An Edinburgh University study suggests AI-powered robots may soon be able to prepare cups of coffee, potentially ushering in the next generation of intelligent machines.
Using a combination of AI technology, sensitive sensors, and fine-tuned motor skills, the robot created by the research team is said to be able to interact with its surroundings in more human-like ways than ever before.
The new device, a robotic arm with seven movable joints, first interprets verbal instructions it receives, then analyses its surroundings. The robot searches the kitchen to find a mug by working out how to access drawers with opening mechanisms it has not encountered before. The robot then measures and mixes a set ratio of coffee from a jar with water from a kettle.
The study suggests the technology behind the robot enables it to adapt seamlessly to unforeseen events, such as if someone bumps or moves the mug unexpectedly while it is working. The research team believe the new AI technology could transform robots’ ability to carry out tasks that previously could only be done by people.
The study published in the journal Nature Machine Intelligence was supported by the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council. The work was led by Ruaridh Mon-Williams, a PhD student jointly at the University of Edinburgh, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, and Princeton University.
“We are glimpsing a future where robots with increasingly advanced intelligence become commonplace. Human intelligence stems from the integration of reasoning, movement and perception, yet AI and robotics have often advanced separately,” says Ruaridh Mon-Williams.
“Our work demonstrates the power of combining these approaches and underscores the growing need to discuss their societal implications.”
