KAR robot arm does the dishes, sort of
By Donald Melanson 
posted Dec 18th 2008 9:41PM
posted Dec 18th 2008 9:41PM
Ok, so it may not be quite as ambitious as some all-purpose cleaning robots, but this so-called KAR robot arm developed by a group of researchers from Panasonic and the University of Tokyo does appear to at least do the sole task it was designed for relatively well. While it can't exactly "wash" the dishes, per se, it can apparently pick up even delicate dishes without damaging them, dip them in the water, load them into a dishwasher, and even turn on said dishwasher. The researchers apparently aren't satisfied with things just yet, however, and they say they eventually hope that robot will be able to clean up after a family of four in just five minutes. Head on past the break for a video, and hit up the link below for another silent (and, hence, more unnerving) one.
[Via Japan Probe]
[Via Japan Probe]
Or you could use paper plates cups and plastic utensils, and not need the space arm, dishwasher... more cost effective too!
Or you can just get married like I did... problem solved! Although definitely not more cost effective than paper plates.
come on now, you know how much plastic is thrown out and ends up in the ocean and landfills? its disgusting to see how many animals are killed by human waste.
"how many animals are killed by human"
...You forget, I was an Owl Exterminator!
Thanks for that Jordon. I had taken iEye's comments completely seriously and was about to rush out to load up on paper plates and plastic utensils. I'm sure many other readers were about to do the same so it's lucky you posted in time and stopped us.
Christ, are we not even allowed a bit of a joke these days without somebody like you trying to turn it into a guilt trip?
You shouldn't ask Christ about that, Charles. He virtually invented the guilt trip.
Actually, no he took it all for himself.
Yeah sure. It's good at cleaning the dishes, but they forgot to mention how good it is at strangling puppies!
At least it won't argue with you, question your tardiness getting home or suspect you of infidelity.
By the Way, I'm gonna be at the Engadget NYC meetup tommorow.
Aww! I wish I was a year older!
(And more closer to NYC, darn. >_>)
whats the grip strength on that arm? could become dangerous when self-aware
...or, it could be a man's best friend with a bottle of lotion and a "fast stroke" technique.
One up for the post-feminist movement apocolypse
I need a machine to load my dishwasher? Then another one to turn on the dishwasher? A dishwasher unloader?
Give me what I really want!! A robot that cleans the !!#*#@!! kitchen floor after my husband cooks!
Program it to fondle my nuts and give me a hand job without killing me and I'll be impressed. I won't ever use it again, but I'll be impressed. The job it does now? Worthless. I don't even have a dishwasher.
Well on that basis, your request is equally moot.
@TnoyR: Will my interracial lover do the dishes?
strangely sounds to me like star wars fighing robots (ep. I) looking at enemies through binoculars…
Is this any better or cost efficient compared to a ... dishwasher machine?
It surely doesn't argue with you, question you, suspect you ect, but can you enjoy having sex with it?
It better do the dishes, if it knows what's good for it.
Q: What do you call a robot with one black eye?
Man, what is with the Japanese and naming their new robotic toys after homicidal AIs?
Fist there was the (equally terrifyingly named) Cyberdyne Systems and their HAL suit and now someone's named a robot arm after KAR, the most vicious four-wheeled vehicle to ever have a frikken' laser beam mounted on it.
This is simply stupid, look how slow that arm moves, and grab a plate and did what??? simply swing back and forth in the water, and guess what! Done!
Прикольная тема, мне бы домой такую руку...
Dose it give handjobs. lol