Technical Specifications

The HeadThere Giraffe is a sophisticated Internet-enabled telepresence robot. The Giraffe uses either 3G telephony or an 802.11x wireless connection to maintain Internet connectivity. Video conferencing and mobility algorithms run on a VIA Mini-ITX main board running at 1Ghz and with 512 MB of RAM. A 512MB Flash-RAM supplies persistent storage. An AVR micro-controller handles hard real-time requirements such as executing motion profiles.

Form Factor: The Giraffe has been designed with a low center of gravity, ensuring stable operation even on wheelchair ramps. The Giraffe's surprisingly low 30lb ( 14kg ) weight allows it to easily be placed in your car or carried up stairs. The Giraffe can be remotely adjusted in height by a full 17", enabling the robot to assume both a 5' 8" standing height and a 4' 5" sitting height.

Head Unit: A 14" LCD panel with 1024x768 resolution is incorporated into the head unit. Video (352x288 CIF resolution under development) is magnified to fill the screen so the other person's face is visible. Video capture occurs using a 2 mega-pixel video camera with a 120 degree field of view lens. This offers much higher resolution and a much greater field of view than a typical computer webcam. This high resolution camera allows real 4x zoom without a reduction in the CIF video resolution. A 2" full-range speaker and two high-sensitively microphones handle the audio. The head unit can tilt +/-90 degrees using a powerful servo motor.

Base: The base moves using a differential drive movement system. A patented suspension system allows the 5" wheels to climb small obstacles and rugs while maintaining the stalk in an upright position. The drive wheels are driven by high-power motors enabling speeds of up to two meters per second, a brisk walking pace. Both drive motors use encoders for accurate positional feedback.

Sensors: 4 IR sensors are used for collision avoidance.

Wireless: Capable of supporting both 802.11 wireless and major 3G cellular data services, the Giraffe can be used almost anywhere.

Docking Station: A remote user can charge the Giraffe by driving it onto docking station. The docking station charges the 5000 mAh, 21V NiMH batteries in under two hours. A full charge is sufficient to allow the Giraffe to wander untethered for over two hours. The Giraffe can also be used while being charged, although naturally it must stay on the docking station.

User Interface: The HeadThere client interface is designed to be as easy to use as possible, and does not require any special hardware such as a joystick. A standard computer and its pointing device (such as a mouse) are all you need. The patent-pending click-to-move interface means that you can move the Giraffe device where you want, when you want, without wrestling with the controls. Simply click the mouse on the real-time video image, and the robot will go to the place you clicked. If you want to turn in place, make a dragging motion with the mouse on the real-time video image. The Giraffe will automatically move until the camera is centered at the end point of the drag.

Detailed Specifications in Chart Format