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Service Robots in Service by 2010

Igor Birman writes "Reuters reports that Toyota aims to sell service robots by 2010. Meanwhile, the most advanced consumer robot produced in the US appears to be the iRobot Roomba, now available in pink. More information is available at Robotics Trends and NewsTarget.com"

20 of 229 comments (clear)

  1. We are here to protect you. by TripMaster+Monkey · · Score: 4, Funny

    From TFA:

    Toyota Motor Corp. (7203.T: Quote, Profile, Research) aims to start selling robots that can help look after elderly people or serve tea to guests by 2010, the Asahi daily reported on Tuesday.

    Reading this, I can't help but think of this excerpt from The Terribe Secret of Space:

    Grandma is protected
    Grandma has gone down the stairs
    We are here to protect you
    From the terrible secret of space

    We are the space robots
    Grandma is protected
    Grandma is protected
    At the bottom of the stairs

    I am the pusher robot
    Shoving is the answer
    I will shove grandma
    Outside into the snow

    I am the shover robot
    Pushing is the answer
    I will push snow
    On top of grandma

    ^_^
    --
    ____

    ~ |rip/\/\aster /\/\onkey

  2. Pink Roombas? by justforaday · · Score: 4, Funny

    Yoshimi should be able to take care of those Roombas with no problem...

    --
    I'll turn into a supernova and burn up everything. Well I'll turn into a black little hole and you'll turn into string.
  3. Half a decade hence... by TopSpin · · Score: 4, Funny

    Date line May 31, 2005:
    Toyota Motor Corp. aims to start selling robots that can help look after elderly people or serve tea to guests by 2010.

    Date line April 1, 2011:
    A Japanese pensioner was found dead today beneath a mountain of tea cups and saucers. A relative claims a Toyota robot given to the man a year before continued to carry out it's tea serving prerogative for months after the victim had expired.

    --
    Lurking at the bottom of the gravity well, getting old
  4. Demand by suso · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Japan's top automaker sees a declining birthrate and aging population leading to growing demand for robots that can help in tasks such as child care and nursing care

    What? I don't know where these companies determine the demands that people have. People have been trying to make machines that could automatically mow a lawn for over 50 years now. I would think there would be a really high demand for robots that could do lawn care, take out the trash and clean the house. At least those tasks I could trust a robot to do properly and shouldn't be all that difficult if they are also "really" capable of caring for a child. Personally, it would be a long time before I would trust robotic technology and AI to care for a human being's health and safety.

    1. Re:Demand by delirium28 · · Score: 4, Informative

      Umm, ever heard of Robomow? Granted, you still need to push the big green "Go" button to get it started, but it's still better than doing it yourself.

      --
      Who is John Galt?
    2. Re:Demand by hraefn · · Score: 3, Insightful

      Why not? Many humans are incapable of providing care for another human's health and safety, but are nonetheless allowed to do so.

  5. Roomba is hardly the only one by Rei · · Score: 3, Interesting

    There's everything from robotic lawnmowers to the upcoming Scooba mopbot.

    --
    Aeris Died For Your Sins.
  6. I'm still waiting for advance... by Spy+der+Mann · · Score: 3, Interesting

    in AI voice processing so we start having those cool robotic butlers and dishwashers (Who actually pick up your plates and sweep the floor).

    I find it amazing that hardware is advancing WAY beyond software.

  7. Uh huh by Colin+Smith · · Score: 3, Funny

    I love these types of executive decision.

    Yes, we're planning on regular scheduled trips to the moon next year, I'll just crack the whip on the R&D slaves to get them to work a bit harder.

    --
    Deleted
  8. We have feelings too you know by Timesprout · · Score: 4, Funny

    This post was submitted by

    iRobot Slash-Postba

    Serial NO : AR-3214324-ERE43

    Activation date : May 31 2005

    --
    Do not try to read the dupe, thats impossible. Instead, only try to realize the truth
    What truth?
    There is no dupe
  9. How long until... by DrinkingIllini · · Score: 3, Funny

    ...I can get an alcohol drinking loudmouth robot, preferably one who is proficient at bending?

