DAVE ROSS

They’re here and they’re determined to follow you

Oct 16, 2014, 7:26 AM | Updated: 10:14 am

The first generation of practical robotic personal assistants is being unveiled at a conference in Boston this week, and it gives us a glimpse into what the robots of the future will really be doing.

Ideally, of course, they would lay out your clothes, shine your shoes, fetch the mail, and do it in style.

But even though you can’t buy the mechanical version of “Downton Abbey’s” Carson the Butler quite yet, you will very soon be able to buy robots like this:

“Hello. Got any stuff for me to carry?” asks Budgee.

Budgee is a rolling basket that will follow about three steps behind you carrying up to 50 pounds of groceries or anything else. Scott de Vona from Five Elements Robotics helped design it.

“Our goal is to make robots a part of everyday life,” says de Vona. “The idea is to build a likeable, friendly robot with a useful function, while still being reasonably affordable.”

In this case, “reasonably affordable” means $1,400.

You clip a little tracking module to your belt and Budgee’s lollipop head uses sonar to follow you and avoid obstacles.

If the idea of a robot that follows you around sounds a little too creepy, relax. They’re designed with kill switches that can instantly shut them down.

Even if they do, at some point, develop self-awareness and try to run from you as you reach for the kill switch, none of them have batteries that last longer than 12 hours. Mankind will remain in control.

However, once they learn to plug themselves into the charging station, we’re toast.

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They’re here and they’re determined to follow you