Latest news with #YoshiakiShiokawa
Daily Mirror
26-05-2025
- Science
- Daily Mirror
Robots are taking over thanks to one major society change
Once the preserve of science fiction, household robots are slowly becoming part of everyday life Household robots are booming - thanks to millennials. A new report has revealed our mechanical friends are increasingly taking on our household chores with sales of robot vacuum cleaners and lawnmowers on the up. Aviva's latest 'How We Live' report shows how one in ten homes owns a robot vacuum cleaner and a further one in seven plans to buy one this year, meaning they are likely to be the most in-demand technology item of 2025. The report puts the boom down to young people being keen to make their lives easier with robots being most popular with those aged 25 to 34. It is estimated nearly one in five people in this age category already owns one and a further one in four plans to purchase one in the next 12 months, it says. The performance of robot vacuum cleaners has improved noticeably in recent years. Just last month scientists revealed they had reprogrammed a robot vacuum cleaner to help charge a phone and assist in a home workout because they think the machines are currently too 'idle'. Boffins from the University of Bath say the increasingly popular domestic appliances are, on average, in use for less than two hours per day, but could be working considerably harder - with some modifications. To prove their point, they retrained a Roomba device to carry out a range of other chores, and outlined many more possible tasks it could do such as playing with a cat and watering the plants. Such robots 'are perceived as limited, single-task devices but there is a strong argument that they are under-used for practical tasks', said Yoshiaki Shiokawa, the author of the study, external. The global household robots market size was valued at $10.3bn (£7.7bn) in 2023 and is anticipated to hit $24.5bn (£18.4) by 2028, meaning such devices are an increasingly common sight in people's homes. The latest models use light detection and ranging technology and cameras to build a map of their surroundings while tracking their position to ensure better cleaning. British consumers spent more than £300 million on robot lawn mowers last year, and the market is expected to more than double over the next five years as new technology further improves the performance of the devices. Other popular technologies include wireless charging stations and security systems. Almost one in three homes have installed smart doorbells and a similar proportion have smart security cameras linked to their phones. Hannah Davidson, of Aviva, said: 'Robotics and smart homes are changing the way we live, offering convenience and security like never before.'
Yahoo
30-04-2025
- Science
- Yahoo
Robot vacuums are ‘too idle' and can be reprogrammed to water plants, researchers say
Robot vacuums can be modified to complete simple household tasks like watering plants, researchers have revealed. A team of computer scientists from the University of Bath reprogrammed a Roomba to perform four new tasks in an effort to maximise its utility during idle hours. New functions include charging phones, providing live feed of pets, projecting displays onto walls, and deterring disturbances. The researchers identified more than 100 tasks that the robot vacuum could perform with some relatively simple modifications, such as playing with cats with a fitted laser pen, or carrying groceries from the car to the house. 'Mobile domestic robots, like robot vacuum cleaners and lawnmowers, are perceived as limited, single-task devices but there is a strong argument that they are under-used for practical tasks. For most of the day, they sit idle,' said Yoshiaki Shiokawa, a PhD student in the Department of Computer Science at the University of Bath, who came up with the modifications. 