1. US Patent 8442661 REMOTELY CONTROLLED SLEF-BALANCING ROBOT INCLUDING A STABILIZED LASER POINTER JOE CENTURELLI

2. Background Telepresence robots: remotely controlled robotic systems Used for disarming bombs, preforming medical procedures, and social situations InventorsTrevor Blackwell, Daniel Casner, Scott Wiley, Benjamin NelsonTrevor Blackwell, Daniel Casner, Scott Wiley, Benjamin Nelson Original AssigneeAnybots 2.0, Inc.Anybots 2.0, Inc. Publication dateMay 14, 2013

3. What is the patent about? Systems and methods for projecting a stabilized laser beam from a human controlled robot The laser beam can be stabilized through the use of optics that continuously adjust the aim of the laser beam in response to measurements of the orientation of the robot. The human interface allows the operator to observe the visual environment of the robot and also to aim the laser beam. The projected laser beam allows the operator to communicate from the perspective of the robot by pointing to objects or locations, creating symbols with the laser beam, and make gestures with the laser beam.

4. What is new? It used to be difficult to point at objects in the robot’s environment: You can imagine someone on the screen pointing at something and it being very inefficient The attached laser system makes this interaction much more smooth The stabilization is the hardest part, the robot is constantly adjusting its tip and tilt to stay upright which would make the laser beam move all over the place