How can remote workers make their presence known in their organization? How can enterprises overcome the limitations of video conferencing and enable a level of communication and collaboration that approaches on-site interaction?

Telepresence robots have been on the scene for the better part of a decade, though as global upheavals reshape work and reorient attitudes toward remote participation, the technology may finally be primed to break out of its niche user base and go mainstream. The timing is fortuitous: The market is now mature enough that consumers have choices when it comes to feature set and price point. As companies downsize physical locations and revamp their policies toward distributed workforces, telepresence offers both technological benefits and collaboration advantages that will appeal to some employers and workers alike.

The current telepresence lineup reflects the range of use cases and intended end-users out there, including a handful of models designed for specific fields and workflows, as well as others that fit organizations of any size. They were chosen based on a wide survey of this growing product category and by speaking with company representatives and end-users about their experience.

These are our picks for the best telepresence robots out there right now. 

Ohmni Robot by OhmniLabs

Best budget telepresence

Sensors: 4K HD Wide angle camera; far field mic and speakers  Battery: 5+ hrs call-time  Size:4'8" tall; weighs 20 lbs  Features: Auto-docking; ultra-responsive tilting neck

In the battle for low-cost, truly robotic telepresence, OhmniLabs has been giving rival Double a major run for its money. 

At under$2699, the Ohmni Robot weighs just 20 pounds and folds up, meaning you can take it anywhere, but still manages all the functionality you need in a telepresence robot. It features wide-angle, low-latency streaming at HD+ resolution and real-time full-resolution zoom to read whiteboards or see fine details at full UHD 4K detail.

A secondary dedicated wide-angle navigation camera lets you see around the base of Ohmni while you're driving, which you can do remotely from just about any standard device. The unit features a bright 10.1-inch screen and integrated Jabra speakerphone for great audio. It doesn't have automatic rising and lowering like Double, but the robot can move its head side to side for natural interactions.

OhmniLabs is also thoughtful about who might use the device, which has dual-band Wi-Fi radio with full 2.4GHz + 5GHz support and optimized background scanning and roaming for large spaces. Full 802.1x support means it should be simple to run on business or school networks.

Pros:

• Cost
• Size
• Neck articulation

Cons:

• Doesn't automatically adjust height

Double 3 by Double Robotics

Best bang for your buck

Mics: 6 beamforcing microphones  Cameras: Two 13MP cameras  Battery: 4hrs (recharges in 2)  Height: 47" - 60"

Where the Double 2 used a tablet display, Double 3 replaces the iPad with a fully integrated solution using an Nvidia Jetson TX2 GPU, two Intel RealSense depth sensors, two high-resolution cameras, and a beamforming microphone array. In place of the iPad is an integrated screen and new feature sets, including AR overlays, that really step up the functionality and feature set game of the Double.

Some of those features include a new click-to-drive interface, obstacle avoidance, and pan/tilt/zoom video, all of which contribute to a fully immersive remote experience that's still intuitive to use. Perhaps the biggest functionality upgrade is the addition of mixed reality overlays. 

In Double's version of mixed reality, virtual 3D objects are added into the video stream to appear as if they're in the real world. Virtual objects include helpful waypoints to make the video feed more informative during navigation. 

The Double 3 with charging dock runs$4,499. If you already have a Double 2, you can upgrade your current device with a Double 3 head for$1,899.

Pros:

• Adjustable height to suit user
• Great sensors
• Easy to use

Cons:

• Spendier than Ohmni

Ava by Ava Robotics

Best telepresence for high-end corporate settings and hospitality

Video: HD video up to 1080p  Conferencing:Compatible with any standards-based videoconferencing infrastructure  Security: Embedded enterprise-grade security (including encryption, secure HTTPS management, password protection)  Control interface: iPad, iPhone, Web browser (Mac & PC)

With the Ava Telepresence robot, remote users easily and safely navigate through large workspaces, event spaces, and retail spaces with an enterprise-grade video conferencing system designed to make interacting with people on-site feel natural.

Unlike lower-priced models, the robot features intelligent, autonomous navigation. Remote users simply specify a destination, and Ava automatically moves to the desired location while avoiding obstacles. The technology is slick: The robot utilizes advanced mapping to learn the local environment and create a realistic map of the area, which enables it to navigate at the push of a button. Obstacle avoidance we're used to seeing on autonomous mobile robots in fields like logistics and fulfillment enables Ava to navigate around people and avoid tumbles down the stairs.

Perhaps Ava's biggest selling point is its form factor. This is one sleek unit, making it ideal for applications in client-facing offices and sectors like hospitality. 

It's also secure. Embedded enterprise-grade security (including encryption, secure HTTPS management, password protection) means Ava is well suited to a corporate IT infrastructure.

Pros:

• Autonomous
• Interfaces with multiple conferencing architectures
• Enterprise unit designed with salesforce and client interaction in mind

Cons:

• Pricey
• Overkill for many SMBs and smaller teams

Meeting Owl Pro 360 by Owl Labs

Best desktop video conferencing

Camera: Output Resolution: 1080p HD, Field of View: 360