Skift Take
Are there really enough people who want to remote-control a robot and visit places virtually? We're skeptical. But the founder of the startup Propelmee is surprisingly persuasive at the potential uses for such robots.
The robots were already coming for your jobs. Now they're coming for your vacations, too. Robot maker Propelmee will begin testing in mid-September at several UK attractions a virtual tourism robot called Challau.
People anywhere in the world can remotely control the robot, which looks like a Segway, via a simple, browser-based interface on their computer or smartphone.
"After you click a button, you'll see and hear what the robot's cameras and microphones are broadcasting live," said Zain Khawaja, founder and CEO of Propelmee. "If there's something you want to look at more closely, you can direct the robot to move forward, pause, or turn around. It's the real-time kinetic control that makes it much more dream-like and compelling than a live-streamed camera shot."
Propelmee, based in Milton Keynes, UK, hasn't disclosed yet which UK sites have agreed to participate but said the beta tests would be at outdoor attractions like zoos, castles, and arboretums.
https://youtu.be/V740ij1xBeo
Skeptics have scoffed at the notion of virtual vacations as poor imitations of real-life travel. And virtual vacations have been a minuscule business to date. But previous attemp
