Robots were invented to make our lives easier in some way or to do things that we cannot do, like exploring Mars.
Although robots fascinate people, they have not yet made much of a mark on the world. Especially compared to the make believe ones we’ve seen in movies like iRobot and The Terminator. However, we’re very close to this changing.
More companies are investing in the future of robots. The New York Times reported that in 2013, Google bought eight promising robot start-ups in the United States and Japan to help build a “new generation” of robots. These robots will make the electronics assembly process easier and possibly help with Google’s same-day delivery efforts. Andy Rubin, who was the mastermind behind the Android operating system, is working on this top secret Robots project.
Amazon.com, which is Google’s competitor in the Robots category, stated that one day they want Amazon’s books and DVDs delivered to customers via miniature helicopters. Deliveries by drones? Now that will be something to see. Or will it be a robot stepping out of a self-driving car to deliver your package? These are just some of the assumptions or ideas that could easily become reality.
Another industry where robots will come in handy will be mining. By 2030 we might see robots that can map underground chambers to within a millimeter of detail with lasers or automated drills to separate waste from valuable. And at waste dumps, robots will be used to extract every last metal particle.
Some interesting robots to watch out for that were introduced to the market this year:
– The Grillbot $120, cleans your bbq grill like a vacuum
– AIMe is a small camera that detects motion up to 150 feet with special sensors. This robot
will be available in June of 2014 with a price tag of $299.99
– Keecker is a lifestyle robot, working in your home to provide entertainment and
communications. You can use its built-in projector to watch a movie or surf the web on any
nearby wall, or listen to music.
Check out this video of some pretty cool robots. Not sure why they would be terrifying though:
