CES 2020 had many robotic announcements. Finally putting robots to work and assisting people is apparently in the forefront of development. Take a look at the following and see for yourself. Personally, I would like a robot to just follow me around carrying stuff.
Samsung’s Ballie could serve as an at-home assistant
Samsung’s ballie robot can follow you around and help out with daily tasks. (Video Credit: Samsung)
During CES 2020 on January 6, Samsung showcased their new ball-shaped robot, Ballie, which was built to be a helpful robot that uses AI to be a security robot, fitness assistant, a tool to help senior citizens connect with smart devices in their homes, and can serve as a companion to kids and pets. Ballie can also record memories with its camera. Samsung demonstrated how Ballie can follow its owner around by using its camera to track them down while rolling along behind them and when it’s given a command or two, it’ll sound a robotic chime. Samsung also presented a futuristic version of Ballie on its promotional video, where it has the potential to serve as an at-home assistant. In the video, the robot was able to open blinds, turn on the TV, and even deployed a robotic vacuum to clean up a mess. Samsung didn’t release any details on how much the robot might cost in the future and when Ballie will be available to the public for purchase.
Ford Motors purchases first two units of Digit from Agility Robotics
Ford has recently purchased the first two Digits from Agility Robotics. (Image Credit: Agility Robotics)
Agility Robotics has announced that Digit, its bipedal robot that can lift 40-pound packages, is now up for sale. The first two units were bought by Ford Motor to research last-mile package delivery. Digit is the same size and shape as a small adult human. By using LIDAR and other sensors, the robot can navigate semi-autonomously. It can also be put to use in logistics, telepresence, warehouses and industrial inspection. Companies will still need to figure out how Digit can perform assigned tasks. The robot is able to carry out some operations autonomously but still can’t adapt to new environments as well as a human can. Digit is available in the low-mid price range of six figures. Ford says Digit could be placed in the back of a self-driving vehicle and be tasked to drop off packages in front of a customer’s home. In their latest press release, Ford says that robots like Digit will help the company make efficient and affordable deliveries for its customers. Currently, Digit is being produced in small quantities, with 6 units being produced to start it off. 20 to 30 Digits will be produced in 2020, with quantities expected to double in 2021.
Charmin’ RollBot delivers toilet paper
Charmin’ RollBot delivers toilet paper directly to you when you need it the most. (Image Credit: Charmin)
We may, at some point, run out of toilet paper while doing our business, but that doesn’t mean help won’t be nearby. Fortunately, at CES 2020 in Las Vegas, Charmin’ unveiled RollBot, a toilet paper delivery robot prototype that rolls right up to you when you need it the most. With a toilet paper roll placed atop of the robot’s bear head, it makes it easy to reach out and grab in desperate times. You can alert the robot by using your smartphone, where it’ll start its delivery as soon as it receives activation via Bluetooth. It also uses infrared sensors so that it can ‘see,’ allowing it to navigate to your destination. There isn’t much else included on the RollBot, so the only thing you’d have to be sure of is that it’s stocked with toilet paper. A price or release date hasn’t been announced yet. It’s not clear if RollBot will be released as a consumer product since it’s just a prototype.
Pollen Robotics unveils Reachy, an expressive and open-source robot
Reachy is an open-source robot that can be used for research and prototyping and many more applications. (Video Credit: Pollen Robotics)
A French startup, Pollen Robotics, has showcased Reachy, a robot that consists of two arms, chest and a head, at CES 2020 in Las Vegas. Reachy is an open-source platform that’s been designed with prototyping and research purposes in mind. It already went on sale, selling as either a standalone arm for $9,000 or the double arm and head version for $17,000. The company says they already have three clients interested in the robot. Other than being able to play tic-tac-toe, Reachy can be developed to do a lot more. By using Python, developers can create an infinite amount of applications for the system, even if the robot is already intended to be used for food service, demonstrations in research and development, and customer service. Since it already has AI in the system, researchers won’t need to worry about training the system with machine learning, so they can start up their research. Reachy’s arms have 7 degrees freedom of movement, which can be equipped with manipulators, like clamps to humanoid hands with five fingers. The robot also has a specialized neck joint that can make its head move around similar to a human.
Vector toy robot will continue production under Digital Dream Labs
Anki’s Vector toy robot will be continuing production, thanks to Digital Dream Labs’ acquisition of Anki’s assets. (Image Credit: Anki)
Anki, a bankrupt robot toy company that developed toy robots like Vector and Cosmo has sold its assets to Digital Dream Labs, an education-tech firm that promises to continue developing the Anki Vector toy robot. Shaped like small tractors, the robots have animated faces that react to an action, giving it a sense of emotion. Vector could talk, recognize vocal commands, interact with the owner’s smart homes and play many different games. These robots typically need to be connected to external servers to power its processor-heavy functions. In the next few months, the company will be outlining plans in further detail and they will be working to build an additional two features for Vector. One of the features is an escape pod that allows the robots to operate without an external server and the other is an open-source development kit that fans can use to design functionalities for the robot. Digital Dream Labs will be launching a new Kickstarter to fund its project.
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