Galileo - iPhone Dock Turns Phone Into Robotic Platform

We have followed the various robots which we have reported on showing how things can be controlled through the use of a smart phone. These have been fun and entertaining. But there is so much more that robotic items can perform to help in life, whether it be family or work related. One that we have seen currently based on the iOS platform looks very much like an iPhone dock, but is really so much more and is really more like a platform to develop for and add value to via an Software Developer Kit (SDK)

The Galileo from motrr.com is drawing close to coming to market. And what this can do for video conferencing is huge. You place an iPhone in the dock and you can control the iPhone with another iOS device. This control is up to 360 degrees, so it is a great way to communicate. And this can be done remotely to control the Galileo. The video below shows just how great the Galileo is when talking to family, especially with kids who do not site still. No way could you do that with Skype on a computer. Using this in a meeting where you are attending remotely is fantastic.

Using your iOS device, you can control who you are looking at in the meeting. The potential for business is fantastic as we move further toward working from multiple locations, often which is at home. While this can be controlled via a browser, the real beauty is via your iPhone or iPad. With a browser, it lets Android mobile devices control the iPhone in the dock. And the iPhone in the dock is being charged up the whole time that it is plugged in.

This was a KickStarter project from a year ago with an estimated delivery of June 2012 for the backers. At the moment, they are still working with pre-production models showing just how tough this is to pull off. But it does look like things are growing closer for them. They have recently made available the iOS Quick Start Guide for developers to use.

Their update page is showing continuing work where they are working to add the Apple Lightning connector for the Galileo. And Bluetooth is another item they are working with to round things out. One of the really exciting things is work to integrate the GoPro cameras into the Galileo which would be a huge addition. Unfortunately, the GoPro will not be part of the initial roll out of the Galileo. This is certainly going to be a game changer when it is released and we hope to see it in the next few months.