Assistive Technology – Robots are the Future

Imagine a world where you have a faithful aide by your side that can assist you with just about anything from moping up the floors, washing the dishes, patrolling your house, providing elder care to being you best buddy by being ready to help whenever you need it. It seems that after the dog, robots are going to be man’s most faithful friend.

We seem to have come far from the times when robots or mechanical servants were only heard of in ancient mythologies, such as the robots built by the Greek god Hephaestus to the age of patient aid and assistive devices. While, modern robotics has come a long way, there was a lot of buzz recently about the “uBOT-5” – the robot, supposed to be an awesome robotic assistant for the elderly in future.

The State-of-the-art Robotics

And it’s not without a reason because computer science researchers are well set on their path to endow these “mechanical servants” with never seen capabilities. For instance the uBOT-5 would not only be able them to assist the elderly but Robot UBot-5 would also act to help them, e.g. dialing 911 in case of emergencies. Or they could send out reminders to patients when its time for their medication. To top it all, they could even help them with grocery shopping in addition to allow them to talk to their friends ‘n’ family including healthcare providers.

However, this is only one side of the story, because when a patient’s friends, family or medics need to talk to their loved ones – they too can initiate a conversation via the assistant. For instance, a concerned family member who wants to know about whether their elderly relative is ok or not? They can establish a link with any Internet connection, or better still navigate around the house to look for mom or dad. This can be especially useful if a patient needs help and is unable to take the call.

At the same time, while the technology may have advanced, cost concerns still seem to persist for these patient aids. For instance, at present the prototypes at University of Massachusetts Amherst cost close to $65,000 for a unit. However, experts believe that with commercialization the robots may cost about $5,000. That’s less, but lesser still would be be better.

Till the time that happens, perhaps cutting edge enhancements to the already existing patient aid equipments aren’t bad either – as some interesting gadgets came to life at this year’s Assistive Technology Exposition of the Saint Francis University’s CERMUSA – including retina-steered wheelchairs, digitized and synthesized speech-generating devices and pressure sensing prosthetic limbs that could fill up a glass or water or wine!

Robotic Vacuum Cleaners: Cleaning Technology of the Future?

Domestic robots no longer exist simply in the minds of science fiction authors. Domestic robots, or robots used for household chores, are becoming increasingly common and popular, with several leading vacuum manufacturers developing their own unique models. New models of robot vacuum cleaners are constantly hitting the market, and the promise of more models in the future is a sure sign that the nascent commercial robot industry is finally taking flight. In terms of domestic robots, there are basically three distinct classes and categories:

1. Domobots: The highest level of domestic robot. These are used for a range of household chores, are autonomous, and are usually connected to a Wi-Fi home network.

2. Entertainment Robots: These can be used at home, but are usually reserved for entertainment and social interaction purposes.

3. Care and Chore Robots: These are used for basic household chores, including vacuuming.

Robotic vacuums fall into this latter category, and many consumers choose these in an attempt to lessen the burden of household vacuuming and perhaps even liberate them from this unpleasant daily chore. The most popular robotic vacuum models are usually compact, pizza-shaped appliances with suckers that move around a room until they cover an entire area. They can vary significantly in price, ranging in $100 for some of the most basic models to well over $1000 to some of the of most advanced units, and deciding on what features are the most important to you will be crucial in determining a robotic vacuum’s price.

Nonetheless, today’s robotic vacuums have definitely come a long way from those that were initially introduced just a few years ago. The older models were often awkward, used primitive controls, and had to be tracked down when stranded in the house by an annoying and incessant “Low Battery” beep. Some of the latest robotic vacuums available today can not only clean your home, but they can also remember your home’s layout to increase efficiency, dispose of its own dirt in a designated receptacle, and even have the ability to find their way back to a recharging station to repower.

One of the main points to be aware of when purchasing a robotic vacuum is the fact that these types of vacuums are meant to supplement a standard, human-operated vacuum, and not to replace it. They are simply meant to perform either daily or weekly touch ups to keep your home, office, or workspace tidier in between regular vacuum sessions. In addition, robotic vacuums work best on hard flooring, although some units have transitioning capability and are able to convert from floors to low-level carpeting with ease. While some robotic vacuums may work well on thicker carpet, the transition from floor to dense carpet may be difficult.

With these factors in mind, if a robotic vacuum seems like the right choice for you, first decide on your vacuuming needs. A simple, lower-priced robotic vacuum can clean and dust your hard flooring, while a pricier unit will be able to transition from floor to carpet and also boast features such as scheduler options, memory, and dirt detecting sensors. Ultimately, a robotic vacuum’s price will be primarily influenced by its special features, such remote-controlled operation, a self-charging base, or even virtual walls.

If your primary interest in a robotic vacuum is because of the convenience factor, you will want to decide whether you want the robotic vacuum to randomly clean an area or be able to “sense” whether it has missed a specific area of your home and continue until the entire area is cleaned. Some robotic vacuums even feature dust sensors to detect if the floor is extremely saturated, and they will linger on that spot accordingly. The size of a vacuum’s dust bin is also to be considered. Not all robotic vacuum dust bins are of the same size, and larger dust bins are obviously more convenient. Be sure to check how easily a robotic vacuum’s dust bin removes itself from the unit, as frequent emptying will result in optimum performance.

Thankfully, because robotic vacuums do not utilize any complicated bags or filters, maintenance is usually quite simple: be sure to check for debris that may be clogging the brushes and replace as necessary, and empty the dust bin on a regular basis.

Nevertheless, despite the limitations of a robotic vacuum and regardless of what model robot vacuum you choose, one thing is certain: robotic vacuums will be as common as television sets or microwave ovens, and robotic vacuum manufacturers and consumers alike are agreeing that the robotic revolution is finally here.