Every time us lazy humans see a robot vacuuming floors, washing dishes, serving food, playing Scrabble with us, or -- in the case of Rollin' Justin the robot -- washing windows, we can't help but fantasize for our own maid robot like Rosie from "The Jetsons" or butler robot like Kryten in "Red Dwarf."
Related stories Robot learns to walk while damaged SociBot mirrors faces for uncanny teleconferences RoboJase the robot comedian: Wired for witWhile we're a long way off from all having robots to serve us the perfect martini and walk our dog, the German Aerospace Center (DLR) is working with a team to create a humanoid, service robot that can effectively use tools -- like a window squeegee -- to complete household chores.
In a video posted by the DLR, Rollin' Justin wipes down a window to show a typical example of whole-body mobile manipulation. The robot has "compliant controlled light weight arms and the two four-fingered hands" that "make it an ideal experimental platform for these research issues," according to the Rollin' Justin information page.
Rollin' Justin is also equipped with HD cameras, a moving head, a torso, and wheels.
"The individually movable, spring-mounted wheels match the special requirements of Justin's upper body during manipulation tasks," according to a DLR brochure. "Sensors and cameras allow the 3D reconstruction of the robot's environment and therefore enable Justin to perform given tasks autonomously."
