| Robots have been around as long as we can | | | | independently. One company, iRobot Corporation, |
| remember, but until relatively recently, their impact on | | | | offers a line of specially designed robots that vacuum |
| our lives has been limited to the movie screen. | | | | floors, clean swimming pools, and even clean out |
| However, they've come a long way since the "Danger | | | | gutters with little or no interaction. The cost of these |
| Will Robinson!" robot from the television series Lost in | | | | robots varies from $100 up to about $500 depending |
| Space. Advances in processing power, software | | | | on the features that you want. |
| algorithms, and motor miniaturization have allowed for | | | | Have you ever wished you had a helper for moving a |
| the creation of some truly amazing mechanical | | | | bulky item like a table or piece of drywall? Well now |
| creatures. | | | | there is a robot developed by Masaaki Kumagai and |
| One of the most compelling robots is one created by | | | | Takaya Ochiai at the Tohoku Gakuin University in |
| Aldebaran Robotics called the Nao Bot. This robot is | | | | Japan that can balance on a ball so effectively that it |
| almost eerie in its ability to mimic human movements. It | | | | is capable of carrying relatively heavy loads without |
| is fitted with optical, audio, and capacitive (touch) | | | | falling over. Although not yet available at your local |
| sensors to allow it to react to a variety of stimuli from | | | | Lowes, this technology shows great promise for |
| its environment including voice and hand signals. It can | | | | practical applications. |
| even work together with other Nao Bots. While not | | | | These are only a few of the robots that are being |
| really able to sort laundry or clean the dishes | | | | developed and even sold commercially. From hospitals |
| independently, it can do a pretty impressive dance | | | | to factories to homes, robots are beginning to make |
| number. Sony has its own version as well. | | | | their way into our lives. The day when one of these |
| Not all robots are for entertainment purposes. You | | | | mechanical helpers are as commonplace in our homes |
| may have seen the disc-shaped robot in stores (I saw | | | | as a computer may not be far away. |
| one at Target the other day) that vacuums floors | | | | |