Comments on: Robot to pair socks! http://boingboing.net/2010/08/24/robot-to-pair-socks.html Brain candy for Happy Mutants Thu, 20 Jun 2013 01:22:00 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.4.1 By: Anonymous http://boingboing.net/2010/08/24/robot-to-pair-socks.html#comment-869127 Anonymous Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-869127 Love it! I wonder when there'll be robots that can do basic "two hands operated" home chores like this AND that makes economic sense to average middle-class consumers (maybe similar in cost to buying a new washing machine)? 5 years? 10? Love it! I wonder when there’ll be robots that can do basic “two hands operated” home chores like this AND that makes economic sense to average middle-class consumers (maybe similar in cost to buying a new washing machine)? 5 years? 10?

]]> By: Anonymous http://boingboing.net/2010/08/24/robot-to-pair-socks.html#comment-868108 Anonymous Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-868108 uc berkeley home of the masturbating robot. uc berkeley home of the masturbating robot.

]]> By: irco http://boingboing.net/2010/08/24/robot-to-pair-socks.html#comment-868109 irco Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-868109 i don't think is either there are much faster robotic arms, im sure is just the project is not worth spending that much money on, so they decide to use some old arms i don’t think is either there are much faster robotic arms, im sure is just the project is not worth spending that much money on, so they decide to use some old arms

]]> By: dagfooyo http://boingboing.net/2010/08/24/robot-to-pair-socks.html#comment-868121 dagfooyo Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-868121 OK so first they create a robot to fold laundry, and now one to pair socks... could this be the most effective technique ever used to put off doing chores? "Why haven't you done the laundry yet?" "I TOLD you, I'm building robots to take care of it, it'll be done in another couple years." OK so first they create a robot to fold laundry, and now one to pair socks… could this be the most effective technique ever used to put off doing chores? “Why haven’t you done the laundry yet?” “I TOLD you, I’m building robots to take care of it, it’ll be done in another couple years.”

]]> By: xzzy http://boingboing.net/2010/08/24/robot-to-pair-socks.html#comment-868125 xzzy Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-868125 My favorite part is the idle position. He is SO ready to pounce on those socks and organize the hell out of them. My favorite part is the idle position.

He is SO ready to pounce on those socks and organize the hell out of them.

]]> By: SamSam http://boingboing.net/2010/08/24/robot-to-pair-socks.html#comment-868143 SamSam Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-868143 Sock pairer? Seems more like a good condom applier to me. Wonder if the wife would appreciate having one in the bedroom... Sock pairer? Seems more like a good condom applier to me. Wonder if the wife would appreciate having one in the bedroom…

]]> By: Drinking the well http://boingboing.net/2010/08/24/robot-to-pair-socks.html#comment-868149 Drinking the well Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-868149 It's funny that offshoring my sockfolding to China is probably much cheaper and more effective. Although I don't think Chinese sweatshopworkers will look so blissfull folding socks. It’s funny that offshoring my sockfolding to China is probably much cheaper and more effective. Although I don’t think Chinese sweatshopworkers will look so blissfull folding socks.

]]> By: Lobster http://boingboing.net/2010/08/24/robot-to-pair-socks.html#comment-868165 Lobster Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-868165 I like how they designed it to look dejected. I like how they designed it to look dejected.

]]> By: slithybrilig http://boingboing.net/2010/08/24/robot-to-pair-socks.html#comment-868424 slithybrilig Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-868424 I wish I could get my dowel all nice and shiny. I wish I could get my dowel all nice and shiny.

]]> By: David Carroll http://boingboing.net/2010/08/24/robot-to-pair-socks.html#comment-868171 David Carroll Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-868171 Shh. That is the <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fGz-Bei4PCY">secret command</a> to initiate the <a href="http://boingboing.net/2010/08/04/washing-machine-bric.html">self-destruct sequence</a>. You know just in <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s0f3JeDVeEo">case.</a> Shh. That is the secret command to initiate the self-destruct sequence. You know just in case.

]]> By: SomeGuy http://boingboing.net/2010/08/24/robot-to-pair-socks.html#comment-868174 SomeGuy Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-868174 Now if only there were a robot designed to recover the socks that disappear into the dryer vortex. Now if only there were a robot designed to recover the socks that disappear into the dryer vortex.

]]> By: Felton http://boingboing.net/2010/08/24/robot-to-pair-socks.html#comment-868185 Felton Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-868185 Rock 'em, sock 'em, sort 'em robots. Rock ‘em, sock ‘em, sort ‘em robots.

]]> By: Donald Petersen http://boingboing.net/2010/08/24/robot-to-pair-socks.html#comment-868462 Donald Petersen Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-868462 I wonder why they didn't design it to just grasp the edge of the sock with one hand, and send the other hand down the sock to grasp the toe, then pull it inside-out. You know, like we humans do it. How much harder could that have been? I wonder why they didn’t design it to just grasp the edge of the sock with one hand, and send the other hand down the sock to grasp the toe, then pull it inside-out. You know, like we humans do it.

How much harder could that have been?

