Service Robots in Service by 2010 229
Igor Birman writes "Reuters reports that Toyota aims to sell service robots by 2010. Meanwhile, the most advanced consumer robot produced in the US appears to be the iRobot Roomba, now available in pink.
More information is available at
Robotics Trends and
NewsTarget.com"
We are here to protect you. (Score:5, Funny)
From TFA:
Reading this, I can't help but think of this excerpt from The Terribe Secret of Space [albinoblacksheep.com]:
^_^
Old Glory (Score:2, Funny)
Re:Old Glory (Score:3, Funny)
Re:TROJAN!!!! (Score:2)
Pink Roombas? (Score:5, Funny)
Half a decade hence... (Score:5, Funny)
Toyota Motor Corp. aims to start selling robots that can help look after elderly people or serve tea to guests by 2010.
Date line April 1, 2011:
A Japanese pensioner was found dead today beneath a mountain of tea cups and saucers. A relative claims a Toyota robot given to the man a year before continued to carry out it's tea serving prerogative for months after the victim had expired.
Re:Half a decade hence... (Score:2)
Demand (Score:5, Insightful)
What? I don't know where these companies determine the demands that people have. People have been trying to make machines that could automatically mow a lawn for over 50 years now. I would think there would be a really high demand for robots that could do lawn care, take out the trash and clean the house. At least those tasks I could trust a robot to do properly and shouldn't be all that difficult if they are also "really" capable of caring for a child. Personally, it would be a long time before I would trust robotic technology and AI to care for a human being's health and safety.
Re:Demand (Score:2, Interesting)
Obesity and muscle wastage, here we come *...
* Excluding America; some of them are already there.
Re:Demand (Score:2)
Obesity and muscle wastage, here we come *..."
To avoid being obese and wasting your muscles?
That's like saying why meet in person when you can talk online or on the phone - because there are still recognized benefits to meeting in person.
Re:Demand (Score:3, Funny)
Re:Demand (Score:2)
Re:Demand (Score:2)
It's hardly a primary carer, and isn't suggested as one. It's only meant to assist the eldery (amongst the other suggested uses).
While it's good that their being ambitious stating a 2010 arrival, I'm sceptical that they will deliver on time if at all.
__
Laugh Daily free video clips [laughdaily.com]
Re:Demand (Score:2, Insightful)
That, and the fact that it is cheaper to just hire those neighbor kids to mow their lawn.
Re:Demand (Score:5, Informative)
Re:Demand (Score:2)
Re:Demand (Score:2, Insightful)
Also, as far as lawn mo
Re:Demand (Score:2)
Sure, maybe it has some limited sensors to detect some objects, but robots always have a problem dealing with the unexpected.
With the Roomba for example, you often need to re-arrange furniture to be more 'robot-friendly' because the robot can't deal with obstacles like an unexpected chair leg or a persian rug.
Re:Demand (Score:2)
Yes, yes, these aren't walk-around-the-house robotic type things, but they're complicated, sensor-driven, hardware/software things that operate in life-and-death cirumstances to make things easier or better for people. It's not that we don't have semi-autonomous widgets in
Re:Demand (Score:2)
These are not fully autonymous robots.
these are worker drones, meant to allow for the care of elderly/children with _less_ human interaction. Imagine if one human operator in central control can operate 250 'healthcare bots' in a nursing home that holds 5,000 patients.
you could cut the amount of healthcare workers needed for a full size nursing home from hundreds to dozens. this has already happened in auto manufacturing, and it's clear that this is toyota's goal. a robotic nursing home s
Re:Demand (Score:3, Insightful)
I suspect the robot will still be more expensive than cheap (often immigrant) labor. As long as employers get away paying humans sub-living wages, these robots will be impractical.
BTW I'm for immigration, but against slave wages.
OTOH (Score:2)
Re:Demand (Score:3, Interesting)
Re:Demand (Score:2)
Well, yes. In some instances the skill level requires higher human pay, making the robot more competitive. In others, the robot is more precise or quicker at repetitive tasks. Far enough in the future, the automation cost will come down.
For now, I don't expect to see the Borg trimming my hedges.
If I do, I will shake my cane at them and yell "Get off my lawn, punks!"
Re:Demand (Score:4, Insightful)
Re:Demand (Score:2)
but, won't this... (Score:2, Insightful)
Capitalism, jobs, and the machine... (Score:2)
But here's an important question that's often avoided: should we do this even if it's possible? I mean, what do health care and day care workers do if a robot becomes capable of replacing them. We've already seen the impact of cheap l
Roomba is hardly the only one (Score:4, Interesting)
Re:Roomba is hardly the only one (Score:2)
The mowing isn't the problem, a good mower [toro.com] will make short work out of a 1 - 5 acre lot. Weeding the flower beds, applying mulch and doing the trimming take the most time,
Re:Roomba is hardly the only one (Score:2)
Who'd have thought that reality imitates satire?
