This "ceiling robot" (telemanipulator) would be remotely controlled by poorly paid workers from elsewhere in the world. It would have two grippers and some cameras and would put dishes into a dishwasher, wipe counters, and so forth. When leaving the kitchen all the owner would have to do is push a button.

edit: ver 1.01: fixed pedantry error in line 1, description, and title.

edit: ver 1.02: fixed grammar error in summary.
-- Voice, Jan 15 2011

ceiling robot ceiling_20robot
[Voice, Jan 15 2011]

//poorly paid workers from elsewhere in the world\\ what a terrible thing to say.
-- zeno, Jan 15 2011


Kitchen robots are awesome. I have 2 that cook food and one that does a great job washing dishes, and one that keeps food cool.
-- bungston, Jan 15 2011


This could be done for free by crowdsourcing.
-- nineteenthly, Jan 15 2011


This is no more offensive than many well accepted situations in a modern industrial economy, simply more visible.
-- pocmloc, Jan 15 2011


Telemanipulator? The word is half Greek, half Latin. No good can come of it.
-- MaxwellBuchanan, Jan 16 2011


A Menial Turtle Op (anagram)
-- csea, Jan 16 2011


Wonderful combination of technology and outsourcing to overcome the deficiencies of robotics.

What you really need is a teleoperated humanoid robot that can be controlled remotely by people who are otherwise unskilled and need work. This seems more feasible in the foreseeable future than a fully autonomous household robot.

The current drawback is that

a) a full teleoperation system will need to be developed

b) The control rig (and the robot) are likely to be orders of magnitude more expensive than hiring a full-time person in your current jurisdiction for years, with full benefits. But this is simply a technological hurdle that can be overcome....
-- cowtamer, Jan 16 2011


I see this as the future of most manual labor jobs.
The robots stay on-site and workers control them from home in shifts with auxilliary controlers on standby.

24/7 labor. No over-time. No sick days. Nobody moves, nobody gets hurt.
-- 2 fries shy of a happy meal, Jan 16 2011


// workers control them from home in shifts //

Shifts ? You mean like those long nightshirty-type things ?

Would a Paisley-pattern dressing gown be OK ?
-- 8th of 7, Jan 16 2011


Only if it's open in the back.
-- 2 fries shy of a happy meal, Jan 16 2011



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