Meet “the Partner”:  Doctor, Butler, Bodyguard—this Futuristic Robot Does it All

September 3, 2015

ThePartner, with its one-dynamic arm and inquisitive stare, was impossible to miss at this year’s IDF-sponsored Machanet Tech-Shop. At the Machanet, tech gurus from Israel’s security sector network and showcase their creative, homemade gadgets. While ThePartner is the brainchild of Sergeant Major O., an electrical engineer in the navy, he teamed up with Majors A., Ts. and S. to take his hobby to the next level.

Just like in a game of “Simon Says,” ThePartner mimics your movement. Sliding on what looked like an old gardening glove with wires and circuit boards, Sgt. Maj. O. demonstrated his avatar-like robot. The instant he moved his fingers, ThePartner, standing feet away, did the same.

“We wanted to see if we could create a uniquely versatile, remote-controlled robot that moves like a human,” explains Sgt. Maj. O. “ThePartner was created with recycled parts, like an old curtain rod and toy tractor wheels for the ‘legs.’ The robot’s movement is controlled using Arduino microcontrollers.” ThePartner hooks up to Bluetooth and Wi-Fi, so it can operate anywhere in the world. In the future, the team will install cameras in the ThePartner’s “eyes.”

Envision having your own personal assistant that loads the dishes, answers calls and pours your coffee. For someone who is wheelchair bound, ThePartner would be game-changing, taking care of day-to-day tasks.

If disaster strikes, ThePartner could be sent to hostile or toxic environments to evacuate victims, repair machinery, neutralize explosives or even treat the wounded.

What began as a purely creative endeavor has turned into the next big thing in robotics. With the ever persistent threats of natural disaster and terror, ThePartner may well be our greatest ally in saving lives.

Source: Excerpts of article published by the Israel Defense Forces blog

Photo Credit: Israel Defense Forces