Assuming that this demo can be taken at face value as representative of typical performance then this is pretty impressive, and probably indicative of early uses of service robotics.
Even if the robot is limited to detecting cylindrical objects that's still quite a good achievement. It's also possible to envisage other light duties, such as sweeping, watering, opening and closing curtains or blinds, surface cleaning, feeding pets and dusting. Individually all of these jobs might be automated using special purpose machines, but the main advantage of a general purpose robot is that you don't need to buy, learn to use and maintain lots of separate gadgets.
Service robotics is probably going to be more of an evolution than a revolution. I've learned my lesson with regard to making predictions, and just because technology exists at a certain price level does not mean that it will be used or commercialized. For this kind of application there are additional psychological issues, such as displacing habituated practices, being confident that the robot isn't going to damage anything or be taken over by Anonymous, and so on. There might also be issues around home insurance and possible fire hazards, so all of these things need to be worked out and they will probably work themselves out slowly. Nevertheless, service robotics - which includes telepresence and teleoperation - represents a huge and so far mostly untapped market capable of delivering real value and transforming many aspects of the overall economy.
Even if the robot is limited to detecting cylindrical objects that's still quite a good achievement. It's also possible to envisage other light duties, such as sweeping, watering, opening and closing curtains or blinds, surface cleaning, feeding pets and dusting. Individually all of these jobs might be automated using special purpose machines, but the main advantage of a general purpose robot is that you don't need to buy, learn to use and maintain lots of separate gadgets.
Service robotics is probably going to be more of an evolution than a revolution. I've learned my lesson with regard to making predictions, and just because technology exists at a certain price level does not mean that it will be used or commercialized. For this kind of application there are additional psychological issues, such as displacing habituated practices, being confident that the robot isn't going to damage anything or be taken over by Anonymous, and so on. There might also be issues around home insurance and possible fire hazards, so all of these things need to be worked out and they will probably work themselves out slowly. Nevertheless, service robotics - which includes telepresence and teleoperation - represents a huge and so far mostly untapped market capable of delivering real value and transforming many aspects of the overall economy.