2011: The Year of Personal Robots
Submitted by Amanda Kidd on August 6, 2011 - 1:01pm
A homogeneous robotic kit is on its way to display functions in more than ways previously unimagined. This invention is going to help the growing population of elderly people at home or in hospitals. Simple tasks such as opening the door and helping them in their daily chores would be the primary function of these robots.
All You Need To Know
2011 will witness a welcome change in the robotic function which will not only be more outgoing in its performance but the underlying care for the elderly would be observed too. This technology will deliver safe and reliable service to the elderly population of the world.
A uniform platform was introduced in 2010 for all the roboticists. Hence, last May, a test version of this robot was released by the maker of robot hardware and software, Willow Garage.
The robot PR2 has base that moves. Manipulation is easy with two arms. Eight processing cores, 24 gigabytes of RAM and two terabytes of hard-disk space are incorporated in its suite of sensors and two computers. The robot has an operating system that controls the computation and functions related to hardware.
Innovations with Exclusive Features
The PR2 is considered a well-designed and well-tested platform with ample amount of innovations included in its features. The elderly citizens are definitely in safer hands, which are effective too. The area of work for the PR2s includes things like going around their masters, providing them internet access or reminding them of their medicines.
To get back things from the drawers and cupboards, these robots will use laser pointer, radio signal, or even touch.
Meanwhile, the PR2 is helping Samsung Electronics in robotics research. The Bosch Research and Technology Center has kept a target of two years to work with PR2. It will provide the robot with sensors including, accelerometers, microelectromechanical systems, force sensors, gyroscopes, and air-pressure sensors.
This will help in improving the reliability and effectiveness of the PR2. Stanford University, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, and the French National Center for Scientific Research’s (CNRS) Laboratory of Analysis are also doing beta testing.
What Makes the Difference
A standardized platform, a liberated, and an open mind of robot operating system in collaboration with upcoming roboticists, help the scientists to come up with ideas that are more practical. Prior to PR2, there were robots that performed functions in a more divided way. The EL-E performed tasks for people who had impaired motor function; Dusty would lift tray or things from the floor.
With organizations working together by attending conferences and sharing each other’s views and suggestions, the work with PR2 is fast picking pace. It actually saves them with time in case a change is required.
The solutions of others are tested instead of going a full circle. Helping the elderly communicate in the outside world is the focus of the work. It can be done by helping them in their basic needs. The PR2 is not the only one to have been working in this.
There had been robots, which functioned on the same line, such as France’s Robosoft, Gecko Systems of Conyers, and Ga. The world is definitely going to be a better place with these fast track robots entering the home based fields to work on.
About the author
Amanda Kidd is a blogger who is in awe of high tech gadgets and dreams of owning the loving robot one day. Recently, the most expensive bike in the world caught her attention and she is planning to write on luxury portal focusing on the most expensive things in the world.
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