ALF Goes to Minneapolis
TARGET Center’s remote presence robot’s first official travel
If I told a younger version of yourself that one day someone would use a phone to take a photo of you with your arm around a skinny robot, would you have believed me? Probably not. But last month this was a new reality for Jill Erickson from the Food Safety Inspection Service.
“The roving robot was a complete surprise and fun!”
— FSIS Minneapolis Health Fair Attendee
It all stared with a TARGET at Your Event request through Start My TARGET Experience. Our Education Program Manager received a request for participation at Food Safety Inspection Service (FSIS) Health Fair events in Washington, DC and Minneapolis, MN. We approved our participation in the DC event and informed the organizers we would be happy to send a robot to Minneapolis. At this point, we usually need to provide an explanation.
Once everyone understood how ALF could allow us to attend an event in Minneapolis, we requested that the event organizer appoint someone who will be at the Health Fair to be ALF’s host. This means making sure ALF makes it to the event location, is properly assembled, and working with an internet connection. An interest in robots and experience with Legos is preferred but not required.
Once ALF is assembled and connected to a network. we are able to see it’s location on a map. In this case, ALF was in the Warehouse District of Minneapolis. While ALF did not get a chance to explore the town, we are told that it is on the National Register for Historic Places, so check it out next time you are in town. Maybe you will find ALF at 112 Eatery.
From the TARGET Center in Washington, DC we select ALF at his location and gain access to Minneapolis. After testing video, audio and mobility with our hosts we are ready to participate in the event, right on time.
TARGET Center participates in remote events, as ALF, through an iPad that broadcasts a team member’s video and audio. We can move the robot around, adjust its height, and take pictures all with buttons on a screen. A keyboard accessible computer-based version of the Double Robotics controller is also available.
ALF was able to roam around and visit other tables, as well as connect with anyone who strolled into the Health Fair. Through ALF our Education Program Manager, Paul Lloyd, interacted with existing customers grateful for our nationwide services, as well as others who had never heard of TARGET Center. Paul spoke with individuals with disabilities who thought remote presence technology could be useful to them as well as potential customers visiting the event with ergonomic concerns. All in all it was a successful visit reaching out to our customers in Minneapolis.
What’s it like controlling and interacting through the robot? This is a question we receive often. It really is one of those things you have to try for yourself, but you will be surprised how much of a genuine experience you will have. Something about being able to move around on your own, get up close or move far away, truly gives you a feeling of being present. Instead of simply hearing a voice, or sitting at a table on a computer screen — you can get a feel for the people and your surroundings that you otherwise would not. ALF is also a wonderful ice breaker, although to be fair some customers are not at all interested in chatting with a robot. We will have to check in with Double Robotics to see if their robots have been used in dating situations. Even if you are unable to leave your home or office due to an illness, disability, or extreme introversion, you have a way to get out now. Maybe you can go to a fancy restaurant in the Warehouse District, have someone’s arm around you, and take a selfie.
By the Numbers
Distance Traveled by Plane (Round-trip): 1,864 miles
If ALF Rolled to Minnesota: 359 hours
ALF’s Height: 4' 11" and Weight: 15 lbsExisting TARGET Customers from FSIS (FY17): 46 employees
New Customers Reached: 50 employees
Interested in ALF?
You can follow ALF’s adventures through this Medium Publication. If you want to request a visit from ALF, please Start Your TARGET Experience and select ‘I would like to request TARGET at my event’ under ‘How can we help you.’ Did you know you can also tour the TARGET Center via remote presence robot? Select ‘New Service Request’ and type ALF Tour in the Subject line.
About the USDA Office of Operations TARGET Center
The TARGET Center aims to positively impact the lives of individuals with disabilities who provide and obtain resources from the USDA. This includes employees around the world and at Federal partner agencies, as well as visitors to USDA Service Centers, Forest Service Visitor Centers, and USDA Headquarters in Washington, DC. To learn more about TARGET Center, visit our home page or follow us on Twitter.
