First it learns to shoot pool, now this
Posted 07.08.2010 at 5:11 pm
13 Comments
Willow Garage Robot Fetches Beer
The roboticists at Willow Garage, like the rest of us this summer, are thirsty. But they have the quick-learning PR2 bot to help out. Having mastered other handy tasks, like folding laundry and playing pool, the robot has now learned to fetch beer for its masters.
When the need strikes, a thirsty human simply has to open a web interface, choose his or her preferred brew, and click the "Beer Me" button. The PR2 opens the refrigerator and scans its contents using image recognition software; retrieves a bottle of the correct kind; and brings it to the human. It can optionally open the bottle as well.
"They're basically just trying to make someone to hang out with on Saturday nights," opines PopSci contributor Clay.
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too good, I cant help but think of Mr Handy :D
Did You Make It Or Buy It?
I like how the robot doesn't want to let go of the beer. You guys built a Bender...
Ahem...
The Willow Garage can afford to build and program robots, but they can't afford a video camera?
With stop motion photography Nick Park and Bob Baker bring robotic pants to life in Wallace and Gromit The Wrong Trousers.
www.wallaceandgromit.com/films/wrongtrousers/
@JCincy - Looks like the Willow Garage team can't afford food, either.
Thats a good start, will it fetch the girl also?
Where's Duff Man when you need him? Whoya!
Those geeks look like they might put a wig and some lipstick on the robot after a couple more brews.
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So, it's a choice between this and the Hooters girl? The Hooters girl is more cost effective in the short term. Seems like the Hooters girl has some other basic advantage; can't think of what that might be...
All of their robotic software seems to do everything incredibly slowly (notice this video had robotic footage at 3x and 5x speeds?), but I have to admit, it does everything right. So now the same robot can play pool with me, and when I work up a thirst, it can get me a beer. When I'm drunk enough to spill that beer all over my shirt, I'll do laundry and the robot will fold all my clothes.
Seems like a great day to me :P .
-IMP ;) :)
You've got to be kidding me. People spent time developing that bucket of bolts?
You guys crack me up! Hey! I have a joke for you...try developing a robot that detects and removes oil from wetlands! Maybe one that serves elderly patients their meds.
Anything but a "beer gopher"!
Are these kids the hope of the future?
The future of imported beer perhaps.
Now I can shoot my dog.