Robots have the potential to make all of our lives a lot better. Not only can robotic technology extend our physical and mental capabilities, it also allows us to perform tasks we otherwise wouldn’t be capable of. This is especially true if we have a disability that limits the way our body and brain can function – like in the case of Henry Evans.
At 40 years old, Henry suffered a severe stroke in 2003 and instantly became a quadriplegic and mute. After ten years of intense physical therapy, he was able to learn how to move his head and wiggle a finger to communicate with his friends and family. His story was such an inspiration to robotics professors at Georgia Tech and Brown University that it became the catalyst for developing a robot surrogate to help Henry with everyday tasks.
By using a head-tracking device that communicates with a computer using experimental interfaces, Henry was finally able to perform simple activities he once took for granted via a PR2 humanoid robot and several quadcopter drones. Routine situations like turning on a light switch or playing soccer with his children were no longer impossible – he was also able to scratch an irritating itch that had been nagging him for a decade.
Henry was so exultant to be able to live a normal life once again that he became a “robot activist” who helps explore new ways robotics can make life easier for the severely disabled. Speaking on stage at a TED conference last year in the form of a telepresence robot, Henry demonstrated how he is now able to fly a drone remotely despite not being able to do anything without a caregiver.
Your disability doesn’t make you any less of a person, and neither does mine.”
–Henry Evans
Henry made sure to remind the crowd that disabled people are not the only ones who take advantage of assistive devices – and he makes an excellent point. Every piece of technology available today from self-driving vehicles to our smartphones is intended to make our lives better – not just easier. And now that robotics has become something that is not considered out of the ordinary, we’re also starting to see robots in situations once reserved for humans.
Steve Cousins, the computer scientist responsible for creating Henry’s PR2 robot, is using his new company (Savioke) to deploy autonomous robot helpers into the service industry. The company’s first project is called the “SaviOne” and it goes to work later this month as the world’s first robotic bellhop.
The SaviOne measures 3 feet tall, weighs about 100 pounds, and has a carrying capacity of 2 cubic feet. Its sleek design allows it to travel at a human’s walking pace and it will act as a wheeled service vehicle (nicknamed “Botlr”) inside the Aloft hotel in Cupertino, California. Botlr’s job will be to shuttle items from the lobby desk to guest’s rooms and it is expected to not only make guests’ stays more comfortable, but make the staff’s jobs easier.
Similar to Google’s self-driving vehicle (another autonomous helper), some people may see the SaviOne as a gimmick. But the Aloft hotel believes this is only the beginning of a world where robot helpers will be responsible for creating a personalized experience in the hospitality industry.
“The appointment of Botlr makes Aloft the first major hotel chain to utilize robots both back and front of the house. People have been waiting decades for their robot butler to arrive and we’re happy that the time has finally come and that our guests can be the first in the world to take advantage of this amazing technology and service breakthrough.”
–Brian McGuinness, Global Brand Leader of Aloft Hotels
Whether you view the SaviOne as a publicity stunt or an innovation, one thing is clear: robots are capable of enriching our lives. If you don’t think it’s such a big deal for Botlr to deliver towels to your hotel room, then think of people like Henry Evans who are using robots inside their home to do the same thing because they can’t perform these actions themselves.
Robots will one day play an important role in all of our lives, and in some ways they already are. And as robotic technology keeps improving while getting cheaper, it’s only a matter of time before we all have a robot helper like the SaviOne inside of our home – they may even become our companions. If you can’t wait for that day to come, you may want to consider moving to Asia where robotic friends are going on sale in six months.
Do you think robots will one day be a part of everyday life? How do you think robots will enrich our lives?
