Domestic robot

IEEE Robotics and Automation AwardIndustrial robotAutonomous research robotDomestic robotHome automationBanking automationLaboratory automationIntegrated library systemBroadcast automationConsole automationBuilding automationAutomated attendantAutomated guided vehicleAutomated highway systemAutomated pool cleanerAutomated teller machineAutomatic painting (robotic)Pop music automationRobotic lawn mowerTelephone switchboardVending machineA domestic robot is a type of service robot, an autonomous robot that is primarily used for household chores, but may also be used for education, entertainment or therapy. Thus far, there are only a few limited models, though speculators, such as Bill Gates, have suggested that they could become more common in the future. While most domestic robots are simplistic, some are connected to WiFi home networks or smart environments and are autonomous to a high degree. There were an estimated 3,540,000 service robots in use in 2006, compared with an estimated 950,000 industrial robots. A domestic robot is a type of service robot, an autonomous robot that is primarily used for household chores, but may also be used for education, entertainment or therapy. Thus far, there are only a few limited models, though speculators, such as Bill Gates, have suggested that they could become more common in the future. While most domestic robots are simplistic, some are connected to WiFi home networks or smart environments and are autonomous to a high degree. There were an estimated 3,540,000 service robots in use in 2006, compared with an estimated 950,000 industrial robots. Early historical attempts to bring robots into the home include the HERO (1982–89) and the Topo (1983). Since Greek times, people had started to have the idea about robots. About 270BC, the first clock, which measures time by using the flow of water, was created. Then as time passes, people began to design the robots for processing materials and construct products, especially during the Industrial Revolution in the period about 1760 to around 1840. This historical event marked a major turning point in history since people's living standard was greatly improved during that period. However, these robots cannot be considered as domestic robots. After the industrial robots were improved rapidly for over a hundred years since the Industrial Revolution, people started to consider the use of robots at home. One of the earliest domestic robots is called “HERO”, which was sold during the 1980s. “Of all the educational and personal robots created during the 1980s the Heathkit HERO robots were by far the most successful and most popular.” There were four types of Hero robots created by Heathkit. The first model is called HERO 1. This model was used for educational purpose, and in order to fit the customer's demand, the second model, which was called HERO JR was generated for personal use. The last two generations are called HERO 2000 and the Arm Trainer. HERO 1, as an educational machine, had very good sensibility. It could gather information accurately and analyze this data. An improved generation of HERO 1 in educational purpose was HERO 2000 which “featured advanced programmability” and another generation, the Arm Trainer was for an industrial purpose and it was able to control the operation of full-scale industrial robots. However, the most important improvement of HERO 1 for the domestic robot is HERO JR. HERO JR was the first affordable, personal robot with a dynamic personality. People could use it to play songs, games, wake people up in the morning, notify important events, and even guard the home. As a private robot, people do not need program skills to operate the robot and if they want to re-program the robot, people can do it simply “with a home computer and optional RS-232 Accessory and BASIC Cartridge”. Another prototype of the domestic robot was called “Topo”, which was designed by Androbot Inc. and released in 1983. Its programming language allowed it to do geometric movements and perform tasks. However, it did not have a sensor so it could not receive the order and responded to the order correctly and thus it could not be considered as a real robot. To solve this problem, the second and third generation contained an infrared transmitter and could be controlled by a remote pad. For the last generation, Topo4 was featured by a text-to-speech processor. Although Topo4 was made, but it never went into production. With these two prototypes of the domestic robot, the domestic robots became more and more accessible and affordable.  “According to the U.N. report, about 21,500 such domestic work robots were sold by the end of 2001, and another 700,000 could be sold by 2005, including vacuuming, lawn-mowing, and window-washing robots.”Also in 2006, there were “3,540,000 service robots in use”.