Telepresence Robots in Industrial Environments

Telepresence robots (TPR) have gained traction in office, healthcare, and educational settings, yet their applicability to industrial environments remains largely unexplored. As part of the PraeRI project, we conducted a multi-criteria assessment of six commercially available TPRs to identify the usability and functionality characteristics most relevant for deployment in industrial environments (i.e., manufacturing, production, assembly). The assessment was carried out using a structured seven-step utility analysis framework developed through an iterative, expert-driven process. The framework combines predefined industrial requirements, practical testing, and expert judgment, then aggregates weighted criteria into a normalized utility score to enable a transparent comparison across systems. Preliminary results from this assessment include insights on user interface design, drivability, reaction time, accessibility, battery performance, weight, wheels, and storage. Findings highlight substantial variation across platforms, with usability and functionality emerging as critical differentiators for industrial suitability. TPRs such as the Double 3 from Double Robotics and Ohmni Pro from Ohmni Labs achieved the highest point scores, mainly due to intuitive driving interfaces and strong performance in mobility and battery-related tasks. These early results form the basis for ongoing research into industrial-grade requirements and user acceptance in industrial environments.