Household robots are moving from science fiction to reality
From: LA Times - 09/29/2011
By: Troy Wolverton

Willow Garage's PR2 robot can fold clothes, set a table and bake cookies. It
costs too much and does too little to interest consumers, but researchers are
rapidly developing technology to make it more useful and less expensive. 

Rosie the Robot could finally be coming to your home. 

Willow Garage, a start-up in Menlo Park, CA, has designed a robot called the
PR2 that bears some resemblance to "The Jetsons'" beloved Rosie. It's still
under development, but already the PR2 can fold clothes, fetch a drink from
the fridge, set the table and even bake cookies.  

The robot's backers aren't ready to say just how soon the PR2 will hit the
mainstream market. Right now it costs too much, does too little and is too
slow to be of interest to most consumers. But to many experts, the idea of a
skilled and intelligent household robot finally is drawing near. 

Read the entire article at:
http://articles.latimes.com/2011/sep/29/business/la-fi-robots-20110928

Links:
Willow Garage
http://www.willowgarage.com/

PR2 Overview (videos)
http://www.willowgarage.com/pages/pr2/overview

Submitted by Nicole B. Torcolini