Toyota? (Score:3, Insightful)
Re:Toyota? (Score:4, Funny)
I have a Ford robot here at home. It's crackling and leaking hydraulics all over the carpet...
Re:Toyota? (Score:2)
Re:Toyota? (Score:2)
I'm still waiting for advance... (Score:4, Interesting)
I find it amazing that hardware is advancing WAY beyond software.
Re:I'm still waiting for advance... (Score:2)
It's still software that ties those components together in a meaningful way.
Re:I'm still waiting for advance... (Score:3, Funny)
Re:I'm still waiting for advance... (Score:3, Insightful)
Advanced robots require software, some very sophisticated, some very simple. Just moving a robot in an environment can be quite challenging, hardware doesn't do this by itself.
Uh huh (Score:4, Funny)
Yes, we're planning on regular scheduled trips to the moon next year, I'll just crack the whip on the R&D slaves to get them to work a bit harder.
We have feelings too you know (Score:5, Funny)
iRobot Slash-Postba
Serial NO : AR-3214324-ERE43
Activation date : May 31 2005
How long until... (Score:3, Funny)
Re:How long until... (Score:2)
Re:How long until... (Score:2)
Brett
Video feed: (Score:5, Informative)
Re:Video feed: (Score:2)
Remember...
"All sufficiently advanced technology is indestinguishable from a rigged demo"
I have seen lots of these sorts of videos showing robots walking around on a stage and playing silly games, but I have yet to actually see any perform the kinds of tasks that people claim they will be capable of "in just a few years from now". In fact I have seen few that perform anything like that kind of task.
To perform many of the tasks that people are suggesting for these things, we will need some seri
Re:Video feed: (Score:2)
As always... (Score:2)
Re:As always... (Score:3, Insightful)
I wouldn't be surprised if the sex industry is one of the top three killer app's that drives this technology forward.
It seems they are driving the adoption of many technologies these days.
Re:As always... (Score:3, Funny)
Good in the kitchen, great in the sack, strong and self-sufficient, and with teraflops of processing power... wow, sounds like my ideal woman. Naturally, there would be a model for the women as well (as a computer, it woul
Re:As always... (Score:2)
oh it will forget something. it will have to, otherwise the women won't want it.
Not having anything to complain about and all....
ducks, runs away.
Re:As always... (Score:3, Interesting)
This reminds me of the "escort" type of robots in the movie Artifical Intelligence: AI [imdb.com]. When people refer to automation causing job loss they seem to refer to it in the sense of low level labor or manufacturing. I feel intimate robots who would be self-cleaning (safer health-wise), unable to be impregnated, and agreeable to any act imaginable would wipe out the high and middle prostitution market for "real" people. The low end would likely still see human demand as these robots may be priced out of the
Re:As always... (Score:2)
Given Their Abilities With Cars... (Score:2, Informative)
Re:Given Their Abilities With Cars... (Score:2)
I one saw a presentation by an Japanese engineer who was talking about the applications of fuzzy logic. He was practically waxing ecstatic over how a washing machine with fuzzy logic controller could swish the water just so, as a opposed to an ordinary washing machine, which stupidly just swishes at one of several predefined speed/amplitude settings. The implication is that up till today, washing machines have treated people's clothing with shameful insensitivity, and that a new era was dawni
Re:Given Their Abilities With Cars... (Score:2)
Roomba is a domestic robot. It's already here and it's American. Where is the Japanese domestic robot?
Roomba is not a robot... (Score:3, Informative)
OK, technically, it is a robot, but it falls far short of what people are thinking when the speak of a domestic robot. It partially fulfills the expectation that the robot will have autonomous mobility, but it lacks the flexible programming and multi-purpose appendages that would make it suitable to a wide variety of tasks. On a scale that starts with the fuzzy logic washing machine and goes up to the first generat
iRobot huh? (Score:4, Funny)
Re:iRobot huh? (Score:2, Interesting)
I, Robot (Score:2)
I'll believe it when I see it (Score:2, Insightful)
I could have sworn I saw this exact same article five years ago, aiming for a target of 2000 as the first year for mass-market helper robots.
