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Open Source Robot for Household Tasks

Posted by Soulskill on from the make-them-do-the-dishes-when-they-beat-you-at-chess dept.

bednarz brings us a NetworkWorld story about the development of a robot through an open source project. The objective of the project is to "take robotics from research into homes." Quoting: "One of its immediate goals is to build 10 robots and make them available to university researchers as a common platform that can be tinkered with and improved. Willow Garage will also supply 'an open-source code base integrated from the best open-source robotics software available,' President and CEO Steve Cousins said. In Cousins' video presentation, the first version of the robot could be seen vacuuming, picking up toys off the floor of a living room, taking dishes out of a dishwasher, and most importantly of all, using a bottle opener to crack open a cold, refreshing brew."

9 of 99 comments (clear)

  1. One step closer to the singularity by religious+freak · · Score: 4, Funny

    Ah, I can't wait...

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    If you can read this... 01110101 01110010 00100000 01100001 00100000 01100111 01100101 01100101 01101011
    1. Re:One step closer to the singularity by baboonlogic · · Score: 5, Insightful

      The real problem with singularity is that it implicitly assumes that the intelligence of various entities forms a totally ordered set and that we will soon discover or create some superior intelligence. That kind of a claim needs evidence and we have none. And on top of that we display a significant cognitive bias while looking at intelligence. An octopus's intelligence might be better than ours at the ocean's floor. As a species, our intelligence might be lower than that of chimpanzees (they didn't cause global warming). Can we compare human intelligence to that of HIV? To that of T-Rex? What does intelligence mean? Whatever it is, we don't seem to have objective criteria for defining it. We just seem to be content with some circular definitions that use human intelligence itself as the prototype and then claim that our intelligence is superior. That and the evidence-less concept of a total order in intelligence lies at the heart of "singularity".

      Singularity is likely going to remain in the realm of "coming soon" forever.

  2. Anyone by artichokesquid · · Score: 5, Funny

    ... tested out the suction on one of these yet?

    1. Re:Anyone by anagama · · Score: 4, Funny

      Who cares about suction. As long as it doesn't nag, whine, or yell, it sounds like bliss.

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      What changed under Obama? Nothing Good
  3. No one would need one of these by CrazyJim1 · · Score: 4, Funny

    I see a world market for maybe five robots.

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    God spoke to me.
  4. Open Source Robot by ChengWah · · Score: 5, Funny

    I for one welcome our beer-cracking overlords

  5. What is intelligence? by CustomDesigned · · Score: 4, Informative

    The root of the word literally means "to chose between" (inter[between] lego[to chose] -> intellego[to comprehend]). Intelligence is the ability to make choices, and is not directly related to powers of deduction, induction, or perception. These later simply put more choices within reach of the controlling intelligence. You don't have to be a genius to make a conscious choice. "Sentience" would be the word used in sci-fi.

  6. crack open a cold, refreshing brew? by Dr.Altaica · · Score: 5, Funny

    Article: "and most importantly of all, using a bottle opener to crack open a cold, refreshing brew."

    Human: "I didn't know robots neede to drink"

    Robot: "I don't need to drink. I can quit anytime I want to."

  7. Re:All in a day's work by ch-chuck · · Score: 3, Funny

    It'll probably be run ON Vista, in which case it will try to anticipate what you want and then mow the dog, load your pants, iron the lawn, take out the dishwasher and wash the garbage.

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    try { do() || do_not(); } catch (JediException err) { yoda(err); }