Getting a new gadget is always exciting, but there’s always a bit of learning curve between the time you unwrap it and have it fully functioning. In the future, a robot may be able to do the hard part for us.
At the Robot Learning Lab at Cornell University, researchers are developing a robot that can learn how to operate machines. Known as The Robobarista, the bot uses a “deep-learning algorithm” to learn the functionalities of new technology. Its inner workings are eerily close to how we learn instructions as human beings.
Robobarista’s functionality is based on a two-step process. First, the robot feels the gadget at hand. Then, it scans through its database of known objects in an attempt to identify the item. Once it has done so, it can learn how to operate it based on all of the similar items in its database and the device’s online instruction manual, as well as how it understands humans’ use of the gadget. “The robot already has seen two or three coffee machines; it should be able to figure out how to use this one,” Ashutosh Saxena, assistant professor of computer science, tells the Cornell Chronicle.
In the past, researchers have been able to create robots that grab specific items. However, Robobarista has the potential to become the first multifunctional robot, meaning it would interact with more than just one gadget. Whether you want the bot to open a door or brew a cup of coffee, it could turn into your most effective helper around the house.
In an interesting twist, the creators of Robobarista have a section on their website that invites individuals to teach Robobarista about different objects. As a result, its database grows, which could make it suitable for more purposes if it comes to fruition.
Naturally, one the Robobarista’s first lessons was how to brew a latte.
Few things ruin a quiet evening faster than a robot vacuum roaring through the living room. Most of us end up pausing the cleaning run, which defeats the whole purpose of owning one. Matic thinks it has the answer with its new Serene robot vacuum, and the big selling point is how little noise it makes.
The Matic Serene runs at 52 decibels even when cleaning at full power. To put that in perspective, Matic compares it to the hum of your refrigerator. It is available now for $1,695, which is $200 more than the original Matic’s current price.
Outdoor security cameras are not always practical if you live in an apartment or rental. Drilling into an exterior wall may be off-limits, while pointing a regular indoor camera through a window can create another problem once reflections start showing up after dark.
Baseus is trying to solve both issues with the new PrimeSentinel W1, a $69.99 security camera designed specifically to monitor the outdoors through glass. It mounts directly to a window without drilling and uses a 4K Starlight sensor with an F1.0 aperture for full-color monitoring during the day and at night.
This post is brought to you in paid partnership with Best Buy.
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