Verizon technology is helping to change the world - thanks to some of the brightest innovative minds creating solutions that address some of the biggest societal challenges. In a new series beginning today, called the ‘Innovators Series,’ Verizon will highlight key innovators behind some of these incredible solutions. Powered by Verizon technology, these solutions are already addressing some of the biggest challenges in education, healthcare, public safety, energy and more.
VGo, a “telepresence” robot powered by Verizon’s 4G LTE network, is the first focus in this series.
What if it were possible to bring the school, or even the ocean, directly to a student? Could a child unable to attend school while undergoing cancer treatment remain safely at home, yet socialize with friends in the school hallway and attend class with the ability to participate? Verizon has worked with the innovators behind VGo to address real challenges, just like this one. Thanks to the founders of VGo and six years of effort, the solution is changing lives.
VGo, a 4-foot tall robot that travels on wheels, is controlled remotely via computer and gives the operator a fully immersive two-way interactive experience. The name of the product stands for ‘video-on-the-go’ and industry applications for VGo exist across education, healthcare, security and more.
The creators of VGo formed the company in 2007 and started raising funds at a time when YouTube and Skype were clearly demonstrating the power of video, and wireless was becoming more prevalent in our daily lives. Founders Tom Ryden, Tim Root, and Grinnell More, brought together valuable experience from the robotics community and the video conferencing industry, with backgrounds that included work for iRobot, the company that makes the Roomba vacuum cleaner, and even sophisticated military robots able to disarm roadside bombs in Afghanistan.
Actual work on the first version of VGo started at the end of 2008. One of the first challenges the team identified was in the design of the robot. According to Ned Semonite, vice president of product management and marketing, “When something is coming down the hallway at you and you aren’t sure what it does, it needs to look inviting and non-threatening.” A lot of work went into designing for this consideration, and the first prototype was completed in 2010.The team tested many connectivity solutions during development, initially deciding to use Wi Fi. But Wi Fi had limitations which led to the exploration of cellular connectivity. The teams worked together first to connect the VGo using a dongle solution, getting wireless connectivity through a USB device, then to embed 4G LTE into the product which allowed VGo to operate across Verizon’s 4G LTE network.
Taking advantage of an invite from Verizon, the VGo team was brought in as part of a group of potential vendors to a place that would become the Innovation Center in Waltham, Mass. “Verizon saw potential in the prototype, and we knew we could work together to take something that had the potential to change lives and give it the technology it needs to become a viable solution in many real-world scenarios,” says Praveen Atreya, director network and technology for Verizon Wireless. Tom Ryden says, “We didn’t have the expertise to deliver cellular connectivity on the VGo. With Verizon at our side, we quickly learned that only 4G LTE was up to the task of supporting such a demanding application. Verizon provided hardware, software and RF guidance and support throughout the integration plus access to state of the art testing labs. We were also provided introductions to the key certified component suppliers for things like the modem and for architecting an internal 4G LTE antennae. As one of the first companies to go through the 4G LTE certification process a robust test suite was created and VGo was put through tens-of-thousands of scenarios to try and break it.”
Working in partnership with VGo, the Verizon team led by Ramesh Marimuthu, manager product development and innovation, and the VGo team led by Tim Root, chief technology officer for VGo, went to work together on the design, development, testing and optimization for the robot.
In an early pilot-test of VGo on Verizon’s 4G LTE network, a child with cancer in New Jersey was able to use VGo to attend school. Physical attendance wasn’t possible for the student while undergoing daily treatment for cancer. This and other pilot-tests successfully demonstrated the ability for the technology to essentially bring the school to the student. In fact, “Children with health issues preventing them from attending school in person were eager to get up and start their school day with VGo. In addition to attending class they were able to talk with friends in the hallways and actually socialize in between classes,” says Wajid Ullah, technology manager for Verizon.
Thanks to the innovators at VGo, a sick child can now attend school. It has other education-based implications as well; places like the Pittsburgh Zoo are already using VGo to provide real-time access to on-the-spot experts and improving the overall educational experience for visitors. The Houston Space Center will also begin using VGo this month.
Other industries also stand to benefit from VGo. For example, by enabling doctor-to-patient interaction re-admissions may potentially be reduced in the healthcare industry, impacting insurance costs.
It’s taken over four years for VGo to develop into what it is today: an innovation answering some of today’s biggest challenges.
Do you have an innovation that can help solve some of the world’s biggest challenges? Learn about Verizon’s Powerful Answers Award and help spread the word.
Interested in how VGo can make a difference at your company or in your industry? Get more information on the VGo.
