RVC becomes first community college to host iPad-powered robot

ROCKFORD, Nov. 21 — Rock Valley College Professor Chuck Konkol is pleased to announce that RVC will be the first community college to host “Double”, a robot powered by an iPad. “Double” was created by Double Robotics and uses a new technology called telepresence.

Telepresence technology provides a physical presence when someone can’t be there in-person. “Double” gets its commands relayed from an iPad app and can be remotely accessed and controlled via a web browser, iPhone or iPad App. “Double” has two self-balancing wheels, a motorized telescopic arm that can go as high as 60 inches to communicate with those who are standing and as low as 47 inches to communicate with those who may be sitting.

Students in Professor Konkol’s spring 2015 CIS280 iOS Mobile App Course will be programming apps for the “Double.”

One app development project of “Double” that can be used on campus will be the creation of an app for customized campus tours where guests connect remotely to “Double” and are given an automated campus tour.

See the full news release and an image on the RVC website.