Bloomberg
Robot: Home Exploring Robot Butler (HERB)
Created by: Intel's Personal Robotics Program and Carnegie Mellon University
Size: 4 ft. tall, 2 ft. wide, with two robotic arms and a two-wheeled base
Purpose: Household chores
The creators of HERB noted that top answers to surveys about what Americans would like robots to do consistently involve household chores such as laundry, dishwashing, and ironing. These simple tasks are no small feat for a robot, however. Enter the butler. That would be HERB, the robot that can throw items in the trash, clear dishes, and place them in the dishwasher. There were reportedly still a few bugs at a recent demonstration; HERB is a long way from mass-market-ready. But it's one step closer to the Jetsons' Rosie.
See HERB in action
