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Frequently Asked Questions |
What is the Readybot Project?
Readybot is Silicon Valley-based research group working on a very specific goal: to build a low-cost, easy-to-use, mobile work robot.
Why does Readybot move so slow?
Readybot is designed to move slow and steady. People watch science fiction movies and see robots that are faster and stronger than human beings. This makes for exciting movies, but it's not real. In real life, a domestic robot, because it works next to people, should be slow and careful.
Also note, that the motors were set at about 20% of maximum speed for the prototype test. So yes, the speed could be increased.
How is Readybot controlled?
The software is a hybrid of autonomous and teleoperated control, based on techniques for practical artificial intelligence, learned from past applications -- now applied to robotics. We combined several off-the-shelf, or shareware, algorithms to control the movement and localization of the robot in the room, and to recognize and determine action for the objects on the tabletop. These components are linked into a custom-written robot, arm, and object operating system, which we call ";collaborative cloud" control. This control approach has been worked out by trial and error over the duration of the project and is working well in tests. With luck, we hope it will continue performing well (it will be "robust", as programmers like to say) as it encounters more and more complex tasks.
On top of the collaborative cloud operating system, we are developing a set of application modules which are specific to the different types of work being performed. For example, there might be other interchangeable applications packages that alllow the robot to perform different tasks throughout the day; cleaning, carrying parts, stacking inventory, or whatever the work required. Our goal is to build an architecture that approximates the application-operating system architecture used in personal computers.
Earilier your group was working on kitchens and now you are talking about manufacturing. Why?
For many years, the goal of cleaning kitchens helped enormously in developing this technology. Kitchen cleaning is a great starting point, and is still a very important goal. However, with the state of the economy, we wanted to focus on industries where we felt robotics could provide a boost, to help revitalize the economy, create new jobs, or create essential innovations for the future. We chose our current focuses - manufacturing, elder independance, and alternative energy support services - for those reasons.
When can I get one?
Although Readybot was designed to be mass-produced, it is still just a prototype and not ready for production or sales. We estimate that, if the right technology firm applied a solid engineering and design team to the project, a shippable product could be developed in as little as 2 years.
Readybot is only a proof-of-concept prototype and needs many improvements. For example, some motors are undersized, control circuits reset randomly, and parts not designed for long term use are wearing out. All of this provides valuable experience for future designs.
How much will it cost?
We're not sure yet, but it wouldn't be extreme. Readybot is intended to demonstrate that a low-cost, advanced robot is feasible. The design has been optimized to reduce the number of parts, and to use only off-the-shelf parts from global low-cost vendors. Most likely, in the beginning, robots like this would be leased, not purchased, and the cost would go down very rapidly if produced and deployed in volume.
It's hard for me to believe the robot will be able to perform as well as a person.
You're right, it won't. In fact, we believe that no commercial robot, at a reasonable price, will ever do any job as well as a human being, nor should it be expected to. Human beings are simply the most extraordinary “machines” in existence. No robot can compare in strength, dexterity, sensitivity, or of course, intelligence. Therefore, robots should always be viewed simply as tools intended to perform the simple, tiresome, or repetitive jobs which no human being is available or willing to do.
Readybot's First Law of Practical Robotics:
“Consumer robots generally will only do a job 80% as well as a human being, at best. If that isn’t acceptable, don’t use a robot.”
Does Readybot think?
No. This robot is literally just an appliance with a PC running it. The software that runs the robot is significantly less complex than even common applications such as word processors or spreadsheets. It is more likely that your latest version of Microsoft Word will achieve sentience long before Readybot.
How does Readybot compare to other robots, for example ASIMO?
Humanoid robots like ASIMO are much more sophisticated, intended to be the most advanced technology devices possible. Most of their parts are custom designed and machined. If they were cars, they would be the equivalent of formula-one race cars.
If Readybot was a vehicle, it would be a pickup truck. It’s designed to be as simple as possible, to use existing technology and off-the-shelf parts, to be easy-to-maintain, with the highest possible uptime, yet still do a very useful, practical daily job.
Where do you think the first domestic robots will be used?
Probably the first important use of these robots will be elder or nursing care, especially in Japan and parts of Europe where there are not enough new workers entering the workforce. This is a long-term problem requiring tens of millions of robots, at least. Other areas we believe important are manufacturing revitalization and alternative energy and environmental services.
We believe that robots of this type are very important to society and crucial to the future economic success of many nations. They will raise the the standard of living for all people by improving the quality of the physical working environment, just as personal computers and the internet have improved the quality of the informational working environment.
I want to get into robotics, where do I start?
There are amazing robotics research programs at universities all over the world, where the next generation of robot technologies are being developed. Any of these would be a great place to start. Alternatively, look at some of the very fine hobby robot kits available.
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