Linux-powered robots go global

Researchers have unveiled internet-controlled wireless robots which are simple enough for "almost anyone" to build with off-the-shelf parts.

Created by boffins at Carnegie Mellon University, the robots can take many forms, from a three-wheeler with a mounted camera to a flower loaded with infrared sensors.

The customisable machines have the ability to link wirelessly to the internet, allowing users to control and monitor the robot's actions from any internet-connected computer in the world.

Hardware and a set of "recipes" that people follow to build the robots have been developed by the technicians.

Both are part of the Telepresence Robot Kit (TeRK) developed by associate professor of robotics Illah Nourbakhsh and members of his Community Robotics, Education and Technology Empowerment (Create) lab.

The stated goal is to make highly capable robots accessible and affordable for college and pre-college students, as well as anyone interested in robots.

At the heart of each TeRK robot is a unique controller called Qwerk that combines a Linux computer with the software and electronics necessary to control the robot's motors, cameras and other devices.

Qwerk, developed by the Create lab and Charmed Labs of Austin, Texas, also connects the robot automatically and wirelessly to the internet so it can be controlled from anywhere.

"The internet connection means that the robots are much more global," said Nourbakhsh.

The robot can send photos or video, respond to RSS feeds, or access the internet to find information, opening a wide range of possibilities. "We are hoping that people notice that the sky's the limit," added Nourbakhsh.

Among the TeRK recipes already available is a small, wheeled robot with a video camera that people might use to keep an eye on their home or pet while at work or school.

Another recipe under development includes environmental sensors for air quality and sound pollution.

A less conventional recipe will produce a robotic flower with six petals that can open and close based on moods or use its petals to play a game of catch.