While it still seems that we are living too far from the sci-fi future where robot-doctors treat patients, clean houses or drive spaceships, this future is actually closer than you think. Robotics today is a hot field with investment dollars lavishly going to both hardware companies and software labs working on improved machine learning solutions and advanced AI.
According to IDC, the robot market will be worth $135 billion by 2019. Japan and China are ahead of the competition and are now in the early stages of retooling its manufacturing sector with completely robotic workforce. Google has just given $1.5 million to fund a US research group applying tactile learning to robots.
Yet, in 2017 the robots are already among us. You can chat with a robot-consultant, who will help you choose the right outfit from H&M on your phone; Sewbon can sew up an entire garment for you and a Segway robot butler, which can help you with some minor chores.
Robotics competition and robotics camps are rising in popularity among teenagers, which means that the lack of professionals will not slow down the industry growth as it's now happening with Big Data.
Here are some of the coolest robots developed and deployed this year.
Barista Robot in San-Francisco Coffee Shop
SoMa's new café now employs a robotic arm to make the brew for customers. The owner's goal was to improve the on-site wait time and minimize the potentials for human errors (including spelling your name wrong).
Café X will serve your drink a few seconds after you order at the kiosk or through an app ahead of time.
Improved Eye Surgery With a Tiny Robot
At the beginning of this year, a revolutionary surgery was conducted by Robert MacLaren, an ophthalmologist, and professor at Oxford University. He used a guided arm of the Robotic Retinal Dissection Device (R2D2) to lift a membrane, no more than a hundredth of a millimeter thick, which caused massive problems for the patient. This was the first operation ever performed inside the human eye with the help of a robot.
FedEx Plans To Start Robo-Deliveries
To beat Amazon and Uber, the company plans to seriously invest in self-driving, autonomous trucks and smart delivery robots.
Currently, the company is looking into new ways of optimizing their truck field. They have already signed a partnership deal with Peloton Technology, a startup proposing a new semi-autonomous technology that will link trucks into small caravans and enable the driver of a lead truck to control all the other vehicles within the fleet.
Additionally, Rob Carter, CIO at FedEx has mentioned a number of other curious automations they are currently working for. That includes improving their AI-powered Alexa app to ensure better connectivity with other virtual assistants such as Amazon Echo and Google Home.
The company anticipates that in the future customers would be able to merely talk to Alexa to organize and handle your delivery. You won't need to fill any lengthy forms or browse various menus in search for the right information. Everything would be done through voice command.
Robotic Professor Einstein Will Teach You Science
A walking and talking Professor Einstein can now educate your kids (and you of course) about all things science. The new robotic toy is currently underway by Hanson Robotics company.
This robot uses natural language processing and other AI-powered capabilities to understand and answer a vast range of questions regarding science. It also works in conjunction with the company's educational app, which delivers new content daily.
Yet, the best part is that Einstein's commentary comes along with distinctive facial expressions and gestures such as hand lifting or finger pointing. The toy's skin is made of a special material called "frubber", which is very close to what real skin looks and feels like. Special motors precisely imitate facial movements of a human and run on low power systems.
A Transparent Robot Can Catch Fish
A group of MIT engineers has just created a new gel-based, transparent robot, which can move like a fish in water. Additionally, it can perform such forceful tasks as catching and releasing a live fish or kicking a ball underwater.
Yet, it's even more fascinating to know that this robot is entirely made of hydrogel – a new rubbery substance, consisting mostly of water. Apart from deploying it for various underwater activities, researchers suggest that this robot could be used for medical purposes as well.
Considering that the hydrogel is soft and biocompatible, it could form a friendly interface with human organs. For instance, doctors could use hydrogel "hands" to conduct more gentle manipulations with tissues and organs during surgeries.