You've been warned... (Score:2)
... a little strange ... (Score:3, Insightful)
I confess that I don't have much deep knowledge of advancements in AI and machine vision. Anytime we've had robot articles posted on slashdot lately they've been about advancements in the physical attributes of humanoid robots. Perhaps someone out there can fill me in on what I've been missing.
Anyhow, on a lighter note, as I was reading the "trends" article, I could not help noticing this paragraph:
The statement goes on to say that Toyota will make partner robots that "have human characteristics, such as being agile, warm and kind and also intelligent enough to skillfully operate a variety of devices in the area of personal assistance, care for the elderly, manufacturing and mobility." The statement continues, "since each area requires a special set of skills, Toyota is promoting the development of three different types of partner robots - walking, rolling and mountable - each with its own areas of expertise."
WARNING: BAD JOKE AHEAD
I like "agile, warm and kind", and the article stressed the advancements in the lips on certain robots such that they can play the trumpet, but if it's going to be "mountable", shouldn't there be some work on robots that are "moist" in addition to being "agile, warm and kind"? I mean, can you imagine the chafing?
IT WAS A BAD JOKE, BUT YOU -=WERE=- WARNED, AFTER ALL
Imagine the tech support calls... (Score:5, Funny)
"I've fallen, and I can't get up."
"Is your ElderCare 5000 series nearby?"
"I forgot to recharge Willy last night."
"Willy? Who is Willy?"
"Well -- that's my robot's name. After my first husband, before he died in the Vietnam War. He was such a loveable man...kind to his children...and..."
"Uh -- ma'am -- does 'Willy' have a base charge?"
"What? I can't hear ya real good. Willy has my Miracle Ear stored in his chest compartment."
"I SAID -- DOES 'WILLY' HAVE A BASE CHARGE?"
"Base charge? What's that? I only know the green lights and the one with the blinking red light."
"Can you reach Willy from where you're lying?"
"Can I touch my willy so you can spy on me? You whippersnapper pervert! I'll have you fired! How digusting..."
"Ma'am -- please hold."
[technician initiates kill mode on ElderCare 5000 via GPS and remote activation protocols]
"Ma'am -- are you still there?"
"Yes -- Willy is moving around now. What did you do?"
"It'll all be over soon."
"What? A tall rover's moon? Hey! Willy?! What are you doin'? Willy?! Put that TV down! He's gone amock! What's going on?! Willy?! WILLY?!"
[slam - click - dial-tone - ring]
"Toyota Eldery Care Technology support, how can I help you?"
IronChefMorimoto
boost to the robots industry (Score:4, Insightful)
--
http://unk1911.blogspot.com/ [blogspot.com]
Re:boost to the robots industry (Score:2)
Obligatory Futurama Quotes (Score:2)
Fry: ...Then when I feel so stuffed I can't eat anymore, I just use the restroom, and then I can eat more.
LiuBot: You should write a book, Fry. People need to know about the- CAN EAT MORE.
Fry: You're cute!
LiuBot: You're cute!
Fry: You!
LiuBot: You!
Fry: You!
(This goes on for a while)
Farnsworth: Oh, dear! She's stuck in an infinite loop, and he's an idiot. Well, that's love for you.
Re:boost to the robots industry (Score:2)
--
http://unk1911.blogspot.com/ [blogspot.com]
looking after the elderly? (Score:5, Insightful)
Now we're in the process of developing technology so that we won't even need to use precious human labor in taking care of the aged among us. This sounds like a sad development to me.
Re:looking after the elderly? (Score:2)
Re:looking after the elderly? (Score:3)
Si
Re:looking after the elderly? (Score:2)
It seems to me that the elderly are more capable then ever, so would require less care then they did 100 years ago.
I good robot advance would be one that allowed the elderly to lead a normal life.
As long as they don't (Score:3, Funny)
Robot, Heal Thyself (Score:2)
Whoever believes that Roomba is the best... (Score:2, Interesting)
Roomba is nice, but... (Score:2)
You can actually get vacuum cleaner robots with a lot more, and more advanced, technology: sensors, cameras, indoor room mapping, WiFi, etc.
Re:Roomba is nice, but... (Score:2)
If your vacuum cleaner finds your wife having sex in the bedroom with the UPS man, I suppose that may qualify as porn.
And so it begins... (Score:2, Interesting)
It's only a matter of time until the 3 laws robots must follow need to be implemented into their AI, and then they will evolve as predicted, and we're doomed.
There's a reason so many science-fiction books have become non-fiction, anything a human can imagine, will eventually happen, through the laws of probability and advancements in technology.
If human ego or greed doesn't deplete/destroy the planet, what ha
Military Uses (Score:2, Interesting)
Ricer Robot Turbo 3000 (Score:2)
Damn It! (Score:2)
I've been waiting for this... (Score:2)
... because I'm going to need a service robot in 2010 to fix my flying car!
