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Flower Robots For Your Home

Posted by timothy on from the pretty-high-on-maslow's-hierarchy dept.

Roland Piquepaille writes "Flower robots are not new, and some have already been developed in the US. Now, South Korean researchers have created a robotic plant which acts like real ones. This robot has humidifying, oxygen-producing, aroma-emitting, and kinetic functions. It is about 1.30 meters tall and 40 centimeters in diameter. The robotic plant can interact with people when they approach, and it can 'dance' when music is played. The researchers don't say when a commercial version of their flowers will come to the market. They also don't mention a retail price."

12 of 119 comments (clear)

  1. What is it with Asians and robots? by ah81 · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Seriously, is there anything they don't want to turn into a robot?

  2. Re:like real ones?... by dvh.tosomja · · Score: 1, Insightful

    >> Real plants don't do those things Triffids does

  3. unAutotrophs by imatiach · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Great, so now instead of planting flowers and trees that will form Glucose, give us Oxygen, supply all higher lifeforms and save the world every household will have a mechanical machine that will use up precious energy and resources. Sign me up!

    1. Re:unAutotrophs by utnapistim · · Score: 2, Insightful

      But, but, but ... they DANCE!

      I wonder if they will be available in pink ...

      --
      Tie two birds together: although they have four wings, they cannot fly. (The blind man)
    2. Re:unAutotrophs by imatiach · · Score: 2, Insightful

      but trees and plants can already dance! Just turn on the fan or open the window. And you can always paint your plant/tree whatever color you want (think: Christmas trees) In fact, now that I think about it, I want to get a real plant. Maybe this robot will inspire people to go the extra step and get a real one...

    3. Re:unAutotrophs by slashmojo · · Score: 2, Insightful

      On the other hand, maybe these are (or could be) solar powered - handy for areas where water is in short supply.

      Shame the article doesn't actually say more about how these things work.. do they require a water supply? Where does the moisture and oxygen they supposedly produce come from?

      Even if they do require water, are they more or less water efficient than real plants? For example - when you water a real plant you can expect some of that water to simply evaporate before the plant gets to use any of it.. if this thing uses a sealed water tank then that is perhaps less of an issue.

      Anyway its still neat and now robotic dogs have something suitable to pee on! ;)

  4. Its obvious! by BlackSabbath · · Score: 4, Insightful

    Why have a living, breathing flower in a pot when you can have a pretend one that wastes so much more energy? Who wouldn't want that?

    1. Re:Its obvious! by MrMista_B · · Score: 2, Insightful

      People who are allergic to real flowers, for one. Or people who think it's neat and fun, looks nice in their home, or just want to own one?

      Really, the 'why have a real 'whatever' when you can you a pretend 'blablabla' argument, seemingly always in a 'I'm holier than thou' sort of way, is just tired and overused by now.

      Some other examples I've seen before:

      "Why have a real conversation, when you can just type messages on the internet? Is that so hard?"
      "Why go outside and play with your friends, when you can have pretend internet friends? Who wouldn't want that?"
      "Why write real letters on real paper, when you can write on pretend paper on a computer that wastes so much more energy? Who wouldn't want that?"

      See? It's silly.

  5. why? by nicklott · · Score: 3, Insightful

    Looks like a solution in need of a problem to me. Real plants fulfil their functions just fine. And they look better.

  6. Re:First post? by Hognoxious · · Score: 2, Insightful

    You know what I hate? Those santa figures that start going "hohoho" if you go within about 30 feet of them. You know, it's a lucky thing halloween is when it is, or they'd have all the xmas tat in the stores already.

    Feel free to mod me -1 bah humbug.

    --
    Confucius say, "Find worm in apple - bad. Find half a worm - worse."
  7. It's like "Catch" in the Wii by NoNeeeed · · Score: 3, Insightful

    Seriously, someone has actually created a game of catch on the Wii.

    He said it was because...

    but it's different for kids nowadays, because playgrounds and such places doesn't allow ball throwing any more.

    Simulated catch, robot dogs, and now robot plants.

    At the risk of sounding all "get of my lawn", this kind of thing is pretty depressing.

    --
    Paul Leader
  8. Hmmm... by vegiVamp · · Score: 3, Insightful

    Do the robotic flowers absorb more CO2 and emit more oxygen than what is required to produce, power, and when they break down, recycle them ?

    Didn't think so. I'll take real flowers, kthxbye.

    --
    What a depressingly stupid machine.