Now robomops!

Engineers from the University of Surrey, UK, have created an intelligent robot that accomplishes hazardous feats like cleaning up contaminated wastes in nuclear reactors. The robot has been developed by integrating virtual reality (VR) soft - ware with robotics. An operator wears a special VR headset and the robot mimics the movement of his head. The operator, then, can interpret the visual data (relayed through the stereovision equipment on the robot) and can manipulate the robot to act appropriately. John Pretlove, leader of the Surrey university team, claims that stereovision of the robot and its ability to move simultaneously with the operator's head, make it the first of its kind in the world.