Many countries around the world are currently facing complex issues caused by an expanding aging population, prompting a growing number of tech companies to explore how robots may be able to help around the home.
Focusing on robotics and AI research, the California-based Toyota Research Institute (TRI) this week showed off a prototype robot that can handle a number of tasks around the home.
The robot is powered by software capable of dealing with the kind of messy situations that can baffle so many other robots, especially their ability to competently handle transparent and reflective objects and surfaces.
In the video above (note: the selfie references are a nod to National Selfie Day earlier this week), TRI shows his robot expertly wiping down surfaces in a kitchen and other rooms. While many similar robots still lack the skills to spot objects such as transparent drinking glasses and shiny toasters that might get in the way during such a task, Toyota’s robot is able to identify these objects and move them carefully using pliers.
“Training robots to understand how to function in home environments poses special challenges due to the diversity and complexity of our homes where small tasks can add up to big challenges,” said Max Bajracharya, Vice President TRI robotics, said in a press release on the latest work of the institute.
Bajracharya said his team was able to create a robot capable of safely manipulating traditionally difficult-to-recognize objects by designing a system that enables the precise perception of the 3D geometry of an entire scene and at the same time the precise detection of objects and surfaces. within this scene.
He added that this combination allows researchers to use large amounts of synthetic data to train the system, which Toyota says “reduces the need for time-consuming, costly, or impractical data collection and labeling.”
While a surface-wiping robot will do little to solve the most pressing problems of an aging population, these incremental improvements in robot technology may pave the way for new, bigger projects that could one day make a significant contribution. to the society. Indeed, TRI said its latest efforts expand the current knowledge base on technology related to household robots, improving their ability to operate effectively in the home.
While it might be a while before you see a robot as advanced as Toyota’s enter your home, a slew of smart robotic devices are, in fact, already available to perform a range of household tasks. so you don’t have to.
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