Robots are taking over more and more aspects of our lives, and jobs. latest occupation to perhaps feel threatened by march of technology is carpentry. For thousands of years, skilled carpenters have lovingly created furniture from wood. However, next generation of master craftsmen and women may be robots, not humans. Researchers at Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) have created robot that can create custom-made wooden furniture. They say the robots will not replace humans, but instead will improve safety. researchers said goal of their project was to let robots do more dangerous tasks of sawing and assembling, so carpenters can focus on design.
MIT team used currently available technology to create what they call AutoSaw. It differs from conventional robots that are currently used to manufacture mass-produced, flat-pack furniture many of us buy from giant home-furnishing stores. People will be able to design their own furniture and AutoSaw will cut up wood with great precision and reduced risk of us losing finger. Researcher Adriana Schulz said: "Our aim is to democratize furniture-customization. We're trying to open up realm of opportunities so users aren't bound to what they've bought at Ikea. Instead, they can make what best fits their needs." She believes it will empower people to create better-designed furniture.
