Rise of the machines: A new frontier of robots that can cook gourmet meals, leave your
Remember watching ‘The Jetsons’ and wishing you had your own Rosey, the robotic maid?
She did the cooking, the cleaning and everything else for George, Jane, Judy, Elroy and their dog, Astro.
The idea of robot companions doing the mundane parts of life for us for a long time seemed fantastical – 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 one.
That could all change soon. A new frontier of humanoids are set to be rolled out in dozens of industries – from policing and security to healthcare and hospitality.
And personal bots that do the vacuum cleaning, mow the lawn, cook meals and take out the trash are also on the horizon.
Atlas is a robot developed by the American robotics Boston Dynamics. It is designed to aid emergency services in search and rescue operations and function in environments where humans can’t survive, like fires and warzones
To the rescue
Atlas can lift heavy weights, run, open doors, backflip, jump and even do parkour.
It’s designed to aid emergency services in search and rescue operations and function in environments where humans can’t survive, like fires and warzones.
Made by the Massachusetts firm Boston Dynamics’, the scary six-foot-tall bipedal humanoid bot has ‘hands’ consisting of just two fingers – one fixed into place and the other adjustable, but the new footage shows this is enough to keep a firm grip on objects.
Holey Moley
Moley is a kitchen bot chef that can learn to cook your favorite meals. It mimics the movements of human hands and can do delicate tasks like cracking an egg.
The robotic chef works by users choosing a certain number of portions, type of cuisine, dietary restrictions, calorie count, ingredients, cooking method, chef, from the recipe library first.
Once users have selected their preferences, then 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 has been prepared. That’s the dream.
The kitchen is also completely operated by its touch screen or remotely via smartphone or tablet.
The only downside? The last widely reported price for the kitchen help is $335,000.
For the kids
Miko is a $300 bot that recognizes kids’ 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 out your space.
Worried about security? Miko says all data is end-to-end encrypted.
The robotic chef works by users choosing a certain number of portions, type of cuisine, dietary restrictions, calorie count, ingredients, cooking method, chef, from the recipe library first
This bot’s got moxie
Moxi was big at the pandemic’s start, delivering medication, PPE, patient comforts and other supplies.
It can open elevator doors, but it needs to ask a human to press the button for its floor. Pretty cute for a robot.
Microscopic doctors
Antibacterial nanorobots are tiny self-propelled bots that deliver medication right to the infection.
They do this by mimicking a bacteria and its target, then trapping it in nanowire mesh. Truly incredible stuff.
A robotic lover
RealDoll X is a handmade, customizable doll made for adults only. The head is AI-drive and can move, speak, blink and form expressions.
Through an app, users can customize their doll’s personality. Choose its hair, makeup and lots more, but don’t expect a cheap price tag. They cost about $6,000.
The ‘Robear’ has a cub-like face but packs enough strength to transfer patients from a wheelchair (pictured) or a floor-level bed to a bath, for example. It weighs 309lb (140kg) with extending legs that stop the ‘bear’ from falling over and it moves slowly and smoothly thanks to advance actuators in its mechanical arms
Keeping crops happy
BugVacuum is a self-propelled vacuum cleaner that sucks up insects while autonomously navigating between crops on farms.
Farmers only have to get it to the starting point and set it to auto mode. The bot is ideal for clearing out insecticide-resistant pests.
Seriously sweet
Robear is a back-saving teddy bear-shaped robot that lifts disabled or older patients from their beds into a wheelchair.
Its soft, cushioned body is designed to be gentle on the patient’s skin while providing maximum support.
Developed in Riken-SRK research center in Nagoya, Japan, it uses mechanical arms to transfer patients from a wheelchair or a floor-level bed to a bath, for example.
It weighs 309lb (140kg) and has extending legs that stop the ‘bear’ from falling over.
Piaggio Fast Forward CEO Greg Lynn (center) is followed by his company’s Gita carrier robot as he crosses a street in Boston. The two-wheeled machine is carrying 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, carrying 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.’
Made by Piaggio – the Italian company that makes the Vespa scooter – it was the first cargo-carrying robot marketed directly to consumers.
Piaggio claims the robot offers a stylish alternative to those blandly utilitarian machines – albeit one that weighs 50 pounds (23 kilograms) and costs $3,250 (£2,500).
The two-wheeled machine uses cameras and sensors to track its owner.
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