Five-foot robot allows home workers to attend meetings in virtual form

'Working from home' is about to get a little easier - and creepier.

A new robot is designed to be a stand-in for workers, trundling through offices at walking pace with a video screen showing their face.

The robot carries a 17-inch LCD, and stands just over five feet tall.

The idea of the Beam Remote Presence Device (BRPD) is to allow workers to attend meetings in virtual form.


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It has built-in cameras and microphones to allow workers to see and hear colleages, and has a 'powerful' built-in speaker to allow workers to 'talk'.

Workers simply connnect to the robot from a home PC, and use their machine's webcam to communicate through the screen like a floating head.

Controls on a home PC allow workers to drive the 17-inch LCD screen around. The machine connects to nearby wi-fi networks.


Makers Suitable Technologies say, 'After years of design, testing, iteration, and improvement, the Beam Remote Presence System is the most natural, effortless way to connect people separated by distance.'

The Beam RPD is your physical presence in the world. It stands 62” tall, weighs 95 pounds, and has a 17″ screen, enabling the pilot’s face to be seen at human size.

'The battery can power the Beam RPD for up to eight hours of active use and its motors can reach human walking speed 

The robot is due for release in November this year, priced from $16,000.