ROBOT OF THE WEEK: THE GRADUATE
by Hazed
A student in Alabama was too sick to attend her graduation ceremony – so she send a robot to take her place.
Cynthia Pettway was in hospital and unable to attend in person to collect her certificate at the ceremony. So her mother came up with the idea of using a telepresence robot. The robot was dressed in the traditional gown with a stole in the college colours, and Cynthia’s face was shown on its screen.
Meanwhile the hospital had set up a conference room where Cynthia, accompanied by her family, could control the robot. She could see what the robot saw on a large screen, and she drove it across the stage to receive the honour.
Watch a video where Cynthia explains how it all worked here: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/av/world-us-canada-44145602/robot-stands-in-for-us-student-at-graduation