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Here's the Incredible Robotic Furniture You Didn't Know You Needed

posted by cmn32480 on Sunday August 09 2015, @04:43AM   
from the damned-robots-always-getting-under-foot dept.

Phoenix666 writes:

A light topic for a summer Friday:

Bookshelves that pop out just the book you need. Kitchen tables that set themselves. Bathrooms that adjust to your personal comfort levels.

The robots in this video from The Economist do absolutely none of those things. But they're pretty adorable nonetheless. Stanford University created a motorized foot stool that can be summoned by its human captors owners. It's either the best footstool or the worst R2-D2 ripoff, and as you can see in the video, some people treated it more like the latter than the former.

There's also a chest of drawers that opens up to provide the right tool, and is also designed to respond to being tickled. (NOT CREEPY AT ALL!) Also there's a couch that can move itself around the room, and a Rubbermaid garbage can that serves as the second worst R2-D2 imitator in the video. You'll still feel bad when it collides into another, non-robotic garbage can though. Just imagine trying to get comfortable with your feet oppressing that adorable ottoman.

There's video accompanying the article as well. What would your ideal robotic furniture be?

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Original Submission

• What robotics I want in my home but can't get now What robotics I want in my home but can't get now (Score: 2) by Aiwendil on Sunday August 09 2015, @01:25PM

  by Aiwendil (531) on Sunday August 09 2015, @01:25PM (#220242) Journal

  *) That board at the bottom of bookshelves and cupboards - having it fold away when my robovac is cleaning the room.

  *) Being able to adjust the firmness of matresses (different preferences for different activities and different company) and sofa-coushins (I want them firmer when laying down)

  *) Toiletlids that close automatically when there are noone in the bathroom

  *) Selfcleaning toilet

  *) Automated clothes-folder (dump a batch of dried clothes and it sorts and fold automatically)

  *) Automated ironing of clothes (preferably combined with above)

  *) Automated thrashpicker - for stuff to big for the robovac (and leaves from the householdplants)

  All the rest are stuff already available in home-automation, industrial automation, or things easily built at home.

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• Re:What robotics I want in my home but can't get n Re:What robotics I want in my home but can't get n (Score: 2) by Dr Spin on Sunday August 09 2015, @05:45PM

  by Dr Spin (5239) on Sunday August 09 2015, @05:45PM (#220334)

  It would appear that you need a spelling checker rather more than any of the above.

  --
  Warning: Opening your mouth may invalidate your brain!

  Parent

  • Re:What robotics I want in my home but can't get n (Score: 2) by Aiwendil on Monday August 10 2015, @10:31AM

    by Aiwendil (531) on Monday August 10 2015, @10:31AM (#220620) Journal

    Or that I shouldn't write when on a smartphone on a train when the keyboard's autocorrect is set for my native language instead of english.

    Parent