Rise of the machines: A new frontier of robots that can cook gourmet meals, leave your home sparkling, watch your kids for hours and care for the elderly
Remember watching “The Jetsons” and wishing you had your own Rosey, the robot girl?
She cooked, cleaned and everything else for George, Jane, Judy, Elroy and their dog Astro.
The idea that robot companions would do the mundane things of life for us for a long time seemed fantastic – but not anymore.
Today, robots build our cars, sort our packages, and organize warehouses, but unless you work in one of those industries, you probably rarely interact with such an industry.
That could all change soon. A new frontier of humanoids will be rolled out across dozens of sectors – from policing and security to healthcare and hospitality.
And personal bots that vacuum, mow the lawn, prepare meals and take out the trash are also on the way.
Atlas is a robot developed by the American robotics company Boston Dynamics. It is designed to assist emergency services in search and rescue operations and function in environments where humans cannot survive, such as fires and war zones
Come to the rescue
Atlas can lift heavy weights, run, open doors, do a backflip, jump and even do parkour.
It is designed to assist emergency services in search and rescue operations and function in environments where humans cannot survive, such as fires and war zones.
The fearsome, bipedal humanoid bot, made by Massachusetts firm Boston Dynamics, has ‘hands’ consisting of just two fingers – one fixed and the other adjustable, but the new footage shows that this is enough to stay steady. grip on objects.
Hole Moley
Moley is a stand mixer chef who can teach you how to cook your favorite meals. It mimics the movements of human hands and can perform delicate tasks such as cracking an egg.
The robot chef works by users first choosing a certain number of servings, type of cuisine, dietary restrictions, number of calories, ingredients, cooking method, chef from the recipe library.
Once users select their preferences, they choose a recipe and place washed and cut ingredients, which can be ordered through Moley, in designated areas.
Then simply tap the ‘start’ button and the cooking process begins – the robot also cleans up after the meal is prepared. That’s the dream.
The kitchen can also be fully operated via the touchscreen or remotely via smartphone or tablet.
The only disadvantage? The latest commonly reported price for the kitchen aid is $335,000.
For the children
Miko is a $300 bot that recognizes children’s emotions, plays games, teaches them new things and remembers what they say and how they feel.
It has a wide-angle HD camera and sensors to map your space.
Worried about safety? Miko says all data is encrypted end-to-end.
The robot chef works by users first choosing a certain number of servings, type of cuisine, dietary restrictions, number of calories, ingredients, cooking method, chef from the recipe library
This bot has moxie
Moxi was big at the start of the pandemic, providing medications, personal protective equipment, patient comfort and other supplies.
He can open elevator doors, but must ask a human to press the button for the floor. Pretty cute for a robot.
Microscopic doctors
Antibacterial nanorobots are small, self-driving bots that deliver drugs directly to the infection.
They do this by imitating a bacterium and its target and then enclosing them in nanowire mesh. Really incredible stuff.
A robot enthusiast
RealDoll X is a handmade, customizable doll made for adults only. The head is AI-powered and can move, speak, blink and form expressions.
Users can customize their doll’s personality via an app. Choose the hair, makeup and more, but don’t expect a cheap price tag. They cost about $6,000.
The ‘Robear’ has a cub-like face, but is sufficiently strong to, for example, move patients from a wheelchair (photo) or a ground-level bed to a bath. It weighs 140 kg and has extendable legs that prevent the ‘bear’ from falling over. It moves slowly and smoothly thanks to advanced actuators in the mechanical arms.
Keep crops happy
BugVacuum is a self-driving vacuum cleaner that sucks up insects while autonomously navigating between crops on farms.
Farmers just need to take it to the starting point and put it in automatic mode. The bot is ideal for clearing insecticide-resistant pests.
Seriously sweet
Robear is a back-saving robot in the shape of a teddy bear that lifts disabled or elderly patients from their beds into a wheelchair.
The soft, padded body is designed to be gentle on the patient’s skin while providing maximum support.
Developed at the Riken-SRK research center in Nagoya, Japan, it uses mechanical arms to, for example, move patients from a wheelchair or a floor-level bed to a bath.
It weighs 140 kg and has extendable legs that prevent the ‘bear’ from falling over.
Piaggio Fast Forward CEO Greg Lynn (center) is followed by his company’s Gita carrying robot as he crosses a street in Boston. The two-wheeled machine wears a backpack and uses cameras and sensors to track its owner
Your personal pack mule
Gita Bot is a rolling robot that follows you around and carries up to 40 pounds of whatever you need: groceries, luggage, tools, you name it.
The name ‘Gita’ is inspired by the Italian word ‘giro’, which means ‘turn’ or ’round trip’.
Created by Piaggio, the Italian company that makes the Vespa scooter, it was the first cargo-carrying robot sold directly to consumers.
Piaggio claims the robot offers a stylish alternative to those boring utilitarian machines – albeit one that weighs 23 kilos and costs €3,250 (£2,500).
The two-wheeled machine uses cameras and sensors to track its owner.
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