Dude

Researchers in Japan have developed a “telepresence” system that lets one person remotely control a set of robotic arms attached to a backpack worn by another person, effectively allowing two people to work together on complex tasks without being in the same place.

Developed at Keio University and the University of Tokyo, the prototype system consists of a set of human-like robotic arms and a robotic “head” equipped with stereo vision and microphones, all attached to a backpack, which contains control circuitry and a battery.

Real-time data from the robotic head is beamed to a virtual reality headset worn by the other person, who manipulates handheld controllers to operate the robotic arms.