{"id":46266,"date":"2018-12-12T11:06:54","date_gmt":"2018-12-12T19:06:54","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/world.edu\/?p=46266"},"modified":"2018-12-12T11:06:54","modified_gmt":"2018-12-12T19:06:54","slug":"the-next-great-leap-forward-combining-robots-with-the-internet-of-things","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/world.edu\/the-next-great-leap-forward-combining-robots-with-the-internet-of-things\/","title":{"rendered":"The next great leap forward? Combining robots with the Internet of Things"},"content":{"rendered":"

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\nThe\u00a0Internet of Things<\/a>\u00a0is a popular vision of objects with internet connections sending information back and forth to make our lives easier and more comfortable. It\u2019s emerging in our\u00a0homes<\/a>, through everything from voice-controlled speakers to smart temperature sensors. To improve our fitness,\u00a0smart watches<\/a>\u00a0and\u00a0Fitbits<\/a>\u00a0are telling online apps how much we\u2019re moving around. And across entire cities, interconnected devices are doing everything from increasing the\u00a0efficiency of transport<\/a>\u00a0to\u00a0flood detection<\/a>.<\/p>\n

In parallel, robots are steadily moving outside the confines of factory lines. They\u2019re\u00a0starting to appear<\/a>\u00a0as guides in shopping malls and cruise ships, for instance. As prices fall and the Artificial Intelligence (AI) and mechanical technology continues to improve, we will get more and more used to them making independent decisions in our homes, streets and workplaces.<\/p>\n

Here lies a major opportunity. Robots become considerably more capable with internet connections. There is a growing view that the next evolution of the Internet of Things will be to incorporate them into the network \u2013 opening up thrilling possibilities along the way.<\/p>\n

Home improvements<\/strong><\/h4>\n

Even simple robots become useful when connected to the internet \u2013 getting updates about their environment from sensors, say, or learning about their users\u2019 whereabouts and the status of appliances in the vicinity. This lets them lend their bodies, eyes and ears to give an otherwise impersonal smart environment a user-friendly persona. This can be particularly helpful for people at home who are older or have disabilities.<\/p>\n

We recently unveiled a\u00a0futuristic apartment<\/a>\u00a0at Heriot-Watt University to work on such possibilities. One of\u00a0a few<\/a>\u00a0such test sites around the EU, our whole focus is around people with special needs \u2013 and how robots can help them by interacting with connected devices in a smart home.<\/p>\n

Suppose a doorbell rings that has smart video features. A robot could find the person in the home by accessing their location via sensors, then tell them who is at the door and why. Or it could help make video calls to family members or a professional carer \u2013 including allowing them to make virtual visits by acting as a telepresence platform.
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