Penza, 21 April 2016. PenzaNews. The Penza culture and leisure center became the first cultural institution to buy an R. Bot 100 – a special robot that helps people with disabilities visit concerts of local and visiting performers remotely.

Photo: Ckid-penza.ru

It was partially funded through a fundraiser held during Albert Ibraev’s concert that took place on Wednesday, April 20.

As the Penza culture and leisure center director Evgeny Shilov told PenzaNews, he had seen this robot in action for the first time during a conference in autumn of 2015.

“While there, I also spoke with the robot developers and producers, and evaluated its potential of use in a cultural institution, such as the culture and leisure center,” he said.

According to him, the idea to buy an R. Bot 100 emerged back in February, and was discussed with such people as Vera Feygina head of the Penza Culture Department, and Maria Lvova-Belova, director of the center for young people with disabilities “Kvartal Louie.”

The cost of the unique device is 354,000 rubles, Evgeny Shilov clarified.

“We have collected a half of the sum so far. But since the cultural institution has other activities that bring money, we had enough to buy the R. Bot 100,” he explained.

The culture center staff will have a week to study the workings of the robot and prepare an instruction manual, he added.

“The controls are rather simple. According to our experts, it’s just like playing Counter Strike. However, the device is complicated and expensive, so we must teach the kids to control it in a confident and safe manner,” the culture and leisure center said, adding that the robot can drive around at different speeds.

According to Evgeny Shilov, residents of “Kvartal Louie” will be the first to test-drive the unusual robot: after they go online and receive the access keys, they will be able to remotely visit the halls of the culture center.

“On our part, we are selecting the cultural events that involve people of their age, to involve the kids in them. They are thus taking full participation in them,” the director explained.

“The robot will be working for everyone who absolutely and definitely needs his services. We will try to help everyone,” Evgeny Shilov stressed, adding that the institution is already receiving requests from those who want to drive the unusual device around.