (the user can control it with arm motions).