Entertainment robotics: Examples, key technologies and perspectives

Based on the successful hardware and software architecture of Care-O-bot , a new generation of mobile robots has been designed at Fraunhofer Institute of Manufacturing Engineering and Automation (IPA). Three robots have been created to communicate with and to entertain visitors in a museum. Their tasks include welcoming visitors, leading a guided tour through the museum or playing with a ball. The robots have been running in this museum daily since March 25th 2000 without noteworthy problems. In this article the hardware platform of the robots and the key technologies for applying mobile robots successfully in public environments such as navigation and communication skills, safety concept, and handling are outlined. Further the underlying control software of the robots at the "Museum für Kommunikation" in Berlin is presented and perspectives for future installations of mobile entertainment robots are given