]]> By: Fang Xianfu http://boingboing.net/2010/08/24/robot-to-pair-socks.html#comment-868207 Fang Xianfu Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-868207 This, but also the way he very carefully lays down the flipped sock and smooths it out before getting ready to pounce again :D This, but also the way he very carefully lays down the flipped sock and smooths it out before getting ready to pounce again :D

]]> By: dw_funk http://boingboing.net/2010/08/24/robot-to-pair-socks.html#comment-868211 dw_funk Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-868211 What happens when you live someplace that isn't big enough for both the sock-pairing robot and the laundry-folding robot? What happens when I get a pancake making robot too? I do have to say, this robot has a sweet little face. I wonder what kind of grip strength it has? It's the perfect robot assassin; nobody would suspect that cute open-mouthed look it wears. What happens when you live someplace that isn’t big enough for both the sock-pairing robot and the laundry-folding robot? What happens when I get a pancake making robot too?

I do have to say, this robot has a sweet little face. I wonder what kind of grip strength it has? It’s the perfect robot assassin; nobody would suspect that cute open-mouthed look it wears.

]]> By: Anonymous http://boingboing.net/2010/08/24/robot-to-pair-socks.html#comment-869752 Anonymous Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-869752 I thought it was "Pair of Socks to Robot." http://tinyurl.com/23maqlz Bite my fluffy gray a**! I thought it was “Pair of Socks to Robot.”

http://tinyurl.com/23maqlz

Bite my fluffy gray a**!

]]> By: Unmutual http://boingboing.net/2010/08/24/robot-to-pair-socks.html#comment-868228 Unmutual Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-868228 i lol'd i lol’d

]]> By: Donald Petersen http://boingboing.net/2010/08/24/robot-to-pair-socks.html#comment-868747 Donald Petersen Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-868747 I wouldn't have thought so. I insert my hand, pincer fashion, with thumb and forefinger(s) stiffly extended about 1.5" apart, to the bottom of the sock, pulling up on the sock's neck with a couple of pounds of pressure so that the toe area of the sock is pulled tight between the extended digits. Since the fingers stretch out the material some small distance, closing the gap between the fingers *always* grasps the toe of the sock. And then I pull it out. This always works for me, not only with no conscious thought but also with no real sensory variation whatsoever. Inside-out socks don't generally contain pocket-change or car keys; indeed, they are similar enough on a generic sock-to-sock basis that I could perform this action pretty reliably with kitchen tongs and closed eyes, once I've ascertained whether a sock is inside-out or not. Just seems simpler (and less time-consuming, less silly, though regrettably less salacious) then repeatedly pounding the sock over and over on a chromed phallus. I wouldn’t have thought so. I insert my hand, pincer fashion, with thumb and forefinger(s) stiffly extended about 1.5″ apart, to the bottom of the sock, pulling up on the sock’s neck with a couple of pounds of pressure so that the toe area of the sock is pulled tight between the extended digits. Since the fingers stretch out the material some small distance, closing the gap between the fingers *always* grasps the toe of the sock. And then I pull it out.

This always works for me, not only with no conscious thought but also with no real sensory variation whatsoever. Inside-out socks don’t generally contain pocket-change or car keys; indeed, they are similar enough on a generic sock-to-sock basis that I could perform this action pretty reliably with kitchen tongs and closed eyes, once I’ve ascertained whether a sock is inside-out or not.

Just seems simpler (and less time-consuming, less silly, though regrettably less salacious) then repeatedly pounding the sock over and over on a chromed phallus.

]]> By: valdis http://boingboing.net/2010/08/24/robot-to-pair-socks.html#comment-868238 valdis Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-868238 Sock Folding. That's the sort of shit that is gonna bring on the robot uprising Incidentally, there exist *far* faster robot hands: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-KxjVlaLBmk&feature=related Sock Folding.

That’s the sort of shit that is gonna bring on the robot uprising

Incidentally, there exist *far* faster robot hands:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-KxjVlaLBmk&feature=related

]]> By: Pantograph http://boingboing.net/2010/08/24/robot-to-pair-socks.html#comment-868503 Pantograph Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-868503 In my future I prefer the kinder sock folding robots over your high speed kung fu killer bots. Those are scary. In my future I prefer the kinder sock folding robots over your high speed kung fu killer bots. Those are scary.

]]> By: Anonymous http://boingboing.net/2010/08/24/robot-to-pair-socks.html#comment-870300 Anonymous Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-870300 Fan-flippin-tastic! Can't wait for robots to take over all menial jobs. Then perhaps us all will be able to be human Fan-flippin-tastic!

Can’t wait for robots to take over all menial jobs. Then perhaps us all will be able to be human

]]> By: Mark Dow http://boingboing.net/2010/08/24/robot-to-pair-socks.html#comment-868516 Mark Dow Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-868516 The revolt will come when, in an effort at self-improvement, it recognizes the humor in the video or these comments. The revolt will come when, in an effort at self-improvement, it recognizes the humor in the video or these comments.

]]> By: Brainspore http://boingboing.net/2010/08/24/robot-to-pair-socks.html#comment-868517 Brainspore Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-868517 God help the laboratory rats that wander in front of that robot. God help the laboratory rats that wander in front of that robot.

