(WGHP) — If your aim was to have a robot handle everyday chores, where could you turn to acquire the necessary skills to make that happen?
Researchers from Duke University claim that you'll be able to acquire an affordable version shortly using a text-to-print feature on a $300 3D printer.
"We're automating the process of designing robots, which means robots will be created by other robots," explained Professor Boyuan Chen from Duke University, who leads a team recognized with accolades for these innovations.
The concept involves utilizing open-source software to enable a 3D printer to produce components that fit together with snaps within roughly one hour.
What this robot truly offers is an extremely affordable and efficient method to immediately create robots tailored for whatever task you're facing," Chen explained. "Its applications aren’t limited to just household use; it could also prove essential during disaster relief efforts.
However, the robots may not appear as you'd expect. Many individuals believe that they will resemble humans with hands and feet. After all, opposable thumbs have demonstrated their importance over the centuries.
Duke Senior Zach Charlick mentioned that this might not always hold true.
Legged robots prove particularly valuable in specific scenarios like disaster relief," Charlick stated. "Wheeled robots frequently encounter obstacles they cannot overcome. They struggle with climbing staircases... Getting a walking bot to advance requires intricate control mechanisms. This might seem paradoxical, but directing a wheeled robot merely involves instructing it to proceed and rotate its wheels. With a legged robot, however, maintaining balance around its center of gravity becomes crucial.
Duke believes this will make robotics more accessible to the general public, potentially reaching most households.
Today, robots created by engineers require several months, sometimes even years, of work to develop a single unit," Chen stated. "However, within a few years, we're witnessing a shift where multiple distinct robots can be autonomously generated at an incredibly accelerated pace... Instead of needing 100 engineers to craft one specific robot, now all you might need to do is specify what needs to be accomplished along with the approximate budget available. With those parameters, your customized robot could be developed in mere hours rather than extending over months or weeks.
Charlick highlights that we currently possess rudimentary forms of these devices at home. It won’t be long until the subsequent wave of innovations hits the market.
I believe a scenario that might be somewhat more probable involves having numerous robots within your household that redefine various aspects," Charlick stated. "Take for instance the Roomba; this notion where your vacuum cleaner transforms into an autonomous cleaning robot. Similarly, all those other devices such as rakes and even bed-making machines—why shouldn't they also function as robots instead of requiring manual effort daily? Therefore, envisioning homes equipped with automatic robotic counterparts would essentially create highly intelligent residences brimming with robotics.
Check out Duke’s robots in action in this version of The Buckley Report.
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