Eco Factor: Multipurpose robot is powered by solar energy.
According to a research conducted by International Federation of Robotics, there were 3.4 million personal service robots in use by the end of 2007. Since most of these robots are programmed to perform a specific task their number is expected to grow by leaps and bounds. Some computer science graduates from the Louisiana State University have developed an unconventional robot that can do anything you program it to do. The Robot known as “Agbot” has been developed with selectable software options and couple of modules to enable it to perform different tasks. The best feature of the robot is that it does not need a battery or an electricity connection from the house power socket as it is powered by a solar panel resting on its head.
Dr. S.S. Iyengar and his team of two computer science graduates have developed this machine after 18 months of extensive research. They ended up with an eco-friendly robot that can do anything from cleaning your toilet to mowing your lawn, all by simply replacing the module and uploading the correct software for that task. The robot comes with onboard GPS and Bluetooth connectivity that converts it into state-of-the-art intrusion detection system. The solar panels on Agbot’s head keep it moving at a top speed of 6 mph for about 4 hours. Dr. Iyengar hopes to bring the robot to mass production and finally sell it at a minimum cost.
The Dark Side:
Using Agbot for tasks such as toilet cleaning and lawn mowing is fantastic, but depending on a solar-powered robot that runs for just four hours to protect your home from burglary seems ambiguous.
Via: Primidi/DailyReveille
