Service Robots Roll Forward

History is filled with examples of robotic devices designed to reduce, eliminate, or improve upon human labor. From washing machines to roaming vacuum cleaners, various machines have transformed the way we work and live. Today, far more sophisticated service robots are wheeling into the picture, aiming to take humans out of the labor loop and, in the process, improve the speed and efficiency of interactions. They can carry plates between a restaurant kitchen and diners' tables, deliver a toothbrush to someone on the 28th floor of a hotel, and ensure a hospital patient receives her medications on time. They also are adept at stocking shelves, taking orders at a fast food restaurant, and serving as emotional companions.