The Economist’s Babbage writes about robotics today. He mentions several software development kits (SDK), and highlights one from Stanford, Willow Garage, that is very promising. He then says, “But the killer applications for personal robots remain as illusive [sic] as ever.”
Think of robotics as the extension of computers, or more generally, automation, in to the physical world. There are any number of repetitive or dangerous tasks that humans perform daily. Any of those tasks would be a candidate for robotic automation.
For example, in the USA we drive our automobiles an average of 9500 miles per year (google for annual VMT for more statistics). I live pretty close to work (7 miles) in a relatively low-traffic area, and I still spend 25 to 45 minutes commuting each day. Our vehicles should be robots that happen to have passenger compartments. Many may complain that they enjoy driving, but I bet those people are referring to the types of driving romanticized in automobile commercials and action movies – I occasionally enjoy a spirited drive in the country, but if tomorrow I were offered a robot to chauffeur my daily commute and trips to the grocer, I’d gladly accept. Many families could benefit from robots: to prepare and clean up from their meals; to gather, wash, dry, fold and store their dirty laundry; to de-clutter and clean the house; and plenty of other repetitive and time-consuming tasks.
Babbage says,
To make the transition to a world of mobile personal assistants—for helping the disabled, providing care and companionship for the elderly, extending the strength and endurance of soldiers, handling hazardous materials and dangerous machinery, and many things more—is going to require a leap of imagination that no-one can yet foresee.
but that’s because he examines the wrong aspect of the problem. Today’s robots can already perform repetitive, difficult, dangerous or time-consuming tasks. Personal robotics killer app will be to know when to perform DIVERSE tasks.