Unique Form Factor for a Security Robot: Rollo's Monowheel 'Bot

To some, the monowheel BB-8 droid from Star Wars: The Force Awakens seemed absurd when it first came out.

Now, a little over a decade later, Estonian startup Rollo Robotics has created something quite similar. Their 1Rollo is a monowheel robot designed not for entertainment, nor as an homage to the Star Wars character, but for a security role.

The company says that having only one wheel reduces production costs by cutting mechanical complexity, and that the lower rolling resistance (versus having multiple wheels) extends battery life. Security was chosen as the application because the 'bot's narrow footprint makes it ideal for patrolling corridors. They say the 'bot can support cameras, thermal cameras, night vision systems and speakers/microphones for communication.

Of course, it doesn't look like the thing can deal with stairs, so the dog-bot form factor might win out there.

The 1Rollo will be production-ready next year. Here it is in action:

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