As the director of the Robotics Institute at Carnegie Mellon University in the United States, Matt Mason is very interested in the potential for machines to take over tasks that we dislike, such as cleaning the house. He believes that in just a few years, homemakers will be able to completely relax, as robots will take on the majority of mundane household chores.
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| Roomba – vacuum robot (Photo: frc.ri) |
For a long time, we have thought of the kitchen as a place to do all sorts of tasks, but there will come a time when we view it as a place to relax. In fact, the revolution has already begun – iRobot has launched the Roomba vacuum robot, and most recently, the Scooba, which can vacuum, wash with water, and dry the floor simultaneously.
Dan Kara, an expert working for Robotics Trends, points out that future floor-cleaning robots may come in various shapes. He envisions a floor-cleaning system installed within the walls. It will “blow” debris into a corner of the room, which will then be sucked up by a vacuum. After that, the system will spray cleaning solution onto the floor, and a robotic arm will clean it for you.
Eco-Friendly Kitchens
Not only will the kitchen of the future bring joy, but it will also prioritize eco-friendliness. Bruce Beihoff, Director of Innovation and Engineering at Whirlpool, has announced potential systems that can regenerate lost energy from cooking to heat the kitchen, the water supply, and even the entire house. Even dirty dishwater can be filtered and sterilized.
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| Scooba – robot that can vacuum, wash, and dry floors simultaneously (Photo: technovelgy) |
His company’s laboratory is currently working on prototypes of these items.
The Joy of Cooking
New culinary support technologies will turn you into a kitchen guru. The most skilled chefs know that evenly heated pans are the secret to delicious seared dishes. Researchers at Whirlpool are experimenting with ceramic microchips heated by microwaves instead of electricity or gas. This system will heat pans evenly and control temperature almost perfectly – better by 10 to 20 times compared to the best pots and pans available today.
They are also researching an oven that can roast skinless chicken while giving it a new crispy “skin”. This way, you can reduce excess fat while achieving a dish that meets both visual and taste standards.
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| A compact kitchen device that can rotate 180 degrees from CC – Concepts (Photo: oldhouseweb) |
Expert Paul Leuthe from Wolf Appliance believes that induction stoves will become essential kitchen tools of the future. They use magnetic fields to heat pots and pans, boiling water in half the time compared to current stoves. Induction stoves can also be used for slow cooking.
Relaxing Refrigerators
Daniel Lee, Marketing Director at LG Electronics, states: “The refrigerator will be the center of attention for families. It will have an interactive touchscreen – where you can watch TV, browse the web, check emails, keep shopping lists, and order deliveries. The refrigerator will be the first place you visit in the morning and the last place before you go to bed. If you want to use your time efficiently, you can gather information from the refrigerator.”
Revolutionizing Kitchen Counters
Have you ever wondered why a man who is 1.9 meters tall and a woman who is 1.6 meters tall have to stand at the same height to chop vegetables on a kitchen counter? Architect designer Langmuir explains that this is the standard size set 50 years ago, based on the average height of women. But times have changed. Langmuir has designed an adjustable kitchen counter, complete with a sink and stove. You simply press a button, and it will move to your desired height.
Meanwhile, Ted Selker and colleagues at the MIT Media Lab have designed the Dishmaker, a machine that allows you to create plates and bowls from round pieces of plastic. After the meal, the dishes revert to their original shape. Another unique item from CI is the Softsink, a sink made of silicone that prevents dishes from breaking. Even if you throw a glass into it with force, it will only roll around a few times.
Thúy Hân
