Furhat Robotics Revives Misty II for Education Push

Acquisition Sparks Revival

Furhat Robotics solidified its foothold in social robotics with the May 2022 acquisition of Misty Robotics' assets, redirecting the Misty II toward education-focused deployments that transform classroom dynamics. This strategic move integrates Furhat's conversational AI prowess with Misty II's mobile platform, enabling smoother human-robot interactions in learning environments. Recent trials in European cities, building on 2021 Barcelona pilots, demonstrate how the robot now aids STEM curricula by mapping rooms and responding to student queries, proving its enduring relevance despite market shifts. Developers praise the pivot for opening fresh prototyping avenues in AI-assisted teaching.

Expressive Mobility Shines

Misty II distinguishes itself through a fully articulating head and LCD screen face that conveys nuanced emotions, paired with responsive touch panels for intuitive engagement. Its wheeled base achieves 1.62 km/h (0.45 m/s) speeds, allowing seamless navigation in confined spaces like classrooms or labs. Omnidirectional microphones capture voice commands amid noise, while the onboard deep learning processor handles real-time facial and object recognition. These elements combine to create lifelike interactions, such as guiding tours or delivering reminders, setting it apart in developer-friendly robotics.

Sensor Fusion Excels

Engineering feats in Misty II include SLAM-based navigation with time-of-flight sensors detecting obstacles from 10-1200mm and cliff sensors guarding drops as low as 10-150mm. An IMU tracks yaw, pitch, and roll with 360° precision, complemented by 10 collision bumpers for robust safety. Dual OS support—Windows IoT Core and Android 8.1—powers SDKs in JavaScript, C++, C#, Python, and Blockly, streamlining custom skill development. This hardware-software synergy disrupts prototyping barriers, empowering rapid iterations for voice prototypes or mapping demos.

Classrooms Gain Allies

Educators deploy Misty II for object retrieval tasks, where its arms handle up to 2100g payloads via a 79mm reach trailer, fetching supplies during lessons. In STEM programs, it prototypes AI research by demonstrating face detection or room mapping, fostering hands-on coding. Voice interaction trials simulate real-world scenarios, like health check-ins adapted from elder care pilots. These applications extend to autism support and employee training role-plays, showcasing versatility that bridges research and practical deployment in dynamic settings.

Specs Drive Performance

Measuring 35.6 x 20.3 x 25.4 cm and weighing 5 kg (11 lbs), Misty II's compact form supports 3-5 year battery life for sustained operations. A 13MP Sony IMX214 camera pairs with 3 omnidirectional 16-bit 16kHz microphones, 6 capacitive touch panels, 3 forward plus 1 aft time-of-flight sensors, 4 downward cliff detectors, and 10 bump switches. Safety thresholds at 215mm for obstacles and 60mm for cliffs ensure reliable autonomy. HTTP REST API and extensible payloads enable object handling up to 2100g, directly powering education demos and AI prototyping.