Key Insight

Today, the process of designing, programming and building robots is time-intensive—and the robot’s capabilities are limited by its original specifications. In the future, advanced compilers will enable much faster conceptualization and fabrication for a host of different tasks.

Why It Matters

We will soon tell computer systems what tasks we need completed, and they will automatically fabricate new robots for the job.

Examples

Researchers from the Laboratory for Embedded Machines and Ubiquitous Robots at University of California-Los Angeles, MIT Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence Laboratory (CSAIL), University of Pennsylvania and Harvard University have been working to develop new methods for rapid robot fabrication. 3D robotic systems can now be produced using basic software and programmed using natural language commands.

What’s Next

Fabricating programmable robots may not exactly be a simple, DIY weekend project, but promising research indicates that robot compilers could soon enable people with limited technical knowledge to sketch, design, fabricate and control a robot drawn straight from their imagination.

The Impact

There are tangible applications for businesses: Robot compilers would offer greater efficiencies, big cost savings and increased production for manufacturers in every industry.

Watchlist

Alliance Project, Harvard University, MIT Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence Laboratory (CSAIL), University of Pennsylvania, Laboratory for Embedded Machines and Ubiquitous Robots at University of California-Los Angeles, Walmart.