The 'robot journalist'

22 May 2002 News

A remote-controlled reporting machine - the brainchild of computer engineers at Massachusetts Institute of Technology's Computing Culture Department has been designed to gather news in hostile environments. The 'Afghan Explorer' is solar-powered and remotely controlled by satellite. The 'robo-journalist' uses four electric servomotors and puncture-proof tyres to venture into territory deemed too dangerous for its human counterpart. The 91 cm by 61 cm, $10 000 buggy has a 10 Kbps, two-way voice/data satellite uplink that allows compressed voice and video information to be relayed between the robot and mission control. It also has digital audio recording capabilities, and the digital video camera is mounted on a four-foot pole for 'eye-to eye' remote interviews. The video screen can relay graphics and motion video. Top speed is 6,5 km/h.

http://compcult.media.mit.edu/afghan_x

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