For now, he handles objects like plates and cups, but in a few months he will be able to comfortably and fearlessly fill an entire dishwasher
British researchers have introduced "Boris", the first robot with such dexterous hands that it can fill a washing machine with dishes and glasses without them falling or breaking from excessive pressure.
It is the creation of engineers at the University of Birmingham, led by Professor Jeremy Wyatt of the School of Computer Science, and was presented at the British Science Festival in the same city, according to the BBC and the Financial Times.
For now, the robot has demonstrated its ability to handle household objects it has never seen before, such as pots and cups, placing them in their place, etc. However, in a few months, according to its creators, it will be able to comfortably - and fearlessly - fill an entire dishwasher.
Although we humans are familiar with this task, in reality, as the creators of “Boris” stated, it is not at all easy for a robot to pick up dirty dishes and glasses one by one and place them correctly next to each other in a dishwasher. The whole difficulty lies in the robotic arm grabbing a glass or porcelain object with the right force and in the right way – otherwise damage will occur. When the objects differ in shape and size, then programming the robot and creating the appropriate sensors for such a task is a very difficult task.
The ultimate goal is to have robots with truly dexterous hands, which will not just do monotonous industrial tasks, but will be able to help in a meaningful and safe way in homes, offices, hospitals, warehouses, etc., alongside humans.
The construction of “Boris” - which is constantly being improved by its creators - took five years and cost 350,000 pounds (with significant financial contribution from the EU). “Boris” belongs to the third generation of robots: the first concerned industrial robots with a limited range of movements and capabilities, the second includes autonomous driverless vehicles, unmanned vessels (drones) and generally mobile robots, while the third generation focuses on robots that can actually move and work side by side with humans, which requires an increased level of dexterity and self-control.
Source: protothema.gr
