SLAMTEC Launches RK3399-Powered Programmable Sensor-Packed Hermes Robot Chassis
Clever little robot supports up to a 130lb payload, can run for up to 15 hours between charges, and packs LIDAR, depth cameras, and more.
Robotics specialist SLAMTEC has launched a hefty wheeled robot platform, the Hermes, capable of carrying payloads up to 130lbs — and featuring an on-board single-board computer built around the popular Rockchip RK3399 system-on-chip.
The Hermes platform, brought to our attention by CNX Software, is designed to be flexible. Its in-wheel motors are said to be able to handle a range of surfaces and up to a 16 degree slope, while its on-board sensor package includes a 360-degree LIDAR sensor with a 80-feet or optional extended 100-feet range, two depth cameras with a detection range from 0.7-33 feet, two boundary sensors, and two bumper sensors.
As the company's name suggests, SLAMTEC's robot platform supports simultaneous location and mapping — offering a two-inch resolution over a 1,640x1,640 maximum area. Its built-in 16Ah battery is good for 9.5 hours, though this is reduced once you've added a payload, and an optional 25Ah battery extends that to 15 hours — and both are chargeable using an automatic charging point on the robot's body
The key feature of the Hermes, though, is its flexibility. A bundled Android-based single-board computer built atop the Rockchip RK3399 six-core Arm chip offers USB Type-C, gigabit Ethernet, dual-band Wi-Fi, and 4G LTE cellular connectivity, along with digital HDMI video and audio and analogue audio with 5W dual-channel amplifier.
Programming the robot takes place through SLAMTEC's in-house RoboStudio on Windows or Android platforms, or directly with a bundled C/C++ software development kit. There's also a REST application programming interface (API) included — and there's even an optional add-on for elevators to allow the robot to travel between floors.
Sadly, these features don't come particularly cheap: The robot is listed at $5,600, though with stock not yet available, including a bundled autonomous recharging station. More information is available on the SLAMTEC website.