The robot butler dream doesn't have legs, but the future of home robotics is still very much alive and kicking. While the idea of a humanoid robot running our homes has been a staple of science fiction for years, the reality is that a fully humanoid robot housekeeper just isn't practical. Homes are messy, unpredictable environments, and most people have stairs, which makes it difficult for a robot to navigate. Moreover, tech history has proven that precious few gadgets do multiple things well, and a robot that can do everything is a jack of all trades and master of none. Instead, I believe the future of home robotics lies in a robot brain: an AI-powered smart home controller that can orchestrate the autonomous devices we already own based on the needs of the house and its occupants. This robot brain can proactively manage itself and adjust to the occupants, sending the robot vacuum out when the dog spills his kibble or starting the washing machine when energy is cheap. At IFA this week, Tuya's Doova is an AI home companion designed to help seniors living alone. It is a short, round robot on wheels with no arms, but it does have dynamic facial expressions and can track its owner in the house and be ready to assist in an emergency. However, the challenge for robots in our homes is that they need cameras to navigate and interact, and cameras in our homes raise major privacy concerns. The middle ground between an imposing full-sized humanoid with legs and an armless robot companion is a wheeled bot with arms, like LG's CLOiD. This robot has 7 degrees of freedom and five individually actuated fingers per hand, and it can perform simple tasks like folding clothes, taking items out of the fridge, and loading a washing machine. However, I don't believe we need a robot butler that caters to our every need, and the future of home robotics is a team of robotic machines, coordinated by a robot brain. And if that brain happens to come with a pair of hands that can open my laundry detergent, even better.
