Data Sheet
Remote Presence
for the Enterprise
Product Overview
iRobot® Ava® 500 Video Collaboration Robot builds on the value of telepresence by extending the “power of in-person”
beyond fixed environments – enabling the user freedom of movement and the ability to establish a physical presence
from a remote location. Bringing together iRobot’s autonomous mobile robotics platform with Cisco enterprise-class
telepresence solutions, Ava 500 enables users to instantly connect with anyone from anywhere around the world.
With rising travel costs and more globally distributed organizations, fixed telepresence solutions - such as room-based
systems, executive and personal desktop units, and soft clients for PCs, smartphone and tablets - offer options for
enterprises of all sizes. Video collaboration robots complement these existing solutions by offering mobile capabilities
for end users that allow for meetings to take place in areas where videoconferencing solutions are unavailable or not
practical and allow for conversations to continue outside of offices and conference rooms – into other locations.
A complete hardware and software solution, Ava 500 provides fully autonomous, on-demand remote presence from
anywhere in the world to anywhere in an organization with enterprise-class security, reliability, and scalability for today’s
globally distributed enterprise.
Benefits of Video Collaboration Robots
Video collaboration robots enable increased collaboration between executives, managers, and employees when
traditional fixed videoconferencing solutions are either unavailable or not practical. Robots help teams work more closely
together without the need for costly and time-consuming travel. Communication is increased and knowledge transfer
between groups and individuals is made easier through more flexible scheduling of meetings. Timely decision-making is
enhanced, as interested and relevant parties can be part of more discussions at the moment that it’s needed. The result
is increased productivity for managers and employees alike and a more nimble, productive enterprise.
Applications
iRobot Ava 500 is ideal when freedom of movement and physical presence are needed to achieve an even more personal
degree of collaboration within a dispersed workforce. Example applications include:
• Remote team collaboration: allows those working off-site to more personally participate within highly collaborative teams
• Executive management: provides managers of satellite teams the opportunity to be more personally present and able to
move throughout an office or other indoor environments
• Manufacturing, lab and supply chain environments: delivers situational awareness and telepresence to areas including
manufacturing facilities, labs and supply chain facilities
• Customer experience centers: extends access to remote participants around the world and increases effectiveness by
enabling virtual presence of executives and specialists
• Remote corporate training and presentations: enables a more personal and interactive approach to remote corporate
training and presentations
Executive Management and Collaboration
Customer Experience Center
Manufacturing
Remote Corporate Training
Key Capabilities
Navigation and Mobility
Ava 500 features autonomous navigation capabilities that allow remote users to simply specify a destination and the
robot will automatically navigate its way to the desired location. There is no need for the remote user to understand the
topology of the location where the robot resides or manually drive the robot to its destination. Through advanced mapping
technologies, Ava 500 learns the environment in which it operates to create a realistic topology map of each location. Builtin obstacle detection and obstacle avoidance capabilities (ODOA) that leverage laser, 3D imaging and sonar technologies
ensure that if the topology of the environment changes or there are moving objects in its path, such as people, the robot
will not bump into them. Manual operations to rotate the robot, move the robot telepresence system up-and-down, and
tilt the camera are also provided for more refined control of the robot. Robot speed may be controlled based on site
conditions.
Enterprise-Class Standards-Based Videoconferencing
Ava 500 leverages HD video and audio videoconferencing via a built-in Cisco TelePresence™ EX60 for video calls of up to
1080p30 resolution. Standards-based H.323/SIP videoconferencing calls up to 6Mbps point-to-point ensure that users
will benefit from an optimal videoconference experience. Embedded enterprise-grade security such as encryption, secure
HTTPS management, and password protection ensures that Ava 500 is a trusted part of your corporate videoconferencing
infrastructure.
Easy-to-Use Client Application
The remote user schedules and controls the robot via iRobot’s client application running in an iPad tablet. This easy-to-use
application provides ease and simplicity for non-technical users by abstracting the actual robot from the user. A remote
user simply schedules a meeting and places a request for a robot and the application assigns and provisions a robot from
the available pool. At the scheduled time of the meeting, the remote user simply initiates the videoconference session and
the robot travels automatically to the destination in time for the meeting. When the meeting has concluded, the remote user
ends the session and the robot returns to its docking station automatically to recharge for the next user.
When needed, manual operation of the robot is done through trackpad interfaces on the iPad which control movement
of the robot. With these trackpads, the robot can be manually moved forward, backward, or side-to-side. Further control
allows the camera to be moved up-and-down and the video screen to be moved from a standing to a seated position.
