Robot Furniture that Builds Itself (Roombots)

Posted by Unknown on Sunday, August 17, 2014 with No comments
Imagine you don't need to move to pass through your furniture. Now, how much do you know about robots?  
"Roombots" is a research project that is creating modular robots that can be used as building blocks for furniture that moves, assembles and reconfigures itself.
Desk and chair built by Roombots
1) What if your furniture can move out of the way as you walk through the room?
2) Swiss Federal Institute of Technology (EPFL) is developing self-configurable robotics
3) Designs can be reconfigured according to functionality (eventually everywhere)
4) "Eventually we want less and less human interaction to have a more fluid transition of furniture" says Ijspeert

It's being researched by the biorobotics team at the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology (EPFL).
Interconnected 
The Roombots would be coupled with passive materials -- such as a cushion -- to create complete furnishings.
Roombots would be coupled with passive materials to create complete furnishings
A <a href='http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0921889013001632' target='_blank'>newly published study</a> demonstrates how the project is progressing.
Solid chair
A rendering of a coffee table made from eight Roombots modules, and passive pieces.
A rendering coffee table made from eight Roombots modules, and passive pieces
Pictured, the individual components of a Roombots module.
Individual component of Roombots module
Roombots modules connected to an existing table, demonstrating its "plug and play" capabilities.
Plug and Play capabilities
A single Roombots module, around 22cm long, contains a battery, three motors and a wireless connection.
A single Roombots module is 22 cm long, consists a battery, three motors and a wireless connection



For more insights, check it out: CNN

Summarized by Ooze94