Readybot, a research group that
last year released videos of a simple prototype cleaning robot, has revealed that
the robot is managed through a combination of cloud-based software and skilled
remote teleoperators.
Readybot operates autonomously or through remote control.
(Courtesy of Readybot)
The
company’s Cloud Robotics Collaborative Control (CRCC) system monitors a semi-autonomous robot
via a broadband connection. When faced
with a particularly tricky task, such as opening a cabinet door, the robot will
send a request for a human supervisor to step in and take over. The human operator does this by selecting or
refining one of several prepared code of instructions (“scripts”) or writing new ones,
according to Readybot’s director, Tom Benson. The
CRCC system is designed to let a single user supervise a large team of robots.
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“This
has the potential to deploy large quantities of robots much sooner, because
they’re cheaper and because you aren’t required to build high levels of
autonomy,” Benson said. “It’s much more forgiving in the sense of
allowing you to have less sophisticated systems and still do the job.” Benson
says that Readybots would be best suited for applications like home assist or
manual labor.
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Using a regular mouse and monitor, a user can switch between 3D
simulations of different robots (with a video feed showing the bot’s
environment) and can swap between supervising and taking completely control of
a robot. Currently, the software can control a single prototype Readybot and
up to nine virtual robots.
The
company says it took inspiration from video gamers by examining how people
playing World of Warcraft, The Sims, and other games and designing the system based on those observations. Gamers who tested out Readybot’s operating software were able to operate it quickly and efficiently, according to the group. People
who have played a lot of video games “can manage large amounts of remote
devices and can think in that way,” says Benson. “They are capable of
managing vast amounts of multitasking.”
Courtesy of Readybot
So far, Readybot can clear a kitchen table, load a dishwasher, transport objects,
paint walls, and clean and dry surfaces. The group is currently looking for
partners to build more prototypes and to expand the capabilities of CRCC.
