Leaders in robotics still cannot agree on what a ‘robot’ is. Of course, everyone understands that the term is used to refer to programmable machines that perform various tasks. But no one can pinpoint exactly where this definition ends. Today’s robots have no natural general intelligence, but thanks to AI and machine learning, they can solve problems and even mimic “thinking” in a limited domain.
There are quite a few robots that can be used in the home. Let’s look at just a few of them. In particular, one of the latest inventions of American scientists became IROBOT — a smart robot hoover, model Roomba 980. The main difference between this model and previous ones is the active application of artificial intelligence for:
scanning the size of the room;
obstacle detection;
the memory of the most efficient routes for cleaning;
determining the optimum cleaning time.
A completely different invention by British scientists is Emotech Olly, a voice assistant that differs from Google Home or Amazone Alexa in that it has an evolving personality.
Olly’s personality stems from a combination of machine learning algorithms that gradually teach the robot to be more like its own host. Emotech’s AI-powered technology can understand a user’s facial expressions, analyze their voice intonation and verbal patterns to actively initiate a conversation and make appropriate suggestions. The small robotic assistant can also move, orienting itself towards the user as it decides what to do next.
Ollie’s abilities are vastly superior to those of other voice assistants. For example, if Ollie sees you resting, it can ask if you’ve had a long or difficult day and then suggest your favorite music to relax.
Another great example of robots to ease human life is Project Romeo. This humanoid robot can open doors, climb stairs, reach for objects and provide services as a home caretaker. It’s a great option for the elderly. And Robear the teddy bear robot helps lift elderly people out of bed and into wheelchairs, which helps avoid accidents and gives people more autonomy.
Robots and artificial intelligence are becoming increasingly dense in our everyday lives. But are they completely safe? From built-in cameras to internet access, interactive home robots have features that could potentially make the home vulnerable to hacking. Some devices could become weapons or spies. So owners need to pay attention to security vulnerabilities and potential threats.