'We should be extending their utility beyond their primary tasks by programming them to physically navigate the home to perform a range of additional functions. Just think how much more efficiently households would run if Roombas could be converted into household assistants.' Mr Shiokawa noted that robot vacuum cleaners currently only clean for just one hour and 47 minutes each day on average, leaving a huge amount of untapped potential. Other applications proposed by the researchers include searching for lost items, receiving and delivering packages, and 'playing a card game'. Similar functionalities could also be added to other domestic robots, such as robotic lawnmowers. 'Idle time presents unique opportunities for value-adding interactions and it aligns with the growing need for adaptable robots and integrated systems that can seamlessly fit into our daily lives,' said Dr Adwait Sharma, a lecturer in the Department of Computer Science at Bath. 'A robot vacuum could, for instance, use its idle time to monitor home security, water the plants or assist an older person to stand from a sitting position. These tasks tap into the robot's advanced sensors, as well as its mobility.' The scientists detailed the revamped robot in a new paper titled 'Beyond vacuuming: How can we exploit domestic robots' idle time?' The study was presented at the CHI Conference on Human Factors in Computing Systems, taking place in Yokohama, Japan, this week. Sign in to access your portfolio
Yahoo
30-04-2025
- Science
- Yahoo
Robot vacuums 'could water plants or play with cat'
Scientists have reprogrammed a robot vacuum cleaner to help charge a phone and assist in a home workout because they think the machines are currently too "idle". Researchers from the University of Bath say the increasingly popular domestic appliances are, on average, in use for less than two hours per day, but could be working considerably harder - with some modifications. To prove their point, they retrained a Roomba device to carry out a range of other chores, and outlined many more possible tasks it could do such as playing with a cat and watering the plants. Such robots "are perceived as limited, single-task devices but there is a strong argument that they are under-used for practical tasks", said Yoshiaki Shiokawa, the author of the study. The global household robots market size was valued at $10.3bn (£7.7bn) in 2023 and is anticipated to hit $24.5bn by 2028, meaning such devices are an increasingly common sight in people's homes. Anyone who has watched a robot vacuum cleaner in action may argue these ideas are a little far-fetched, given that current machines sometimes struggle with the challenges presented by rugs and shoelaces while carrying out their core function. However, scientists from the University of Bath and the University of Calgary in Canada, have set out to prove that cleaners - and similar devices, such as lawnmowers - could be reprogrammed and modified relatively easily. Their study identified 100 functions the robots could possibly perform with simple adjustments. The scientists then reprogrammed a Roomba robot vacuum cleaner to perform four of them: A mobile phone charger attached to the vacuum that is programmed to follow the user A robot with a projector attached that displayed a workout video on a wall or ceiling A 'home monitor' with live video so a user could check on the oven A screen showing 'do not disturb' on a robot that was programmed to go to a specific location, to help minimise possible disturbances Other proposed tasks suggested by the scientists include a reprogrammed robot that carried the groceries from the car to the kitchen. Mr Shiokawa, a PhD student in the department of computer science at Bath, said the project proved that "after making minimal adjustments, a Roomba can serve multiple roles around the home". "For most of the day, they sit idle", he lamented. He added that taking on some new tasks involved some upgrades the average vacuum owner probably would not have lying around their homes, such as a cart, a helmet and a robotic arm. Nonetheless, he said people should be expecting more of their robots. "We should be extending their utility beyond their primary tasks by programming them to physically navigate the home to perform a range of additional functions," he said. The study's co-author Dr Adwait Sharma agreed, saying the device's "idle time" presented "unique opportunities" to meet the "growing need for adaptable robots and integrated systems that can seamlessly fit into our daily lives".
