The Readybot Robot Challenge today released a preview video of their
kitchen-cleaning robot prototype. The video is available at www.readybot.com
or on Youtube (link:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cSVwusDeEhI)
Started by a group of veteran Silicon Valley engineers, the Readybot
Challenge is a non-profit effort similar to the DARPA Grand Challenge
robot car race. The goal of the Readybot Challenge is very simple. “People
ask what will be the breakthrough application for consumer robotics,”
comments Tom Benson, team leader, “we think
people want a robot that can clean the kitchen.”
The Readybot prototype device looks like a white enamel box with wheels,
2 human-sized arms and retro chrome styling. “Like
a dishwasher, but with arms,” joke the
designers. In fact the unit fits neatly in the same counter space as a
dishwasher. After activation, it rolls out, deploys several antenna-like
cameras, and raises itself up to human height to begin work. Slowly but
steadily, it picks up cups, bowls, and plates, dumps food, loads the
dishwasher, scrapes and scrubs the countertop. When needed, it grabs one
of several custom tools to scrub, sponge, or maneuver.
Unlike other more complex robots, Readybot makes no pretensions to human
anatomy. Readybot is a low-dexterity design that uses common,
mass-produced parts and commonly available software. The goal of the
project, say the engineers, is to see how much of an average kitchen
such a robot can clean. “It can do 30-40% of
the common daily chores right now,” said
Benson “and with additional programming, we
estimate 50% in another year, eventually topping out at 80%. Really,
most of this technology is already available, it’s
just a question of how many people you can get writing software.”
What’s next for the Readybot challenge team?
There is plenty still to do – a paint job
(the current device is plain white) and tests in different kitchens with
different layouts. According to one team member, Readybot is “...a
typical prototype, noisy, slow, and shaky but...”
he says with a smile “it actually does the
job, and that is amazing.”
Readybot Robot Challenge
Tom Benson, 925-264-1187 (Project Lead)
tom.benson@readybot.com
