This joint press release (below) was distributed by ZMP on September 24, 2012:
Business collaboration between ZMP and GeckoSystems: Report No. 2
This will involve technology exchange and joint marketing of autonomous mobile robots and next generation mobility. We have successfully completed our technical evaluation of GeckoSystems' autonomous mobile robot.
ZMP Inc. (Bunkyo-Ku, Tokyo, CEO: Hisashi Taniguchi, ZMP) and GeckoSystems International Corporation (Georgia, CEO: Martin Spencer, GSIC) announce that ZMP has successfully finished the technical evaluation of GSIC's basic technology robot platform "BaseBot" (nicknamed "Lou").
In our first press release, ZMP and GSIC announced the signing of a memorandum of understanding concerning technical exchange and joint marketing efforts in Japan, the United States and internationally. We are now moving forward to negotiation of project collaborations. The first phase of the collaboration was ZMP's technical evaluation of GSIC's basic technology platform the "BaseBot." BaseBot is a wheeled robot platform about 100cm in height that uses Kinect-type depth cameras as external sensors. The BaseBot is equipped with the basic hardware and software required to operate an autonomous mobile robot. The software of the BaseBot was high quality and had a fully developed configuration interface required to apply this technology to autonomous mobile service robots. GSIC's line includes its flagship model, the "CareBot" that uses the sophisticated navigation of the BaseBot and a more advanced user interface. Since the CareBot is mainly used for assisted living for the elderly, which is a promising market in Japan, ZMP intends to actively promote these products. The goal of both companies is to develop mobile service robot technologies and products that will enable people around the world to live a more independent, safe, and comfortable life.