Yahoo
30-04-2025
- Science
- Yahoo
Robot vacuums 'could water plants or play with cat'
Scientists have reprogrammed a robot vacuum cleaner to help charge a phone and assist in a home workout because they think the machines are currently too "idle". Researchers from the University of Bath say the increasingly popular domestic appliances are, on average, in use for less than two hours per day, but could be working considerably harder - with some modifications. To prove their point, they retrained a Roomba device to carry out a range of other chores, and outlined many more possible tasks it could do such as playing with a cat and watering the plants. Such robots "are perceived as limited, single-task devices but there is a strong argument that they are under-used for practical tasks", said Yoshiaki Shiokawa, the author of the study. The global household robots market size was valued at $10.3bn (£7.7bn) in 2023 and is anticipated to hit $24.5bn by 2028, meaning such devices are an increasingly common sight in people's homes. Anyone who has watched a robot vacuum cleaner in action may argue these ideas are a little far-fetched, given that current machines sometimes struggle with the challenges presented by rugs and shoelaces while carrying out their core function. However, scientists from the University of Bath and the University of Calgary in Canada, have set out to prove that cleaners - and similar devices, such as lawnmowers - could be reprogrammed and modified relatively easily. Their study identified 100 functions the robots could possibly perform with simple adjustments. The scientists then reprogrammed a Roomba robot vacuum cleaner to perform four of them: A mobile phone charger attached to the vacuum that is programmed to follow the user A robot with a projector attached that displayed a workout video on a wall or ceiling A 'home monitor' with live video so a user could check on the oven A screen showing 'do not disturb' on a robot that was programmed to go to a specific location, to help minimise possible disturbances Other proposed tasks suggested by the scientists include a reprogrammed robot that carried the groceries from the car to the kitchen. Mr Shiokawa, a PhD student in the department of computer science at Bath, said the project proved that "after making minimal adjustments, a Roomba can serve multiple roles around the home". "For most of the day, they sit idle", he lamented. He added that taking on some new tasks involved some upgrades the average vacuum owner probably would not have lying around their homes, such as a cart, a helmet and a robotic arm. Nonetheless, he said people should be expecting more of their robots. "We should be extending their utility beyond their primary tasks by programming them to physically navigate the home to perform a range of additional functions," he said. The study's co-author Dr Adwait Sharma agreed, saying the device's "idle time" presented "unique opportunities" to meet the "growing need for adaptable robots and integrated systems that can seamlessly fit into our daily lives".
Business Mayor
30-04-2025
- Science
- Business Mayor
Robot vacuums 'could water plants or play with cat'
Scientists have reprogrammed a robot vacuum cleaner to help charge a phone and assist in a home workout because they think the machines are currently too 'idle'. Researchers from the University of Bath say the increasingly popular domestic appliances are, on average, in use for less than two hours per day, but could be working considerably harder – with some modifications. To prove their point, they retrained a Roomba device to carry out a range of other chores, and outlined many more possible tasks it could do such as playing with a cat and watering the plants. Such robots 'are perceived as limited, single-task devices but there is a strong argument that they are under-used for practical tasks', said Yoshiaki Shiokawa, the author of the study. The global household robots market size was valued at $10.3bn (£7.7bn) in 2023 and is anticipated to hit $24.5bn by 2028, meaning such devices are an increasingly common sight in people's homes. Anyone who has watched a robot vacuum cleaner in action may argue these ideas are a little far-fetched, given that current machines sometimes struggle with the challenges presented by rugs and shoelaces while carrying out their core function. However, scientists from the University of Bath and the University of Calgary in Canada, have set out to prove that cleaners – and similar devices, such as lawnmowers – could be reprogrammed and modified relatively easily. Their study identified 100 functions the robots could possibly perform with simple adjustments. The scientists then reprogrammed a Roomba robot vacuum cleaner to perform four of them: A mobile phone charger attached to the vacuum that is programmed to follow the user A robot with a projector attached that displayed a workout video on a wall or ceiling A 'home monitor' with live video so a user could check on the oven A screen showing 'do not disturb' on a robot that was programmed to go to a specific location, to help minimise possible disturbances Read More RBI Fintech department gets a new boss in P Vasudevan Other proposed tasks suggested by the scientists include a reprogrammed robot that carried the groceries from the car to the kitchen. Mr Shiokawa, a PhD student in the department of computer science at Bath, said the project proved that 'after making minimal adjustments, a Roomba can serve multiple roles around the home'. 'For most of the day, they sit idle', he lamented. He added that taking on some new tasks involved some upgrades the average vacuum owner probably would not have lying around their homes, such as a cart, a helmet and a robotic arm. Nonetheless, he said people should be expecting more of their robots. 'We should be extending their utility beyond their primary tasks by programming them to physically navigate the home to perform a range of additional functions,' he said. The study's co-author Dr Adwait Sharma agreed, saying the device's 'idle time' presented 'unique opportunities' to meet the 'growing need for adaptable robots and integrated systems that can seamlessly fit into our daily lives'. READ SOURCE
