blog
STORIES
Top 5 Cooking and Entertaining Tasks Best Left to Your Robot
Categories: Food Science, Technology, Top 5 Lists
On Wednesday, The San Francisco Chronicle published an article about
Willow Garage, a Menlo Park research lab working to build robots to
handle a wide range of domestic responsibilities. Known as PR2s, these
buzzing butlers will operate on an open system, allowing, much as Apple
did with app-builders for its iPhone and iPod platforms, other researchers
to write and adapt software to serve a variety of specific needs -- from
newspaper-fetching to burger-flipping.
It's R2D2 in an apron, a personal sous-chef, diligent maid, and attentive
waiter squeezed into one hulking white frame. While the prospect of owning
a PR2 any time soon is unlikely (even the newer, one-armed, economy
model PR2 SE clocks in at $200,000), we can dream, can't we? According
to chief executive Steve Cousins, the price will drop -- first from its current
lofty house-like height to that of a car, and then hopefully to the equivalent
of a household appliance. Read on for what we'd use our robot for around the
house and kitchen.
waiter squeezed into one hulking white frame. While the prospect of owning
a PR2 any time soon is unlikely (even the newer, one-armed, economy
model PR2 SE clocks in at $200,000), we can dream, can't we? According
to chief executive Steve Cousins, the price will drop -- first from its current
lofty house-like height to that of a car, and then hopefully to the equivalent
of a household appliance. Read on for what we'd use our robot for around the
house and kitchen.
 |
5. Chopping onions. Our crying days will be over the instant our PR2 arrives,
blade in hand, knife skills software thoroughly installed. As our little dude works --
dicing, mincing, and shaving -- we will drink a beer on the couch. This brings us
to the next item on our list.
blade in hand, knife skills software thoroughly installed. As our little dude works --
dicing, mincing, and shaving -- we will drink a beer on the couch. This brings us
to the next item on our list.
 |
4. Fetching/pouring beer. Much as our first child will quickly learn how to
open the fridge and grab dad a cold one, the PR2 will be well-trained in the
simple science of selecting a chilled bottle, popping off the top, and ferrying it
into the bedroom or living room, where the designated target of
instant refreshment will be kicking back, reading or watching a program.
The Willow Garage people are all over this one. Just check the embedded video.
open the fridge and grab dad a cold one, the PR2 will be well-trained in the
simple science of selecting a chilled bottle, popping off the top, and ferrying it
into the bedroom or living room, where the designated target of
instant refreshment will be kicking back, reading or watching a program.
The Willow Garage people are all over this one. Just check the embedded video.
 |
3. Stirring. Man, we love risotto. The only problem is, stirring for 20 minutes
straight puts a cramp in our post-work lounging (as well as our wrists). With
the PR2, we'll roll in, saute for a few minutes, get the stock going, add the rice
to the pan with the butter, hand our robot a bottle of wine and a wooden spoon,
and get over to that couch with a cold beer.
straight puts a cramp in our post-work lounging (as well as our wrists). With
the PR2, we'll roll in, saute for a few minutes, get the stock going, add the rice
to the pan with the butter, hand our robot a bottle of wine and a wooden spoon,
and get over to that couch with a cold beer.
No comments:
Post a Comment