This robot can be programmed to fold your laundry or get you a beer
One of the biggest challenges with programming a robot to work with laundry is that clothing
and towels are “deformable objects.” Unlike a bolt or bottle, a shirt’s shape looks different
based on whether it’s scrunched up on the floor or hanging in a closet. “The challenges
posed by robotic towel-folding reflect important challenges inherent in robotic perception
and manipulation for deformable objects,” Assistant Professor Pieter Abbeel tells UC
Berkley News Center.
Unfortunately, the PR2 can’t quite differentiate between a clean, rumpled shirt lying on the
floor and a dirty, rumpled shirt lying on the floor. Besides, the robot isn’t flexible enough to
reach the floor. Because of its limited range and vision, PR2 can’t reach into the machine to
take the clothes out. But enough about what the robot can’t do. As you can see in the video,
the robot has no problem putting clothes into a basket and transferring them to the washer.
Once everything’s out of the dryer, the bot can fold and hang the laundered items.
The PR2 isn’t limited to laundry, though. Willow Garage engineers have programmed robots that
deliver beer and play pool. Those bots know how to party!
deliver beer and play pool. Those bots know how to party!
Related: Robots battle to clean my home
With that hefty price tag and PR2’s limitations, it’s not like we expect Santa to deliver a domesticated robot this year. Is Christmas 2020 too soon to hope for?
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