Apple Exploring 'Mobile Robot' That 'Follows Users Around Their Homes'

[MacRumors]

Apple is exploring various "personal robotics" projects in an effort to create its "next big thing," according to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman.

Amazon's Astro robot​

One of these projects is described as a "mobile robot" that would "follow users around their homes," while another is said to be an "advanced table-top home device that uses robotics to move a display around":

Engineers at Apple have been exploring a mobile robot that can follow users around their homes, said the people, who asked not to be identified because the skunk-works project is private. The iPhone maker also has developed an advanced table-top home device that uses robotics to move a display around, they said.

Apple is investigating the use of AI algorithms that would help robots "navigate cluttered spaces within people's homes," the report says. Apple has apparently wanted to create robots that can "handle chores, like cleaning dishes in a sink," but Gurman said this feat is unlikely this decade due to "extraordinarily difficult engineering challenges."

Apple's home robot could compete with the likes of Amazon's Astro, which serves as a mobile virtual assistant and provides home security monitoring.

As for the table-top device, Gurman said one idea was for its display to "mimic the head movements" of a person on a FaceTime video call. However, he said Apple has faced technical challenges related to "balancing the weight of a robotic motor on a small stand," and some Apple executives have apparently debated whether to develop such a device.

The robotics projects are said to be in the very early stages of research, and it is unclear if any of them will ever be released to the public. For now, these are just moonshot ideas, but they are fascinating ones to learn about.

Article Link: Apple Exploring 'Mobile Robot' That 'Follows Users Around Their Homes'

 

[Harry Haller]

April 1st was 2 days ago.

 

[Godspeed8230]

Just today I thought: A robot following me around would make my life easier.

 

[oofio2461]

Bet this project will end up like the Apple Car.

 

[tipoo]

Robots will be cool when they can do all your household chores including plugging themselves back in, freeing up immense human capital.

We'd probably have to be even more concerned about the obesity epidemic in that case as chores are probably the only exercise some people do, but that's a separate matter.

"Follows you around" is odd and doesn't sound like that level of ambition. Like holding a screen?

 

[Keymaster]

So, in other words, they are developing a dog.

 

[STOCK411]

I saw "Investigating" and thought that this was currently happening with some Apple Product and was like


wut

 

[orbital~debris]

This seems like so much more of a logical trajectory for  than a vehicle.

 

[tipoo]

Are they going to work on this for a billion dollars a year for 10 years and then never release it

 

[wigby]

Like most of these pitches, Apple probably won't do it but on the other hand, no other company would be trusted with such a personal invasion of space so Apple has the best shot at mass adoption.

 

[dannyyankou]

Ambitious mockup lol. It'll probably be more similar to a HomePod on wheels.

I actually used DALL-E to try to create a mockup and I think it'll be close to this. A bit similar to Amazon's Astro.

 

[Jackbequickly]

Following around is something. Having the dexterity and coordination to be useful is another. Good human like robots are still years down the road. Maybe a dog . . .

 

[kycophpd]

If it does not have the light up logo just like this, I am not buying it.

 

[Chuckeee]

Not the slightest bit creepy

 

[Harry Haller]

Bet this project will end up like the Apple Car.

Or in the car.

 

[nfl46]

Lmao.

Us in 10 years.

Siri: Shut off the iRobot.

Siri: I do not understand. Please repeat.

I can’t wait for the Android iRobots vs Apple iRobots fights.

 

[NEPOBABY]

Robots will be cool when they can do all your household chores including plugging themselves back in, freeing up immense human capital.

Yeah man if the bot does all those household chores that we do normally in our spare time when we are not working it will save us trillions of dollars and give us more time to **** post online and watch tingtong videos allowing social media CEOs and their shareholders to become ultra rich and stamp even harder on humanity.

Back to reality…

 

[orbital~debris]

Ambitious mockup lol. It'll probably be more similar to a HomePod on wheels.

MacPro Wheels, no less.

 

[szw-mapple fan]

Robots will be cool when they can do all your household chores including plugging themselves back in, freeing up immense human capital.

We'd probably have to be even more concerned about the obesity epidemic in that case as chores are probably the only exercise some people do, but that's a separate matter.

"Follows you around" is odd and doesn't sound like that level of ambition. Like holding a screen?

A lot of home robots like smart vacuums/mops or security camera bots already plug themselves in. The only issue right now is that the hardware capabilities only allow for one or two tasks per bot and still some human intervention once in a while. The end game is an omnibot that can take care of everything imo.

 

[Kevin2055]

I'd rather Apple stay in its expertise and stop wasting another 10 years on this.

 

[klasma]

Apple Stalker Pro

 

[wilhoitm]

I would like to see the AI Apple robot and the AI Tesla robot in a cage match! I wonder which one would win?

 

[roncron]

Brilliant! Call it "iRobot."

There's already an excellent theme song for it:

 

[GaryGnu]

For some reason, I want to watch "Sleeper" now.

 

[NEPOBABY]

Ambitious mockup lol. It'll probably be more similar to a HomePod on wheels.

I actually used DALL-E to try to create a mockup and I think it'll be close to this. A bit similar to Amazon's Astro.

View attachment 2365207

Thanks for wasting another gigawatt of electricity and 10 liters of cooling water to show us what our brain was already trying not to imagine.