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New Electrolux Trilobite 2.0 Vacuum Robot
i4u writes "The first version of the Electrolux expensive vacuum robot was launched last May. Electrolux announced the new metallic green Trilobite 2.0 on their Swedish site. The Electrolux Trilobite 2.0 is programmable like a VCR, it also recognises stairs and offers smarter cleaning. Electrolux has carried out 200 improvements. Photos on I4U." And at this rate, perhaps MkIII will be out next spring.
Wanna play Trilobite yourself? :)
This was my first (and last) Java Applet. JRE 1.4.1 required: Have fun
Well, I didn't elaborate the applet as far as I wanted, but it was fun learning Java/GUI programming and fundamentals of path finding (A*) at the same time.
OK. So they move independently. Is that all that's necessary for a "robot"? So, like, if I rigged up a remote control car to drive mindlessly back and forth, back and forth all day, is it now a "robot"?
Where is the dividing line between "automatic mechanized device" and "robot"?
Honey, I shrunk the Cygwin
You're also paying for the Electrolux name with the Trilobite - they make some high-end vaccums, you know...
but what i wonder is, with all these robots working, wont it get to the point where its less cost effective for us to commute to work (even working for pennies), than to have a robot do it.
now assuming that the robots dont become sentient(very likely). What sort of economics model would possibly work to justify our existance. no work for humans, no money, no food...... am i right?
im suspecting
1. corperations & ceo's will own and control everything, because they are the only ones producing anything.
2. people will probably be paid not to work(just as they are now)
3. either A. we have bliss on work because nobody will work and everything will be free B. (more likely) overpopulation, and we enter a middle ages type monarchy. where your position in society wont be based on how smart you are (computers will be smarter), what or how much you can produce (self replicating robots will be cheaper). but rather it will be based on who you know, your sexual attractiveness, the purity of your genes.
or perhaps im just being a cynic
btw, im a researcher in an intelligent robotics lab...
The trilobyte is probably the closest thing to the autonomous research robots I work with, thats really aimed at the consumer (albeit, the wealthy consumer...). From my understanding, trilobyte uses sonars for navigation and has internal mapping and localization. Those are necessary for it to find its charger base automatically, but it also can make cleaning faster and more efficient than say, roomba's spiralling and wall following algorithms.
Its kind of high priced, but not too bad considering the amount of research that localization and mapping has had over the years, and the hardware requirements to support it. Sonars are tricky devices to use and require quite a bit of computation to do accurate mapping with.
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You make a very important point. They've stuck themselves into an awkward position. The Trilobite is too expensive to market as an additional vacuum cleaner, but its feature set is too limited to actually be a vacuum replacement. The Roomba is aimed at an actual defined market niche: it's an inexpensive automated floor sweeper/vacuum intended for periodic use between regular vacuumings.
If a job's not worth doing, it's not worth doing right.
Maybe the cost difference is that the Electrolux Trilobite 2.0 can actually clean a carpet beneath the surface. I've seen the roomba in action in stores, and it only cleans the top of the carpet -- who cares! This doesn't mean you have a clean carpet. I will only spend the money on one of these things if it does the following: i. Contains on or two brushes that LIFT the carpet similar to how *most uprights do. ii. Provide similar cleaning/sucking power as a 12amp Hoover. What I saw from the Roomba is nothing but a Dust Buster - it cleans the surface, but nothing more!