Robots are on the rise!
It felt like the last few years have been a sleepy time for robots. When I wrote about them last year, I felt there were plenty of stories about them, but nothing dramatic. Even the year before that, I wrote “Sorry robots: no one is afraid of YOU any more. Now everyone is freaking out about AI instead“. People used to be afraid of the latest developments from Boston Dynamics, with their walking humanoid and dog robots, but that attention has died off and it seemed like no one cared about robots anymore, despite developments.
Recently though, attention has been paid again, especially after recent news about how a Chinese robot beat Usain Bolt’s 100-Meter Record. Sure, some of that attention was ridicule, but nonetheless, people were talking about robots again.
It’s easy to mock robots that suddenly collapse or run into walls rather than gracefully stopping like Bolt does, but the recent World Humanoid Robot Games in Beijing were a good measure how far robotic development has come. And not surprising, that development seems to be taking place in China. Here’s two stories showing what is happening with the technology in that country:
- China’s humanoid robots are stealing the show, but a quieter machine revolution is unfolding
- Chinese Robotic Warehouse Buzz
Not that recent robots are limited to factories. Here are a slew of new bot buddies to help you at home:
- Here’s one for runners: This AI-assisted mini scooter is your best buddy during morning runs – Yanko Design
- Here’s one for painters: Bantam Tools WaterColorBot™ – Bantam Tools
- Based on this review, this one’s for no one: I Tried a Window-Cleaning Robot: Do Not Recommend | WIRED
- For pool owners, there’s this, Bublue BuVortex V5 Pool Skimmer Review: An Impractical Cleaner | WIRED, and this, Beatbot AquaSense X Review: A Pool Robot That Cleans Itself | WIRED
- For people who hate doing dishes (like me), this dishwashing robot seems quite amazing
- More cleaning robots: Matic Makes Keeping Clean Simple And Stylish
- For selfie fans: Beni Is What Sony Aibo Grew Up to Be – A $549 Camera Robot That Captures Life While You Live It – Yanko Design
- For someone without friends: Bumi is an inexpensive humanoid robot that’ll entertain and educate you – Yanko Design
- And if you want to make your own, there’s this: StackChan: Kawaii Co-Created Open-Source AI Desktop Robot by M5Stack — Kickstarter – www.kickstarter.com
And here’s a few more robots for good measure:
All in all, the robot revolution is rising up. Or is it? As this piece argues, at least when it comes to a certain type, the roboguard revolution is short-circuiting.
Let’s see where the world of robotics is in a year from now.
Smart People I Know 