Going back to the tired quote about AI doing the dishes and laundry, fundamentally what IS so hard about making a robot that does that?
Is it the range of motion of my arm and hands? Is it computer vision not knowing the clearances of objects ? Even if the thing couldn't drive itself to the kitchen or laundry room, I would be fine wheeling it there and standing it in front of dirty clothes or dishes opening the appliance doors. But yet we don't have this.
Each individual problem is solved: we have water proof electronics, we have precise multi axis stepper motors, we have computer vision that can map 3D spaces. We could even sell custom dishwasher inserts that are designed to make it easier for the robot. Why the hell do I still have to do the dishes?
Reliable, general-purpose gripping is still an unsolved problem. Especially in the consumer space. Your body has the near-miraculous ability of repairing itself continuously. Most gripper technologies require regular maintenance or they start to fail: suction cups wear out, sandbags start to lose elasticity, rubber gripping points get worn smooth. In an industrial setting, this is something that's manageable with maintenance schedules and the like, but will consumers be happy to replace suction cups every month so their robot doesn't start dropping dishes on the floor?
Is it the range of motion of my arm and hands? Is it computer vision not knowing the clearances of objects ? Even if the thing couldn't drive itself to the kitchen or laundry room, I would be fine wheeling it there and standing it in front of dirty clothes or dishes opening the appliance doors. But yet we don't have this.
Each individual problem is solved: we have water proof electronics, we have precise multi axis stepper motors, we have computer vision that can map 3D spaces. We could even sell custom dishwasher inserts that are designed to make it easier for the robot. Why the hell do I still have to do the dishes?