  10. Re:Toyota? by Rosco+P.+Coltrane · · Score: 3, Funny

    For years I've been watching Honda pimp Asimo and you're telling me Toyota is the company to first bring us robots. Surprising. So where's Nissan in all this hubbub, or do they need not even apply.

    I have a Ford robot here at home. It's crackling and leaking hydraulics all over the carpet...

    --
    "A door is what a dog is perpetually on the wrong side of" - Ogden Nash
  11. Video feed: by ets960 · · Score: 5, Informative

    Here's the video feed of the robots in motion http://www.toyota.co.jp/en/special/robot/

  12. iRobot huh? by Rosco+P.+Coltrane · · Score: 3, Funny

    I already wanted to buy hard-cover copies of I, Robot to throw at Will Smith when the movie went out, to avenge Azimov's memory, but really, that pink roomba thing is too much. Poor Isaac must be spinning in his grave...

    --
    "A door is what a dog is perpetually on the wrong side of" - Ogden Nash
  13. Imagine the tech support calls... by IronChefMorimoto · · Score: 4, Funny

    "Toyota Eldery Care Technology support, how can I help you?"

    "I've fallen, and I can't get up."

    "Is your ElderCare 5000 series nearby?"

    "I forgot to recharge Willy last night."

    "Willy? Who is Willy?"

    "Well -- that's my robot's name. After my first husband, before he died in the Vietnam War. He was such a loveable man...kind to his children...and..."

    "Uh -- ma'am -- does 'Willy' have a base charge?"

    "What? I can't hear ya real good. Willy has my Miracle Ear stored in his chest compartment."

    "I SAID -- DOES 'WILLY' HAVE A BASE CHARGE?"

    "Base charge? What's that? I only know the green lights and the one with the blinking red light."

    "Can you reach Willy from where you're lying?"

    "Can I touch my willy so you can spy on me? You whippersnapper pervert! I'll have you fired! How digusting..."

    "Ma'am -- please hold."

    [technician initiates kill mode on ElderCare 5000 via GPS and remote activation protocols]

    "Ma'am -- are you still there?"

    "Yes -- Willy is moving around now. What did you do?"

    "It'll all be over soon."

    "What? A tall rover's moon? Hey! Willy?! What are you doin'? Willy?! Put that TV down! He's gone amock! What's going on?! Willy?! WILLY?!"

    [slam - click - dial-tone - ring]

    "Toyota Eldery Care Technology support, how can I help you?"

    IronChefMorimoto

  14. boost to the robots industry by unk1911 · · Score: 3, Insightful

    Nothing would give a greater boost to the robot industry than a RoboGirl...

    --
    http://unk1911.blogspot.com/

  15. looking after the elderly? by binarstu · · Score: 5, Insightful

    We already have a culture that puts the elderly away into nursing homes or retirement communities rather than having families take care of them. This is in sharp contrast to the way elderly members of most cultures have traditionally been cared for. A few generations back in the U.S., most elderly lived with their families as they aged.

    Now we're in the process of developing technology so that we won't even need to use precious human labor in taking care of the aged among us. This sounds like a sad development to me.

  16. As long as they don't by joncue · · Score: 3, Funny

    Make one that will open a jar, my wife will keep me around....

  17. Robot Nation by TheKubrix · · Score: 3, Interesting

    For the tin foil hat crowd, heres an interesting essay about robots taking over,...and how it starts with general services:

    http://marshallbrain.com/robotic-nation.htm

  18. Re:Old Glory by God+of+Lemmings · · Score: 3, Funny

    WARNING! people denying the existence of robots may be robots themselves!

    --
    Non sequitur: Your facts are uncoordinated.