Technology travels faster! And now a team of engineers from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), the University of Pennsylvania and Harvard University is working on a project, which is aimed at developing a desktop technology that would make it possible for the average person to have his or her own robot. Yes, you read that right. The new five-year project, An Expedition in Computing Printable Programmable Machines, will help you design, customise and print a specialised robot in a matter of hours.
The project is funded by a $10 million grant from the National Science Foundation (NSF)
The project is funded by a $10 million grant from the National Science Foundation (NSF)
“This research envisions a whole new way of thinking about the design and manufacturing of robots, and could have a profound impact on society,” says MIT Professor Daniela Rus, leader of the project and a principal investigator at the MIT Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence Laboratory (CSAIL). “We believe that it has the potential to transform manufacturing and to democratise access to robots.” “Our goal is to develop technology that enables anyone to manufacture their own customised robot. This is truly a game changer,” says Professor Vijay Kumar, who is leading the team from the University of Pennsylvania. “It could allow for the rapid design and manufacture of customised goods, and change the way we teach science and technology in high schools.”
The main aim of the project is to trace the method of making robots and simplifying it so that an average person can understand the design and print a robot according to the specific needs within 24 hours.
The team is currently working on making 3D devices from sheets of paper to allow individuals to design and build functional robots from materials as easily accessible as a sheet of paper.
For now, we all can relish the dream of having robotic butlers!
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