Why Don’t We Have Better Robots Yet? | Ken Goldberg | TED

Where Are the Robots?

Introduction to Robotics and Expectations

• The speaker expresses a common desire for home robots that can perform chores, questioning why such technology is not more prevalent despite advancements in other areas like satellites and laser beams.

• Acknowledges the existence of real robots but contrasts their capabilities with public expectations, introducing Moravec's paradox as a key concept in robotics.

Understanding Moravec's Paradox

• Moravec's paradox highlights the disparity between tasks easy for humans (like stacking blocks) versus those easy for robots (like lifting heavy objects), emphasizing the challenges faced by robotic systems.

• The speaker shares personal anecdotes about clumsiness, linking it to his research focus on improving robot dexterity.

Hardware Challenges in Robotics

• Discusses different types of robot hands, advocating for simpler designs like parallel jaw grippers due to their reliability and cost-effectiveness.

• Demonstrates how simple grippers can perform complex tasks when operated by humans, showcasing their effectiveness in practical applications.

Software and Uncertainty Issues

• Introduces software challenges stemming from uncertainty in control, perception, and physics that complicate robotic operations.

• Explains how small errors in robot mechanisms can accumulate, leading to difficulties in precise manipulation of objects.

Advances in Sensor Technology

• Highlights LIDAR technology as a breakthrough for creating 3D models of environments but notes limitations with shiny or transparent objects causing inaccuracies.

• Mentions tactile sensors as an emerging technology that captures surface details during contact but acknowledges they are still developing.

Physics Challenges Affecting Robot Performance

• Illustrates unpredictability in object movement due to microscopic surface variations using a bottle-pushing example, stressing the complexity of grasping tasks.

• Compares predictability of asteroid motion with the unpredictability faced by robots when manipulating everyday objects.

Current Trends and Future Directions

• Identifies e-commerce growth as a significant opportunity for robotics, especially highlighted during the pandemic where demand surged for timely package delivery.

Robots in Warehouses and Home Automation

Advances in Robotic Grasping

• The speaker discusses the challenges of using robots in warehouses, noting that previous attempts have not been very successful.

• A method developed by the speaker and students allows a robot to train itself to grasp objects through simulation, leading to the creation of Dex-net.

• Dex-net can reliably pick up various objects it has never encountered before, demonstrating significant progress in robotic manipulation.

Commercial Application: Ambi Robotics

• The team formed a company called Ambi Robotics, which utilizes their algorithms for sorting packages in e-commerce.

• Currently, 80 machines are operational across the U.S., sorting over a million packages weekly.

Challenges with Home Robots

• Despite advancements, home robots still face significant challenges; one major issue is manipulating deformable objects like strings and fruits.

Untangling Knots

• Research involves teaching robots to untangle knots by analyzing cables with cameras and managing slack during manipulation.

• The robot has achieved an 80% success rate when tasked with untangling cables.

Folding Laundry

• Traditional robotic laundry folding methods are slow (3–6 folds per hour), prompting a revisit of this problem for faster solutions.

• Innovations include using two arms for fabric flinging and applying friction to smooth wrinkles while employing techniques like the "two-second fold."

Bagging Challenges

• Manipulating bags poses difficulties due to their varying configurations; humans find it easy but it's complex for robots.

• The robot trains itself on bag manipulation using fluorescent paint and lights, achieving about 50% success in solving this problem.

Moravec's Paradox

• The speaker reflects on Moravec's paradox: tasks easy for humans remain challenging for robots despite technological advances.