Robot compilers: Build-your-own robot

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  Quantumrun Foresight
• April 17, 2023

Insight summary

The highly technical world of robotics might soon open up to a wider audience thanks to an ongoing project that aims to make robotic fabrication accessible to everyone. This project aims to develop a user-friendly interface that enables individuals without technical expertise to design and build their own robots without investing significant time or money.

Robot compilers context

Robot compilers allow a non-engineering, non-coding user to conceptualize and design robots that can be manufactured or printed in real life. The whole designing phase can be done in a user-friendly web interface powered by the programming language Python. These designs come with the technical specifications needed to make the prototypes functional. This personalized robot fabricator is a joint project of researchers from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), the University of California Los Angeles (UCLA), the University of Pennsylvania, and Harvard University. The goal is to democratize robot fabrication by enabling non-technical users to create their robots, which can lead to more innovation and partnerships outside of research facilities.

The Robot Compiler is an end-to-end system that aims to make it easy for non-experts to design and build personalized robots that can impact daily life. By providing a user-friendly interface that allows individuals to describe the desired structure or behavior of their robot, the system can remove the barriers of expertise, knowledge, experience, and resources that currently restrict access to the field of robotics and open up the potential for on-demand robots to change how people interact with technology. 

This interface makes it easy for users to design and build custom robots for physical tasks, similar to how they would design and build software for computational tasks. Streamlining the design process and promoting an iterative approach can increase the availability of on-demand robots that can be used in various applications, such as education, healthcare, and disaster aid.

Disruptive impact

Traditionally, conceptualizing and building robots has been limited to large manufacturers or engineering laboratories with the technology and the personnel to create complex prototypes. The fabrication of these designs can be expensive due to the electronic parts and components, not to mention the design iterations and updates implemented based on feedback. 

With the proposed Robot Compiler, the entire process of robot manufacturing will now be available to everyone, fast-tracking customization and innovation. With the increasing availability of personal 3D printers, everyone can now have the opportunity to create do-it-yourself robots. Small and midsize businesses may no longer rely on large manufacturers to supply them with robots. 

Researchers are also hoping that with the Robot Compiler, there will be increased sharing of ideas and designs, which can lead to rapid developments in the robotics industry. The next step for the Robot Compiler is a highly intuitive design system that can process task requirements and automatically create a robot that best performs that task. As these systems are developed and become more sophisticated than previous versions, there will be an increasing need for standardization or, at the very least, decision-making tools that will recommend the correct computer language library to use for specific tasks or models.

Implications of robot compilers

Wider implications of robot compilers may include:

• Manufacturing companies designing their customized robotics systems based on the products they offer and their operations, including assembly and shipping.
• Hobbyists taking up robot fabrication as a new way to create, collect, and trade high-value prototypes.
• Military organizations building robotic armies to supplement or replace human assets in specific, high-risk combat deployments, as well as to support defense strategies and objectives.
• Increased employment opportunities for software engineers and programmers specializing in compiler languages and robotics.
• Regulations and standardization to ensure these DIY machines follow ethical tech guidelines.
• Increased efficiency and productivity in industrial sectors, potentially boosting economic growth.
• Security and privacy concerns may arise as robot compilers are integrated into various systems and infrastructures.

Questions to consider

• If your company could design robots using the Robot Compiler, what tasks/problems would they address?
• How else do you think this technology will revolutionize how we create robots?