A new wheeled robot could help people at home before many humanoid robots are ready for everyday use.That is the big idea behind Hello Robot's Stretch 4.
While many companies are developing human-shaped robots that walk, balance and try to act like us, Stretch 4 takes a different route.It rolls.That may sound less exciting at first.
However, inside a real home, wheels may make more sense than legs.Homes have rugs, cords, pets, narrow hallways, tight corners and furniture that always seems to get in the way.A robot that can move carefully through that mess and reach for useful objects could become more helpful than one that looks impressive in a social media video.HOME ROBOT AUTOMATES HOUSEHOLD CHORES LIKE ROSIE FROM 'THE JETSONS'Stretch 4 uses a lifting column and extendable arm to reach objects at different heights around a home or workplace.
(Hello Robot)Stretch 4 focuses on safe movement, reaching and practical assistance in homes and workplaces.That could make it one of the more realistic ways to build a robot that actually helps people where they live.Stretch 4 is a mobile robot designed to help indoors.
It looks more like a slim rolling assistant than a humanoid robot.That design choice is intentional.
The robot has a wheeled base, a lifting column and an arm that can reach for objects.It is built with tools for mapping, navigation, self-charging and VLM grasping demos.Hello Robot presents Stretch 4 as calibrated, portable and deployable.
However, its technical sheet also says it is currently intended for research, development and laboratory use.Researchers and enterprise customers can buy it now.
The company also plans home pilot deployments.That real-home testing is important.
A staged demo can look great online.A hallway with a rug, a laundry basket and a dog is a much better test.HUMANOID ROBOTS ARE GETTING SMALLER, SAFER AND CLOSERHumanoid robots get plenty of attention because they look familiar.
They also make it easy to imagine a machine movin...