]]> By: SamSam http://boingboing.net/2010/08/24/robot-to-pair-socks.html#comment-868548 SamSam Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-868548 Because that kind of almost-unconscious human manipulation required a large number of sense neurons and processing to work out what we are toughing when we reach into a sock, and how to grasp it. Similarly for something like pulling your keys out of your pocket without pulling everything else out. I think it would have been a great way to solve it, but it would certainly have been many times more difficult than this brute-force method. Because that kind of almost-unconscious human manipulation required a large number of sense neurons and processing to work out what we are toughing when we reach into a sock, and how to grasp it. Similarly for something like pulling your keys out of your pocket without pulling everything else out.

I think it would have been a great way to solve it, but it would certainly have been many times more difficult than this brute-force method.

]]> By: nickodemus http://boingboing.net/2010/08/24/robot-to-pair-socks.html#comment-868303 nickodemus Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-868303 I love at about 37 seconds in, when it pulls one arm back out of the way, the movements remind me of an obese man trying to reach a dinner plat. I love at about 37 seconds in, when it pulls one arm back out of the way, the movements remind me of an obese man trying to reach a dinner plat.

]]> By: Dewi Morgan http://boingboing.net/2010/08/24/robot-to-pair-socks.html#comment-868815 Dewi Morgan Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-868815 A custom-built robot can do the job it's been custom-made for, very efficiently. Humans can do things that humans often do, very efficiently. But this contest wasn't testing either of those things. To test something similar to what the contest was testing, get someone who has not performed this task so often that they no longer notice the very subtle micro-movements and learnt behaviours that make this work. Give them the tongs. Using only PR2 programming language, explain to them how to do the "turn inside out" thing you do so well. I think you might find it's more complex than it looks. You might feel the need to take the sock off them and say "Look, HERE'S how you do it!" - but that would be cheating. Continue to explain to them, in PR2 programming language. If they do anything you didn't explicitly tell them to do (like picking up an item after dropping it) then get them to start over. It would be advantageous if your assistant came only with the non-modified arms that a PR2 comes with, because that was a requirement of the competition. Failing that, give them a pair of pliers to use, to manipulate the tongs :P A custom-built robot can do the job it’s been custom-made for, very efficiently. Humans can do things that humans often do, very efficiently. But this contest wasn’t testing either of those things.

To test something similar to what the contest was testing, get someone who has not performed this task so often that they no longer notice the very subtle micro-movements and learnt behaviours that make this work. Give them the tongs.

Using only PR2 programming language, explain to them how to do the “turn inside out” thing you do so well. I think you might find it’s more complex than it looks. You might feel the need to take the sock off them and say “Look, HERE’S how you do it!” – but that would be cheating. Continue to explain to them, in PR2 programming language. If they do anything you didn’t explicitly tell them to do (like picking up an item after dropping it) then get them to start over.

It would be advantageous if your assistant came only with the non-modified arms that a PR2 comes with, because that was a requirement of the competition. Failing that, give them a pair of pliers to use, to manipulate the tongs :P

]]> By: Anonymous http://boingboing.net/2010/08/24/robot-to-pair-socks.html#comment-868308 Anonymous Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-868308 This video is just one of many in a competition sponsored by Willow Garage's founder (Scott Hassan). The Berkeley sock-folding won 1st place (and $5000). The other contestant videos, including the 2nd place ($3000) and 3rd place ($2000) videos, can be found on Hizook.com: http://www.hizook.com/blog/2010/08/21/pr2-video-contest-results-10k-aggregate-cash-prizes This video is just one of many in a competition sponsored by Willow Garage’s founder (Scott Hassan). The Berkeley sock-folding won 1st place (and $5000). The other contestant videos, including the 2nd place ($3000) and 3rd place ($2000) videos, can be found on Hizook.com:

http://www.hizook.com/blog/2010/08/21/pr2-video-contest-results-10k-aggregate-cash-prizes

]]> By: Donald Petersen http://boingboing.net/2010/08/24/robot-to-pair-socks.html#comment-868821 Donald Petersen Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-868821 Well, that's what I get for just watching the video and not reading the link about the contest. Just saying "its hands were too big, and they weren't allowed to modify them" would have sufficed. Well, that’s what I get for just watching the video and not reading the link about the contest.

Just saying “its hands were too big, and they weren’t allowed to modify them” would have sufficed.

]]> By: AllyPally http://boingboing.net/2010/08/24/robot-to-pair-socks.html#comment-869083 AllyPally Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-869083 I don't care about the outside-in-ness of the socks. I can do that while putting them on. But I want pairs! A robot that could take a pile of socks and pair them, that would be worthwhile. I don’t care about the outside-in-ness of the socks. I can do that while putting them on. But I want pairs! A robot that could take a pile of socks and pair them, that would be worthwhile.

]]> By: Unmutual http://boingboing.net/2010/08/24/robot-to-pair-socks.html#comment-868060 Unmutual Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-868060 Seems a bit vulgar . . . Seems a bit vulgar . . .

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