A Robot Slave to Do All Your Menial Tasks
Who doesn’t want a robot to clean the house, put the dishes back in the cupboard, feed the pets and clear a cluttered table? Those types of life sucking chores are the exact reason we always dream of having the little guys around in the first place.
The problem with robots is that we are always comparing them to us. Our brains calculate at such a blazing speed that robots just don’t have the time to catch up. The easy part is observing all of the visual and auditory data. The analysis is the part where our poor number crunching minions have their troubles.
Until now, robots needed to use preprogrammed three-dimensional objects. If it didn’t recognize an object it had trouble interacting with it. A perception system is the key. The STAIR (Stanford Artificial Intelligence Robot) by Andrew Ng and Aaron Edsinger aims to perceive the 3D world in real time.
They rigged a system together with fragmented technologies: machine learning, computer vision, speech recondition and grasping hardware. The real feat, however, is the algorithm for grasping. It identifies a midpoint of graspable edges on any object, such as a handle. This may not sound like rocket science, but it makes the difference between a smart robot and a preprogrammed machine.
It still is a long way off from performing tasks, such as making me bacon and eggs in the morning. But then again, we can’t all be perfect. That is, until we’re perfected.
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Kate said
am November 28 2007 @ 12:41 pm
Great article, love the video (those guys sure love robots!)
One thing I’m struck by is how large these robots are. I know, let’s get the technology down and then go smaller, but I wonder how practical this sort of thing would be for all home environments. For the disabled I think it would work quite seamlessly, but basically every other scenario would pose pretty unique climbing/maneuvering challenges.
Looking forward to see it all evolve. Hope to have one when I retire (ha!)
Jerad Kaliher said
am November 30 2007 @ 1:18 am
@Kate, you better believe they do. Because they are still in the lab we most likely won’t see the size diminish until they hit the retail sector.
Butch said
am December 1 2007 @ 10:00 am
If one of these could mow my lawn, I’d sign up today!!
I’m sure it’s just a matter of time before they’re smaller and more efficient. I can’t wait!
Drew Smith said
am December 1 2007 @ 4:53 pm
when I was moving out of my last apartment, I made a stop at my local storage unit to see what sort of space I had remaining. I got sidetracked by sorting through boxes of my “kid stuff”. I found some coloring books in there, one of which was all about “inventions”. Page 1, “Create an invention and explain why you’d want it.” I had drawn some sort of box, which looked like an executive nuclear powered photocopier. It was eating paper. I had written, “Go to school for me and do my homework.” The funny thing was I know for certain that I was only around kindergarten age and had no concept of homework. It’s nice to think though that I was already prepared to give up my schooling and stay the life of coloring books and ingenious inventions.
Robots. I love the idea that they can do my chores, and I can do my “homework”. If I had it my way, money would be unlimited, and I would have complete control of each second of my life. This means food the instant I want it, and the only appointments in my day are the ones I want to take. Frankly, and this is subject to change, I’m under the impression that the “meaning of life” is to find yourself completely released from all duties, free to do whatever it is you want to do. And I also think this is the reason there is money and greed and war and all the things that aren’t giving peace a chance… because to free yourself means competing with everything stopping you short.
I can’t wait for robots to do the dishes!
Jerad Kaliher said
am December 1 2007 @ 6:05 pm
@Drew Smith, oh the good old days. If only we could have the curiosity and intensity we did as children. Then again, we might all be flying off buildings like superman, but at least we’d have our freedom.
Seriously though, the idea of “free time” that is made by invention is somewhat of an illusion. Even if this robot gets built do you think that you’ll really have more time to do what you want? If anything, the invention of the personal computer impacted the amount of work that humans were able to accomplish in a day. Last time I check, most of us work 40 hour weeks. The myth of computers/robots shortening our workdays is a bit of a fib.
That’s not saying that I don’t want a robot to do all my menial tasks. For me, it’s the ultimate luxury. I hate doing the dishes and picking crap up off the floor.
In short, I can’t wait to work more and be bothered less.
Neece said
am December 2 2007 @ 8:22 pm
Yeah, all those promises of the 50’s have yet to come about. I want a personal robot! Where’s my flying car? I’d settle for a personal robot though. I hate menial chores. Thanks for sharing this Jerad.
Jerad Kaliher said
am December 3 2007 @ 10:34 pm
@Neece, thank you for the comments Neece. It seems that there is a lot of promise for everything from flying cars to robot slaves. The problem is when?
Also, just because the tech exists to make these inventions a reality doesn’t mean that they should come to market. I’m not so sure that people are equipped to fly cars and handle robots. But you never know.
Richard said
am December 4 2007 @ 8:26 am
Thats pretty crazy, I’m almost tempted to trade in my dog. lol
Neece said
am December 7 2007 @ 12:28 pm
Good point, Jerad. We can’t even drive cars safely, why should we get FLYING cars?
But I could TOTALLY handle a personal robot!