Leaving your elders or kids home alone? You want to keep an eye on them or remind them to take medicines or give important instructions when you are not there. Using a phone is not always viable when seeing is believing. Pack your worries and unpack Buddibot — the name given to a robot that acts as a buddy.

For professionals who have to stay away from families for long, Buddibot service is a response to the needs of web-savvy families desiring to remain connected regardless of the distance. “If we add a component of emotional angle to the device, it would be like combining high-tech with high touch. Like being able to remind about taking a pill before breakfast, play a song, send a greeting, capture images and stream videos,” says Subba Rao Machiraju, CEO & Co-founder of Buddibot in India.

Buddibot is a software service that runs on a movable webcam called RovioTM and a roving home explorer from WowWee Technologies. The device has multiple wheels which gives it manoeuvrability. The smart device can dock itself for charging. However, it is not a climber yet. Stairs are an obstacle.

But Rovio can also be used as a spying machine. Machiraju though, wants to focus on building services around compassionate care for elders. Rovio can be controlled with an iPhone or any 3G device (including phones). Apart from this, Buddibot can be accessed from any web enabled device which has browser control. The company says that unlike phones, there is no radiation emitted from Buddibot as it works on wireless signals much like a radio.

Rovio uses WEP (Wired Equivalent Privacy) security standard as well as 128-bit Wi-Fi Protected Access (WPA). In addition, the system is secured by passwords. There has been no case of hacking till date, says the company.

At present Buddibots are being directly marketed and are also available in Reliance Digital outlets for Rs 14,700. Subscription is available at $35 per year. “We would actively use web 2.0 as a medium to enhance our visibility in addition to the traditional models,” Machiraju said.