The robots came to stay

A few months ago, National Geographics devoted its cover to the theme and a few pages to speak about how robotics has advanced for practical purposes. Of course, it has nothing to do with what the 1980s television series’ showed where they predicted that, by this time, we were going to have robots with human figures, interacting with us, thinking, and even invading the world to take control of it.

But the original idea of robots has advanced each day; in industry we have seen it for long, for machining processes. Companies such as iRobot have made these arrive for more everyday purposes. The other time I was in Houston, with a friend that has a nice dog, but that leaves hair everywhere, we started to philosophize (egeomate) on why these toys have come to be so important in this world, and at much lower prices than it would cost to do these routines with living people. Among the most marketable uses are the military, home cleaning, industrial cleaning, private security, remote communication and research.

The military uses

The need to save lives has led to develop toys that detect mines, makes semiautonomous tours, scans in two and three dimensions or generates maps; this not only on land but by air and in the marine environment. In May of this year, the Irobots’ company reported to have a request of the U.S. Navy for 16.8 million dollars. For example we show at least three copies in action.

iRobot Warrior	iRobot Negociator	iRobot Ranger
It can manipulate a rock up to 150 pounds, see in the movie how interacts with an explosive object	It can climb stairs. Ideal for sending to explore not only for military purposes but for public safety.	It can detect mines at sea, and can even generate information for submarine digital model

The home uses of robots

But none of us has many plans to buy an object of these, because we are not military. But the common tasks, tired, and routine that take away our patience have been the first that have entered in the robotics world. Sweeping, vacuuming, mowing the lawn and clean the canals or the pools are routines that in the first two years of marriage I even enjoyed them. But as often as needed, the tone of one who asks you for doing it or the price to pay for someone to do it becomes tedious.

And there is where it enters the marketing of these products, because time on these days is very valuable to be spending it on cleaning cat’s lint every day. Let’s see some examples:

iRobot Roomba	iRobot Looj	iRobot Berro
Vacuums the carpet, like a skilled employee. With the difference that its sensors have the required accuracy to know when is needed another pass without leaving an inch out.	This is the one it enchants me, clean the canals, you just have to put it in the end and moves as a heroic husband removing the result of months of opened air.	It can clean the bottom of pools, we just have to put it and it is responsible for removing dust, hair, and even algae and bacteria

Variations of these as the Scooba and DirtDog make scanning work, cleaning in worse conditions and mowing. Apart from the extra accessories that are an art.

The price

An employee who performs the pool’s cleaning twice a month, a mow, clean the carpet twice a week and sweep the dirt in the garage, hair and remains of the pet every day could be drawing in a medium developed country not less than $ 6 an hour, assuming working seven hours a day, six days per week it would mean $ 1,000 a month related employee benefits, whereas in a developing country could go for $ 300. These toys go costing half of that, and this reason is making that people who don’t want to spend their valuable time in collecting the dog’s lint choose to invest in a robot that range from $ 300.

The opportunity for developers

If someone wants to make changes, the architecture of these toys is open and allows you to create more specialized routines.

Companies engaged in the provision of cleaning services may customize functionality through Aware 2.0 and companies that develop accessories could do many more wonders.

And I… ¡want one of these!

Go to iRobot >>