Robot Nation (Score:4, Interesting)
http://marshallbrain.com/robotic-nation.htm [marshallbrain.com]
Re:Robot Nation (Score:2)
It won't be anything like that long:
http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20030801/1345236 _ F.shtml [techdirt.com]
http://www.businesspundit.com/archives/000463.html [businesspundit.com]
http://onenews.nzoom.com/onenews_detail/0,1227,211 026-1-454,00.html [nzoom.com]
Now available in pink? (Score:2)
I was worried about the advancement of these robots for a while.. but then I heard about pink.
Thank fucking god.
Level Playing Field? (Score:2)
Why not just have more kids? (Score:2)
Re:can they handle a flying car? (Score:2)
You only have to buy a robot once. You don't pay income, or income tax. The robot always shows up. Provided it has matience costs lower than health care costs (not that you pay health care costs for illegal aliens), it will be cheaper in the long run.
Which brings it to the next economic problem. As robots become moer dynamic instead specialized welders for exmaple, and are able to replace more a
Re:can they handle a flying car? (Score:2)
myth.
Lets say I have a robot factory, and it employes 100,000 people(more then McDonald Douglas in its glory years) but I build a robot capable of only being able to make burgers.
I would put a million plus people out of worker. plus a huge loss on all the people they pay for goods.
as my robots get more advanced, more and more people will loose there jobs.
SO that means we will nede to adapt our culture to be able to support these people. If we don't there w
Congratulations... (Score:3, Insightful)
This place is getting more and more pathetic by the hour.
Re:Congratulations... (Score:3, Insightful)
Yep, that was my take on the posting as well. However, although I think he meant to bash the US I think his aim was off. The Roomba, besides being a real product and not just hot air, happens to have first rate design and software. An example of a useful product and not just fanboy technology for i
Re:MOD PARENT DOWN!!! (Score:2)
WTF is "America" People do bad things, so I bash people, But I will bash the constitution, if you like. That is something that needs to go. Or to be revised out of existence, rather....
Re:Illegal Aliens (Score:2)
That's what we call an excuse, and it's total bullshit.
If legal workers won't apply for the jobs, that is a sign that he needs to raise the pay, not break the law. Supply and demand works both ways.
Holy fuck. Could you imagine if I stole something from a store and said "No one would offer to sell it to me at $0.01! I had no choice
Re:Illegal Aliens (Score:2)
Farmer for whatever reason decides to not pay wages that people want (instead, magnaminously picking an arbitrarily higher wage).
Farmer has higher costs. Farmer has to raise prices. Farmer's higher prices can't compete. Farmer doesn't sell product. Farmer goes out of business. Now there are no jobs.
a,b,c,d....
Re:Illegal Aliens (Score:2)
Farmer for whatever reason decides to not pay wages that people want (instead, magnaminously picking an arbitrarily higher wage).
Farmer has higher costs. Farmer has to raise prices. Farmer's higher prices can't compete. Farmer doesn't sell product. Farmer goes out of business. Now there are no jobs.
a,b,c,d....
Please please tell me you are not THAT stupid!
Let's take this apart:
a--Farmer for whatever reason decides to not pay wages that people want (instead, magnaminously picking an arbitrarily higher w
Re:Illegal Aliens (Score:2)
a--Farmer for whatever reason decides to not pay wages that people want (instead, magnaminously picking an arbitrarily higher wage).
What fucking color is the sky in your neoliberal, libertarian, AynRand-masturbatory fantasy world? In REAL LIFE, it would go down like this: the pickers say FUCK YOU, Old MacDonald, give me a raise or we walk.
So what non-"REAL LIFE" do we life in? A magical candy land where people don't conform to your specific vision of how they should act? And incidentally, your usage o
Re:Illegal Aliens (Score:2)
but in the meanwhile, I am, as you can tell from my post, very libertarian leaning, and as such I am against black markets and for freedom in all things--including freedom of movement of peoples.
It's completely not fair to say that no one but illegals will work for minimum wage or what not, that's certainly not true in my home state. People WILL work for minimum wage--yes, they may be poor immigrants, but there are no shortage o
Re:Illegal Aliens (Score:2)
Too fucking bad, imo. Yes, I realize the consequences of this. It's way past time for a serious shift in the way we view and use labor in this countr
Re:We know what the japanese mean by "service" (Score:2, Funny)
Built-in vibrator.
I mean, who *wouldn't* want an iHump?
Re:Imagine a future (Score:2)