Glossary
In our TRinE Glossary we collect Questions and Answers centered around the use of Telepresence Robots in education. The answers are based on the experiences of the project partners and the results of our research. This page is constantly updated with new entries.
TRinE Glossary
| Question | Answer | Category |
|---|---|---|
| What is a Telepresence Robot (TR)? | A Telepresence Robot is a mobile remote-controlled device, with wireless internet connectivity that represents the remote user via video and audio. | general |
| What models of TRs are available? | There are several TR models available in different price categories. A good overview with the possibility to compare models is provided by this page: https://telepresencerobots.com/comparison | general |
| How much does a TR cost? | Prices for commercial telepresence robot models currently vary from 1500 to 10.000 Euros. DIY models start at 55 Euros. | general |
| Which organisations already use a TR? | Have a look at our TRinE project map: https://www.trine-platform.com/trine-ideas/ | general |
| What is the difference between telepresence and social robot? | The telepresence robot serves for human-to-human interaction and is controlled by a human beeing.The social robot is controlled by a computer algorithm. A social robot is an autonomous robot that interacts and communicates with humans or other autonomous physical agents by following social behaviors and rules attached to its role. | general |
| Why should I use TR instead of a video call on a tablet or laptop? | The use of TR allows you to move freely around in the room. This increases the feeling of presence on site - both for the remote user and for those present. Subsequently, this has great potential, especially on a social level. However, there are also situations where the use of traditional video chat is more appropriate (e.g. for frontal lectures or when several people meet online). | general |
| What is telepresence? | "Telepresence" involves the feeling of being present even though the audience and the speaker are separated by distance. | general |
| What are the types of a TR? | There are two types of telepresence robots: Stationary and Non-Stationary | general |
| From what age can a TR be operated? | Students from age 6 can operated a TR, but the youngest might need observation. | general |
| Where can I try out a TR? | You can make a test drive of a telepresence robot without appointment on the website of Boteyes: https://boteyes.com/TestDriveCommonPhone.html You can try out the TR by OhmniLabs with scheduling an appointment: https://ohmnilabs.com/ohmni-demo/ You can google "telepresence robots test drive" and you can find numerous of web pages of manufacturers or resellers providing online booking or contact form for a test drive appointment. | general |
| What happens to my personal data when I use a TR? | The processing of the personal data depends on the TR model used. It is often possible to log in without providing personal data (e.g. guest account). You will find more detailed information on the respective website of the retailer. | technology |
| Can I build a TR myself? | Yes, different DYI Telepresence Robot Kits are available, such as: https://www.instructables.com/Telepresence-Robot-2/ You can also build a TR out of cardboard enhanced by some technical gadgets (including your smartphone), as described here: https://thecraftyrobot.net/ | technology |
| What are the technical components of a TR? | There are high number of technical components, but here are the most important ones: components for video-audio communication, which includes the display, the cameras, the microphoes, the speakers and the network hardware. Furthermore, there is the platform for movement, the battery, the charging dock. Additionally, you need a device (smartphone, tablet, PC) with internet connection for driving remotely the telepresence robot. | technology |
| What are the basic components of a TR? | The basic components mainly consists of hardware (camera, display screen, speaker, microphone, battery) and software (Software, Web encryption, network adapter, video screening options) components. | technology |
| What are the most desirable features of a TR? | The top most desirable features of a telepresence robot are clear real-time audio, undisrupted and seemless advanced video communication, realistic large size displays, excellent connectivity, stable (most of its weight in the base) and safe (lesser risk at threshoolds), intutive user interface with functional features such as screen sharing, zoom capabilities, audio adjustments, user interface with downward-facing and forward-facing views, predictive path features, built-in technology | technology |
| What is a Mobile robotic telepresence (MRP) system? | Mobile robotic telepresence (MRP) systems are video conferencing systems mounted on a mobile robotic base. The primary objective of MRP systems is to allow human-to-human communication. | technology |
| What is a pilot user in a MRP system? | A Pilot user utilizes a computer interface to remotely control the robot. The Pilot, who is embodied in the MRP system, can move around the environment where the robot is located and interact with other people. | technology |
| What is a local user in a MRP system? | Local users are those that are physically situated next to the robot and can freely move about while interacting with the pilot user via the robot. | technology |
| What are the common basic functions of a TR? | The common basic functions of a telepresence robots are movement (motion) control, remote control and video communication. | technology |
