We are hurriedly heading into a futuristic era where robots will be commonly seen helping around the house, performing all the tasks just like humans. We have already come across a number of robots that have impressed all of the geeky brains with their stunning capabilities. Although the list is long, I would hereby like to mention a few- Honda’s ASIMO humanoid robot, $1 million Rogun robot, Tiro MC robot, underwater whale guard robot, Ellos rescuebot, and the fighter Landroids. All these robots are serving different sections of our society.
Lately, NASA funded a reported $450,000 for three robots that are to be used in a mission to explore life near the hot springs under the ice of the Arctic Ocean. And recently, a team of researchers from the University of Hertfordshire was reported to be developing a humanoid robot that will help autistic children learn social skills and form relationships.
All these advancements in the robotic dome point straightforward to a robotic age. But, the only concern with the robots development- their ability to perform multiple tasks simultaneously and smoothly- remains in the limelight.
Now, a team of researchers at the Stanford Artificial Intelligence Laboratory, with computer science Professor Oussama Khatib as their leader, is working to bestow robots with the ability to perform multiple tasks simultaneously and smoothly. Humanoid robots can move back and forth very well but are not at ease when it comes to interaction with the world. The researchers are planning to ‘develop robots with the capability to physically touch, push and move objects.”
The project:
This project is a part of the Honda Humanoid Robot Project that aims at building human-friendly robots, which are capable of performing handy tasks in an intricate, changing environment. Khatib has the honor of building twin robots, Romeo and Juliet, which can cooperate to perform complicated tasks such as lifting a long length of pipe.
The Inspiration:
Human beings perform different tasks in a way that minimizes discomfort. Infants know how to avoid those postures that cause them physical distress. So, the inspiration for developing this next generation of humanoid robots came from humans itself. Khatib said:
For example, while taking a sip from a hot cup of coffee, most people naturally hold their forearm at about a 45-degree angle, not up near their ear or down by their side. They use the mechanical advantage of their bodies to perform the task while assuming postures that minimize muscular effort.
The prototype:
Till the date, the team has been able to build a PC prototype dubbed StanBot, which resides on Khatib’s computer screen as simulation. While still on the screen, StanBot is proficient enough to respond to external settings like gravity and other forces the same way a physical robot would do.
Possible application:
Khatib has plans to entrench his ideas into the Honda’s ASIMO humanoid robot. The 7-year-old robot is able to walk, run and greet bystanders but, it fails to perform useful tasks in complex, real-time conditions. But once, ASIMO is equipped with Khatib’s software, it will be able to execute tasks such as ironing and clearing tables with an ease.
Safety issues:
One of the most important features, which these next generation robots like ASIMO must possess, is the human-friendly attitude. They should know how to shake hands safely with a human or how much pressure to use to hold something. To address the same, the robot arms have been stuffed with multiple motors instead of just one, which makes for increased softness of touch. Khatib thinks that the robots will be carrying out all the chores such as making a cup of coffee or cleaning the windows with little or no human involvement in the very near future.
Robots have become a prerequisite in disguise and we are falling to them but, being a true tech nerd, I really don’t have any problem with the fact. But, at that point of time, we might need an ethical code for the righteous robots.
