Carnegie Mellon University researchers, with the support of Microsoft, Google and Intel, have developed a new series of Linux-based robot kits that “almost anyone” can build.

The Telepresence Robot Kit (TeRK) was developed by Associate Professor of Robotics Illah Nourbakhsh and members of his Community Robotics, Education and Technology Empowerment (CREATE) Lab.

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

TeRK is not sold as a complete set of parts. Instead CREATE provides a number of “recipes” that allow for a variety of robots to be built with parts commonly available through hardware and hobbyist outlets.

The robots can take many forms, from a three-wheeled model with a mounted camera to a flower loaded with infrared sensors. They can be easily customized and their ability to wirelessly link to the Internet allows users to control and monitor their robots’ actions from any Internet-connected computer in the world.

At the heart of TeRK is a US$349 controller, Qwerk, which was developed with the assistance of Charmed Labs.

Qwerk combines a computer with the software and electronics necessary to control the robot’s motors, cameras and other devices. Qwerk also connects the robot automatically and wirelessly to the Internet so it can be controlled by any Internet-connected computer.

“We leveraged several low-cost, yet high-performance components that were originally developed for the consumer electronics industry when we designed Qwerk,” said Rich LeGrand, president of Charmed Labs.

“The result is a cost-effective robot controller with impressive capabilities.”

Qwerk itself is a full-fledged computer with a Linux operating system that can use any computer language. Powered by a 200 MHz ARM processor, Qwerk has 32 MB of SDRAM and 8 MB of falsh memory. It features a field programmable gate array (FPGA) to control motors, servos, cameras, amplifiers and other devices. It also accepts USB peripheral devices, such as Web cameras and GPS receivers. Built-in WiFi allows it to be easily connected to the Internet. Full specs for Qwerk here.

Not only can the robot be operated remotely at any location with a wireless Internet connection, but it can also send photos or video, respond to RSS feeds, or access the Internet to find information.

“The Internet connection means the robots are much more global,” Nourbakhsh said. “We’re hoping people notice that the sky’s the limit.”

Building such a capable robot only five years ago would have been all but impossible, Nourbakhsh said. Using the Internet to provide telepresence on a routine basis, he explained, is practical today because of widespread broadband Internet access and the ubiquity of wireless hotspots in both public and residential settings.

TeRK was developed over the past year and a half with support from Google, Intel, and Microsoft. It’s already being used in a variety of college courses, middle school classes and community outreach programs.

Recipes, software, technical support and other information are available free at the TeRK Web site. The Qwerk controller is available for sale from Charmed Labs.

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Entry was posted on Friday, April 27th, 2007 at 1:51 pm under Google, Intel, Linux, Microsoft.

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