EP.4 FOLD YOUR CLOTHES IN A FLASH WITH THESE LAUNDRY-FOLDING ROBOTS
A pendulum-based mobile robot, a smart home assistant, a robot that folds the laundry and much more.
Make your coffee and print in 3D with one machine ☕️
This robot made waves at CES2023 and attracted worldwide attention. Thanks to its affordable price (about $1,000 per set), people see it as a mechanical home assistant. There are a number of tasks the robot could take over. The Huenit Robot Arm is a multi-functional, AI-based robotic arm that can complete a variety of tasks including making coffee and 3D printing.
It features an AI camera with advanced processing and recognition abilities, a touchscreen display, and Bluetooth connectivity. The robot arm can rotate and lift a significant amount and is equipped with a 3D printer and high-power laser module. It also has an auto tool changing feature and a customizable creator tool to design modules for specific tasks. The Huenit can be paired with special attachments for household chores and includes a built-in vacuum pump and servo motor.
Robots fold laundry: say goodbye to messy piles forever! 🧦
Robots are being developed to help fold laundry faster and more efficiently. While machine vision has improved, identifying and separating individual items of laundry is still a challenge for robots. Researchers at UC Berkeley and the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology have created a robot that uses a neural network and "hands" to fold around 30-40 garments per hour, a significant improvement on previous efforts which could only fold 3-6 garments per hour.
The robot scans the garment with an overhead camera, identifies it, and then uses a variety of movements to get it into the proper position for folding. The process takes about two minutes on average. Looking at performance, as humans, we have nothing to worry about for now. Folding laundry is an activity we are much better at than robots. And it's a pity because I would have gladly given this activity to the robots...
A pendulum-based mobile robot 🦿
Whether you're an elderly individual in need of assistance with heavy lifting or simply looking for a helpful hand with your luggage this robot can be helpful. Developed by Fraunhofer IML, this small but mighty robot can maintain balance on uneven surfaces while carrying weights. The evoBOT could be used to transport groceries, deliver packages, or even assist in construction sites or warehouse logistics.
Using the principles of a pendulum without an external counterweight, this revolutionary transport robot from Fraunhofer IML is always stable and maintains a constant balance, even when it's not moving. The question arises, what if the emergency stop button (E-Stop) is pressed? How will the robot behave then? There is nothing left to do but cheer for this solution! Just watch how he handles a crate full of beer bottles - a wonderful sight.
Fruit-picking robots take flight 🚁
With a severe shortage of agricultural labor, Tevel has turned to computer vision algorithms to drive flying robots that can selectively pick a variety of fruit including apples, peaches, nectarines, apricots, plums, and pears. Not only do these robots operate 24/7 and provide cost-effective solutions for farmers, but they also gather real-time data on the orchard's harvesting status, including information on the total amount of fruit picked, weight, size, color grading, ripeness, location, and more. Get ready to see a major increase in yield and a decrease in costs with the help of Tevel's innovative flying robots.
Robotics term of the week
Delta robot
A delta robot is a type of parallel robot that is typically used for high-speed pick and place operations. It is called a "delta robot" because it is shaped like the Greek letter delta (Δ), with three arms connected to universal joints at the base. Each arm is connected to a motor at the base, which allows the robot to move the end effector (the tool at the end of the arm) in a variety of directions.
Delta robots are known for their high speed, precision, and dexterity, and they are often used in applications such as packaging, assembly, and material handling. They are also used in some research and education settings as a platform for studying parallel robot kinematics and dynamics.