The video above by Reuters features some of the robots that were on display at this year’s INNOROBO Conference in Lyon, France. A recent article in the BBC which featured the conference suggests that it may be time we forget about the idea of robots as companions however, some of the robots displayed in the video above seem like they could provide valuable human accompaniment to suit a variety of human needs.

The article quotes Willow Garage representative Tim Field as saying “It would cost $5m to design and create a robot which was capable of flying and landing an airplane, but even if you gave me $50m, I could not make something that could naturally reach into my pocket and take out my keys.” Of course, Field has a point. We are far off from being able to create machines like Star Wars’ C3PO and R2D2 who’s actions appeared as intuitive as their human masters. However,  Keenan Wyrobek,  another Willow Garage representative, is working hard to develop the software and hardware a robot would need to carry out such a task, explaining that similar to the way that personal computers have become part of our every day lives, both at work and at home, the company envisions robots as having a similar future. In fact, the company’s own PR2 robot seems to be fitting into everyday life seamlessly; you can check it out  fetching beers,  playing pool and cleaning up with the use of a cart.

It’s important to remember that different robots are intended for different purposes. The first robot featured in the video above is all show. One of its creators Will Jackson, explains to the BBC that he’s not expecting this robothespian to get dirty doing domestic chores, “This will never clean the house, it will not clean the floor, it will never do the dishes. That kind of notion for a service robot we think is completely wrong. It will never be a viable economic thing to have this kind of robot performing domestic service functions. Forget about it.¨ Nevertheless,  irobot has made a fortune with their Roomba vacuum and the company has newly introduced  Scooba, which can wash floors and clean pools.

Other recently successful domestic bots include ones that can mow the lawn  and  even ones that function as  cat litters! Of course non of these robots are humanoid but who’s saying they should be? With robots becoming increasingly ubiquitous and studies showing a demand for different types of domestic bots, why shouldn’t researchers be spending the extra effort to make robots that are more like companions and less like clumsy machines? For example, the simple addition of a Skype feature to a mobile robot can provide its user with the companionship of a family member who might be far away.

As nations around the word face the challenges associated with an ageing population, experts suggest robots could provide important support in urban environments and the healthcare sector. The notion of a robot companion is not to play God by creating walking machines that reflects ourselves, as Will Jackson suggests in the BBC article, but rather to refine robotic technology so that it can assist society in the broadest way.

If you’re interested in European robotics research, check out this idea of a robot companion.

¨There’s a need for robots that can help people live independently…the number of people over the age of 65 is increasing dramatically,¨ explains the CEO of irobot, Colin Angle in an interview with CNNmoney. Angle further explains that even though many senior citizens may require assistance in their daily living, many of them don’t want to move into assisted living facilities.
Famous for commercializing the famous Roomba Vacuum, irobot has decided to take it a few steps further with their new bot Ava. This robot is mainly being marketed as a home health care assistant as opposed to just a simple hand around the house.

What exactly can it do? For one thing, it can facilitate communication. The screen featured on the front of the bot can be more than just an arbitrary face. Via internet, Ava’s user can connect with someone on an ipad miles away: for example their doctor, at a hospital in the city centre. Ava also boasts much more perception than its vacuuming sibling- thanks to many more layers of software, Ava can navigate through crowded spaces much more precisely. Nevertheless, Eva finds it very embarrassing if it does happen to bump into something- its bottom light flashes pink; how else would a robot blush?

As useful as irobot’s new product may be, there doesn’t seem to be anything that makes Ava specifically fit for healthcare. Telepresence bots like these seem to be all the rage these days so irobot’s got plenty of competition!
If you’re interested in the future of robotics, you may want to check out the European initiative Robot Companions for Citizens. This initiative envisions the implementation of biologically-inspired robotics in a vast range of industries and services ranging from health care to security.

Business bot by Elys Dolan ¨He'll do your tax return and wear a tie but draws the line at shirts¨.

Robotic advancements are boosting existing industries and paving the way for entirely new ones.

In the business world, robots are basically placed in either one of two categories: industrial or service. Industrial robots are the ones that help us manufacture cars, process food and assist in a great many tasks where repetitive assembly is required.

Presently, the number of industrial robots greatly surpasses that of service robots. According to the World Industrial Robotics 2011 report, there were 1,035,000 industrial robots in place and working in 2010.  While industrial robots dominate the scene, service robots are rapidly becoming more abundant and the market for them is growing just as quickly. Applications for service bots include: agriculture, healthcare, domestic, space, security and surveillance, scientific research and entertainment just to name a few.

A number of robots that are used in some of the applications listed above have become so prevalent they might already be part of your everyday life. For example, a robot may have assisted your doctor during the process of a surgery or perhaps a roomba vacuum keeps your floors spic and span every afternoon.  Today, however, there’s room for robots outside of the ordinary and we’re not talking about Sci-Fi narratives. Start-up companies and research labs are starting create some seriously innovative products stretching from advanced prostheses to sophisticated multifunctional assistants. In fact, an increasing number of Industrial robot manufacturers such as KUKA and Bosch are beginning to shift into the service sector.

Forums such as Robobusiness 2011, which took place in Boston during November of last year, gather: scientists, engineers, users and executives for discussion on a wide range of topics pertaining to the industry of robotics . A common point separately mentioned by the CEOs of irobot  and Aethon  is that we need to make robots that matter. This means starting with a real world problem, engaging in robotics research,  seeking out industry experts, and doing what it takes to understand the needs of the customers who will be using the technology.

Robot Companions for Citizens is a European initiative which aims to drive  a vast range of integrated industries and services including: software manufacturing, transport and social security. More information HERE

RoboDynamics has created a new personalized domestic robot: Luna. The robot can help out with all sorts of domestic tasks that you can program for your specific needs. It can help you clean after a party and even walk your dog. Of course other forms of domestic robots exist. Most of us are familiar with the vacuuming robots, lawn mowing robots, and pool cleaning robots which tend to be designed for functionality. Hospitals and city streets have
been using the help of robots for quite some time but recently they have begun  transitioning from use in specialized tasks to general everyday.

In the case of Luna, RoboDynamics wanted to pay special attention to its design so they commissioned the California-based design studio SchultzeWORKS who strove to create ¨an original and compelling techno-beauty that would engage users and invite interaction¨. Although Luna’s appearance may not be off putting, one might question whether the design of this robot is optimally functional. Luna seems to be a little rigid and slow moving in the video pictured above and it’s not exactly clear just how Luna will do what its creators say it can.

Luna will not be available for general release until 2012 however, 1000 will be released later on this year as a limited edition.  Click HERE to request information directly from RoboDynamics.