Video: Telepresence via Apple iPad on a creepy rolling pole

August 21, 2012, 11:21 AM UTC

FORTUNE — In case you were, like me, on the beach Saturday and missed the first wave of publicity, Double Robotics has posted a YouTube video of its remote control robot “Double.” Using a pair of Apple (AAPL) iPads for processing power and audio/video capabilities, it allows users to roll Segway-like through far-off places and video chat with the people it finds there — at least until the thing tips over or runs out of batteries.

At $1,999 (iPads not included) for pre-order — or $2,499 when it’s supposed to go on sale later this year — it’s way more affordable than the previous generations of industrial-strength telepresence robots. And a little creepier.