| How is motion control achieved in a TR? | An embedded system can be used to control motion by combining a PID controller to control motor speed and displacement, and an Op-amplifier to amplify signals to drive motors with wheels. An IR sensor can also be used to prevent falling from a stairwell. | technology |
| How is remote control achieved in a TR? | The robot is controlled remotely through wireless communication via UDP/TCP package via Internet from a distance computer, tablet or phone. | technology |
| How is video communication achieved in a TR? | A video communication system enables low-delay and high-resolution real-time distance view via encode/compression of video and audio, UDP/TCP communication, decoding of video and audio, and unpacking of video and audio. | technology |
| What are the technical challenges faced by a TR? | Challenges of communication while collecting and transferring information due to audio and video collection, challenge of environment sensing for motion control, apt communication and other ascepts, challenge of omnidirectional movement and free view direction. | technology |
| What are the possibilities for using TR in education? | First and foremost a TR enables a teacher or a student to be present in a classroom. This makes many interactions possible, as if the people are actually on site. | education |
| What are the benefits of using TR in education? | The benefits of using TR are enhanced social presence followed by the opportunity for tele-teaching and tele-learning from almost any place. The technology is well suited to let remote users participate in class and reduces the amount of travelling needed. | education |
| What problems and obstacles can arise when using TR in education? | The biggest challenges when it comes to the application of telepresence robots are connectivity issues (Wi-Fi) followed by limits when it comes to the interaction with the environment as well as to social presence of users. This limitation is mainly caused due to missing mechanical arms and technical obstacles such as bad audio transmission. The navigation of the TR may be difficult for some people and the field of view can be narrow. | education |
| What are the challenges that students face while interacting with a teacher using a TR? | Students need to involve the remote users of the robots as genuine instructors and speak / interact with them. There is the phenomenon that imitation of human abilities by robots is perceived as unnatural and is consequently rejected. This hurdle must be overcome and requires a familiarization phase. In addition, there may be difficulties in understanding (e.g., due to poor Internet connection or audio problems). Of course, this also applies vice versa to teachers interacting with students using a TR. | education |
| Question | Answer | Category |
|---|---|---|
| What is a Telepresence Robot (TR)? | A Telepresence Robot is a mobile remote-controlled device, with wireless internet connectivity that represents the remote user via video and audio. | general |
| What models of TRs are available? | There are several TR models available in different price categories. A good overview with the possibility to compare models is provided by this page: https://telepresencerobots.com/comparison | general |
| How much does a TR cost? | Prices for commercial telepresence robot models currently vary from 1500 to 10.000 Euros. DIY models start at 55 Euros. | general |
| Which organisations already use a TR? | Have a look at our TRinE project map: https://www.trine-platform.com/trine-ideas/ | general |
| What is the difference between telepresence and social robot? | The telepresence robot serves for human-to-human interaction and is controlled by a human beeing.The social robot is controlled by a computer algorithm. A social robot is an autonomous robot that interacts and communicates with humans or other autonomous physical agents by following social behaviors and rules attached to its role. | general |
| Why should I use TR instead of a video call on a tablet or laptop? | The use of TR allows you to move freely around in the room. This increases the feeling of presence on site - both for the remote user and for those present. Subsequently, this has great potential, especially on a social level. However, there are also situations where the use of traditional video chat is more appropriate (e.g. for frontal lectures or when several people meet online). | general |
| What is telepresence? | "Telepresence" involves the feeling of being present even though the audience and the speaker are separated by distance. | general |
| What are the types of a TR? | There are two types of telepresence robots: Stationary and Non-Stationary | general |
| From what age can a TR be operated? | Students from age 6 can operated a TR, but the youngest might need observation. | general |
| Where can I try out a TR? | You can make a test drive of a telepresence robot without appointment on the website of Boteyes: https://boteyes.com/TestDriveCommonPhone.html You can try out the TR by OhmniLabs with scheduling an appointment: https://ohmnilabs.com/ohmni-demo/ You can google "telepresence robots test drive" and you can find numerous of web pages of manufacturers or resellers providing online booking or contact form for a test drive appointment. | general |
| What happens to my personal data when I use a TR? | The processing of the personal data depends on the TR model used. It is often possible to log in without providing personal data (e.g. guest account). You will find more detailed information on the respective website of the retailer. | technology |
| Can I build a TR myself? | Yes, different DYI Telepresence Robot Kits are available, such as: https://www.instructables.com/Telepresence-Robot-2/ You can also build a TR out of cardboard enhanced by some technical gadgets (including your smartphone), as described here: https://thecraftyrobot.net/ | technology |
| What are the technical components of a TR? | There are high number of technical components, but here are the most important ones: components for video-audio communication, which includes the display, the cameras, the microphoes, the speakers and the network hardware. Furthermore, there is the platform for movement, the battery, the charging dock. Additionally, you need a device (smartphone, tablet, PC) with internet connection for driving remotely the telepresence robot. | technology |
| What are the basic components of a TR? | The basic components mainly consists of hardware (camera, display screen, speaker, microphone, battery) and software (Software, Web encryption, network adapter, video screening options) components. | technology |
| What are the most desirable features of a TR? | The top most desirable features of a telepresence robot are clear real-time audio, undisrupted and seemless advanced video communication, realistic large size displays, excellent connectivity, stable (most of its weight in the base) and safe (lesser risk at threshoolds), intutive user interface with functional features such as screen sharing, zoom capabilities, audio adjustments, user interface with downward-facing and forward-facing views, predictive path features, built-in technology | technology |
| What is a Mobile robotic telepresence (MRP) system? | Mobile robotic telepresence (MRP) systems are video conferencing systems mounted on a mobile robotic base. The primary objective of MRP systems is to allow human-to-human communication. | technology |
| What is a pilot user in a MRP system? | A Pilot user utilizes a computer interface to remotely control the robot. The Pilot, who is embodied in the MRP system, can move around the environment where the robot is located and interact with other people. | technology |
| What is a local user in a MRP system? | Local users are those that are physically situated next to the robot and can freely move about while interacting with the pilot user via the robot. | technology |
| What are the common basic functions of a TR? | The common basic functions of a telepresence robots are movement (motion) control, remote control and video communication. | technology |
| How is motion control achieved in a TR? | An embedded system can be used to control motion by combining a PID controller to control motor speed and displacement, and an Op-amplifier to amplify signals to drive motors with wheels. An IR sensor can also be used to prevent falling from a stairwell. | technology |
| How is remote control achieved in a TR? | The robot is controlled remotely through wireless communication via UDP/TCP package via Internet from a distance computer, tablet or phone. | technology |
| How is video communication achieved in a TR? | A video communication system enables low-delay and high-resolution real-time distance view via encode/compression of video and audio, UDP/TCP communication, decoding of video and audio, and unpacking of video and audio. | technology |
| What are the technical challenges faced by a TR? | Challenges of communication while collecting and transferring information due to audio and video collection, challenge of environment sensing for motion control, apt communication and other ascepts, challenge of omnidirectional movement and free view direction. | technology |
| What are the possibilities for using TR in education? | First and foremost a TR enables a teacher or a student to be present in a classroom. This makes many interactions possible, as if the people are actually on site. | education |
| What are the benefits of using TR in education? | The benefits of using TR are enhanced social presence followed by the opportunity for tele-teaching and tele-learning from almost any place. The technology is well suited to let remote users participate in class and reduces the amount of travelling needed. | education |
| What problems and obstacles can arise when using TR in education? | The biggest challenges when it comes to the application of telepresence robots are connectivity issues (Wi-Fi) followed by limits when it comes to the interaction with the environment as well as to social presence of users. This limitation is mainly caused due to missing mechanical arms and technical obstacles such as bad audio transmission. The navigation of the TR may be difficult for some people and the field of view can be narrow. | education |
| What are the challenges that students face while interacting with a teacher using a TR? | Students need to involve the remote users of the robots as genuine instructors and speak / interact with them. There is the phenomenon that imitation of human abilities by robots is perceived as unnatural and is consequently rejected. This hurdle must be overcome and requires a familiarization phase. In addition, there may be difficulties in understanding (e.g., due to poor Internet connection or audio problems). Of course, this also applies vice versa to teachers interacting with students using a TR. | education |
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