Get a grip, literally: Clumsy robots can't take humans' jobs just yet

Artificially intelligent software can drive robots to perform the most menial tasks, such as reaching out and gripping objects. However, there's one thing they can't, er, grasp easily. And that's dealing with things that move unexpectedly, which right now rules them out of a lot of real-world labor. However, it does make them good for picking up stuff that typically stays still, such as clothes on the floor or boxes in a warehouse. It's a surprisingly difficult skill to master, according to a paper to be presented at the Robotics: Science and Systems conference starting on Tuesday at Carnegie Mellon University in the US.