New App Lets You Control Robots From Your iPhone

Conduit, an app that turns your iPhone into a sensor for robots, is getting a major upgrade. Conduit 3 adds the ability to control robots directly from your phone. Previously, it only sent data like camera feeds or motion signals to robots. Now, you can drive robots and move their arms using your iPhone, iPad, or Mac. This means you could potentially operate a robot remotely without specialized equipment.

The app uses a technology called Zenoh to communicate with robots, which is like a universal translator for robot messages. This makes it compatible with many robots that use ROS 2, a common robot operating system. The demo shows real-time control, so there's no lag. For everyday people, this could lead to simpler remote control of robots for tasks like home security, delivery, or even surgery assistance. But it's not plug-and-play yet; you'll need some technical knowledge to set it up.

Conduit is also changing its pricing. Instead of five separate in-app purchases for features like back cameras or LiDAR, Conduit 3 will bundle them differently. The details aren't fully clear, but it seems they're simplifying the pricing structure. The app has outgrown its old model and more features are coming. This could make it more affordable or straightforward to get all the features you need.

The developer is demoing this tonight at a robotics meetup in Mountain View. While it's exciting, remember it's a sneak peek of a work-in-progress. Not all features may be stable, and it's aimed at tech enthusiasts and developers for now. But it hints at a future where controlling robots is as easy as using your phone.