Let's be honest. The Jetsons and Star Wars make robots a ridiculous concept. Those are characters created for pure entertainment purposes. The reality, however, is much different. The future of robots is more akin to 'Blade Runner' or 'Better Than Us.' Robot technology is advancing exponentially. But we don't have to wait that long to get there. Robots are already a reality, and you can implement them in your life today. Here are five robots you need in your life right now.
Robot companions
It's no secret that people today love company. Friends can help keep us grounded and provide unconditional love. However, having a friend in the age of COVID and busy lives can be downright impossible. That's why it's so important to have robots as friends. It's the perfect solution to our busy, siloed lives. In addition, some robots can be programmed to do a host of tasks, including:
- Feed your pet
- Take care of your home by cleaning up messes,
- cooking food,
- watering the plants, etc.
Once you get a robot companion, the entire concept of having a friend hanging around might actually work.
Robot co-workers
Workplace relations have always been a touchy subject. For years, all we had were faceless men and women in cubicles to appease. Now, however, technology is starting to change the way we do business, and what kind of careers are available to us. With robots, we can hire highly skilled professionals without having to worry about the intricacies of the human work process. Companies like ABB and KUKA are already creating robotics-powered assembly lines. Their hands don't need to grab the products with a glove, and it means we can see more color. The future is bright. Robots for your home We've all been told by our parents not to touch the stove. We can't help but admire the modern convenience of a hot plate, though. Our kitchen appliances are getting smart too.
While robots have been featured in movies and television, they haven't been a central part of our everyday lives. However, things are changing quickly. Robots are not only in factories now, they are in our homes. Companies like Amazon, for example, use robots in order to reduce delivery times and increase efficiency. The Amazon Echo and Alexa are examples of consumer-based robots. They are designed to make our lives easier and more convenient. In the future, we will see robots in our homes in a multitude of ways. Some manufacturers are already working on this technology. For example, at CES in 2017, LG introduced the Hub Robot. The robot is designed to be a home assistant, even doing chores like vacuuming and cleaning the kitchen.
Robot assistants
This one is no surprise. No matter what tasks you need to perform, you can deploy robots to assist you. Think Amazon's Alexa or the voice-controlled automated smart home technology (Amazon Echo) designed to help you remotely with tasks in your home. Voice-enabled cars Not a new concept, but you are likely going to start seeing them more and more in your rearview mirror. Voice-controlled (usually Amazon Alexa) vehicles are on the way, and you will be able to talk to your car, instead of pressing a button, activating the car, or even making a phone call. Think of this as the "Miracle On 34th Street" scenario.
Robot shoppers
Here's one that might surprise you. There is now a robot that does the shopping for you. The Robot butler was recently showcased at a trade show in Germany. It's described as a mobile automated store, or a vending machine that is also a supermarket. The robot goes shopping and delivers the groceries to your car. It's pretty cool if you ask me. How does the robot do it? It uses a combination of cameras, computer vision, and artificial intelligence. It goes shopping in its own little car-sized cubby, then selects the items you've requested. It then drives to your location and opens the door to your car, so you can get your order. A smarter, improved vacuum The Roomba is an iconic product.
Robot helpers
The humble Roomba is a robotic vacuum cleaner, but a Roomba doesn't just suck dirt. A Roomba can move continuously and continuously clean a room. The best part is that you don't have to have a house full of dirty carpets. Roombas have been on the market since 2002. And although they have great properties, you don't have to spend a lot to get one. The Roomba 652 is selling on Amazon for just $349. It's WiFi-enabled, has up to 800 square feet of suction, and vacuums up to 30 times a day. You can tell it to clean your floors any time of the day or night, and even turn itself off when you go to bed. The Qubot Micro is a security robot created by GuardiCore. It moves around your home like a guard dog. You can program it with what you want it to do.
Robot lovers
Nobody is surprised that the adult industry remains at the forefront of technology. It's a $4 billion industry after, all. Robots make up a big part of that. Take teledildonics, for example. These are robotic 'pleasure devices' that a person can put on their, ahem, *bits* and then sync them up with a porn video, or even with a real-life lover far away over the internet. The device works in tandem with the movements of the other person. But there's more to it than that. Full-sized sex robots are a reality. These dolls are incredibly life-like, and they can move and talk and even blink. They have real-feeling skin that's even warmed up so they feel like a human body. They're powered by deep AI machine learning, so they quickly pick up on what their owners like. Not to mention the fact that they have realistically constructed genitalia for, you know, sexy time.
Robot pets
Cute as they are, cute animals, furry as they are, are not the only species that robots are raising. There are numerous ways to incorporate robotic animals into your life. Indeed, these robots are small enough for you to place in your home, but they can do a lot more. Consider companion pets, companion robots, and companion robots pets. Companion pets are somewhat similar to regular pets; however, they serve a different purpose. For instance, a pet may be an emotional support animal (which many U.S. states have approved to be treated as a service animal). A companion pet can serve a practical purpose. An example could be your robotic golden retriever who can perform tasks for you, like fetching you items or carrying supplies or groceries.
How Much Do They Cost?
Compared to the cost of buying a new car or dropping about $1,000 on a new tablet, a robot could be considered an impulse purchase. However, the real question is how much do you value the benefits they can provide? Robots can do many things for you: 1. Keep you company. 2. Pay the bills. 3. Pick up toys. 4. The list goes on. It costs a pretty penny. But they're here now, and you can implement them right now. For now, there are several different types of robot technology. Prices range from $30 for a smart speaker from Google or Amazon, all the way up to $50,000 for a full-sized life-like sex robot companion.
Conclusion
The robots listed here are not only super useful, but they are great examples of robots that are taking advantage of emerging technology and open-source platforms. Even if you've not yet bought a robot, I think you'll be pleasantly surprised at what's already out there and what's coming down the pipe. Did I miss a robot you'd like to have? Please share your favorite in the comment section below.