Scheduling and Management
Management of Ava 500 is done through the iRobot Ava 500 Cloud Service. The iRobot Ava 500 Cloud Service manages
the resource pool of robots, tracks and manages robot scheduling, monitors robot health including charging condition, and
provides error reporting capabilities. The iRobot Ava 500 Cloud Service provides robust resource allocation functionality,
which allows users to simply select where, when, and how long they need a robot rather than spending time reserving a
particular robot that may not be available at the time it is needed.
Features
Benefits
iPad application for remote user control and
scheduling
Virtual travel allows user to select location and point
of interest and the Ava 500 takes them there
Mapping and pre-programmed destinations: each
robot builds and maintains a precise map of the
location where it resides, and is programmed to be
aware of destinations of interest to users
Autonomous navigation: Ava 500 navigates to
selected destination (offices, conference rooms,
shared spaces, labs, etc.) without requiring user
guidance
Auto docking: when the session is complete, the
robot automatically returns to its docking station for
charging
Enterprise HD video and audio videoconferencing
(up to 1080p30) via Cisco TelePresence EX60
Enterprise-grade security and interoperability via
SIP and H.323
Easy-to-use familiar interface doesn’t require learning
No need to select or call a specific robot or system;
user is simply transported automatically to the
desired destination
Remote user doesn’t have to know details about the
environment (employee workstations, conference
rooms, offices, waypoints on a production floor, labs,
etc.) or where the robot is
No need for manual driving of the robot; Allows for
safe maneuvering to avoid bumping into people and
other objects
The user doesn’t need to spend time driving the
robot back to its dock to recharge
Ensures optimal experience for local participants and
remote users
Protects customer’s investment in video
collaboration by working in any standards-based
videoconferencing environment
Robust scheduling enables user to reserve a
session at any desired destination at any time in the
future; integrates with user’s personal calendar
Automated height and camera adjustment via
iPad application
Integrated wireless via embedded Cisco Aironet
1600 wireless access point
Long battery life up to six hours between charging Enables robot to be used throughout the day without
iRobot Ava 500 Cloud Service No need to install and maintain on-premises
Enterprise-grade industrial design Ensures that the robot commands a compelling
Eliminates frustration and wasted time by ensuring
robot will be available for key meetings at the desired
location and time
Allows robot to be positioned at optimal height and
angle for remote users to interact with colleagues
standing in hallways, labs or facility tours, or with
those seated at a table in offices or conference
rooms
Enables seamless, enterprise-grade network
connectivity and security
the need to recharge
software; no need for patching, maintenance, and
support
presence
Specifications
Compatibility Fully compatible with standards-compliant telepresence and video systems
Components - iRobot Ava 500 robot and charging station
- iRobot Ava 500 iPad application from Apple App Store
- iRobot Ava 500 Cloud Service
- Cisco TelePresence EX60 system
Cisco EX60 Display - 21.5” LCD
- Resolution: 1920x1080 (16:9)
- Contrast ratio: 1000:1
- Viewing angle: 170 degrees
- Response time: 5 ms
User interface Local: Volume up/down and microphone mute
Remote: via iRobot iPad application
Cisco EX60 Camera - Cisco TelePresence PrecisionHD design
- Resolutions: 1080p30 and 720p60
- Auto-focus
- Multicoated all-glass optics
- 1/3-in., 2.1 megapixel CMOS sensor
- Horizontal field of view 50 degrees
- Focus distance: 0.1-infinity
Audio Two stereo front speakers
Integrated full-range microphone
Network and protocols Wi-Fi 802.11a/g/n
Video collaboration via SIP or H.323
Sensors LIDAR, 3x 3D imagers, 3x Sonars, bumper switches
Mobility - Holonomic drive
- Max speed: 1 m/s
- Autonomous mobility
- Object Detection, Obstacle Avoidance
Language support Local interfaces in English
iPad application in English, French, German, and Spanish
Battery life Approximately six hours of continuous operation
Weight and dimensions - Approximately 186 lbs, 84.4 kg
- Width and length: 22 5/8”, 57.5 cm
- Approximate height: max 65.5”, 166.4 cm
Charging station - Fully automatic robot docking
- Wall mounted
- Autosensing power supply
- 100-240 VAC, 50/60 Hz
iRobot Ava 500 Cloud Service - Cloud-based service
- Private, customer-specific application provisioning
- ITU x.509 certificate-based, encrypted robot communications
- Integrated robot time, navigation and configuration management
- End-user controllable robot session scheduling
© 2013 iRobot Corporation. All Rights Reserved. iRobot and Ava are registered trademarks of iRobot
Corporation. © Cisco is a trademark of Cisco Systems.
Ava 500 Network Architecture
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