Editing Telerobotics (section)

===Telepresence and videoconferencing===
[[File:IRobot Ava 500.jpg|thumb|iRobot Ava 500, an autonomous roaming telepresence robot]]

The prevalence of high quality video conferencing using mobile devices, tablets and portable computers has enabled a drastic growth in telepresence robots to help give a better sense of remote physical presence for communication and collaboration in the office, home, school, etc. when one cannot be there in person. The robot avatar can move or look around at the command of the remote person.<ref>Rick Lehrbaum, "[http://www.informationweek.com/applications/attack-of-the-telepresence-robots!/d/d-id/1108137 Attack of the Telepresence Robots!]", ''InformationWeek'', 11 January 2013 (accessed 8 December 2013).</ref><ref>Jacob Ward, "[http://www.popsci.com/article/technology/i-am-robot-boss I am a robot boss]", ''Popular Science'', 28 October 2013.</ref>

There have been two primary approaches that both utilize videoconferencing on a display.
* '''Desktop telepresence robots''' typically mount a phone or tablet on a motorized desktop stand to enable the remote person to look around a remote environment by panning and tilting the display.
* '''Drivable telepresence robots''' typically contain a display (integrated or separate phone or tablet) mounted on a roaming base.  More modern roaming telepresence robots may include an ability to operate autonomously. The robots can map out the space and be able to avoid obstacles while driving themselves between rooms and their docking stations.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Honig|first1=Zach|title=iRobot's Ava 500 telepresence-on-a-stick is rolling out now (update: $69,500!!)|url=https://www.engadget.com/2014/03/17/irobot-ava-500/ |date=17 March 2014 |publisher=Engadget|access-date=4 July 2014 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140714174348/https://www.engadget.com/2014/03/17/irobot-ava-500/ |archive-date= 14 July 2014 }}</ref>

Traditional videoconferencing systems and telepresence rooms generally offer pan-tilt-zoom cameras with far end control. The ability for the remote user to turn the device's head and look around naturally during a meeting is often seen as the strongest feature of a telepresence robot. For this reason, the developers have emerged in the new category of desktop telepresence robots that concentrate on this strongest feature to create a much lower cost robot. The desktop telepresence robots, also called "head-and-neck robots"<ref>John Biggs, "[https://techcrunch.com/2012/12/06/revolve-robotics-announces-kubi-a-telepresence-rig-that-works-like-your-neck/ Revolve Robotics Announces Kubi, A Telepresence Rig That Works Like Your Neck]", "Tech Crunch", 6 December 2012.</ref> allow users to look around during a meeting and are small enough to be carried from location to location, eliminating the need for remote navigation.<ref>Sanford Dickert and David Maldow, Esq., "[https://www.scribd.com/doc/153304043/TPO-Magazine-2013-Robotic-Telepresence-State-of-the-Industry Robotic Telepresence State of the Industry]", ''Telepresence Options'', Summer 2013 (accessed 8 December 2013).</ref>

Some telepresence robots are highly helpful for some children with long-term illnesses, who were unable to attend school regularly. Latest innovative technologies can bring people together, and it allows them to stay connected to each other, which significantly help them to overcome loneliness.<ref>{{cite web |title=Telepresence robots help chronically ill kids maintain social, academic ties at school |url=https://robohub.org/telepresence-robots-help-chronically-ill-kids-maintain-social-academic-ties-at-school |website=robohub |publisher=University of California, Irvine |date=9 September 2016 |access-date=6 September 2019}}</ref>