It's not Star Wars, but it's pretty close, say those behind the New Zealand launch of a new video-conferencing robot.
Auckland-based voice and video communications technology company Asnet Technologies has launched the American-designed VGo, a remote-controlled robot that resembles the droids seen in the George Lucas movies and which is used as a mobile web cam.
Asnet managing director Eric Greenop said the 1.20m robot allowed people to video conference on the move.
"It's basically a person sitting at a laptop being able to go somewhere."
The robot appeared at the world's largest consumer technology tradeshow, CES, in the United States, before its New Zealand debut at the Health Infomatics conference in Auckland last month. The company hopes the robot will appeal to the health sector.
