Open Navigation

IEEE.org IEEE Xplore Digital Library IEEE Standards IEEE Spectrum More Sites

IEEE Transmitter Facebook Twitter Instagram LinkedIn

Open Search
Open Navigation
Open Search

February 13, 2017

 

As more tasks become automated, people fear that their jobs will become obsolete. Robots taking away jobs from humans is a concern, but there are some jobs that we would happily hand over to our robotic friends.

The collection and analyzation of sewage from sewer pipes is one of those jobs that would not be missed if it became a robot’s task. Researchers at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) have created a robot, named Luigi, that can help researchers do the dirty work necessary to monitor diseases, drugs and pollutants that can be found in sewage. Data collected from sewage can clue researchers into problems that can affect neighborhoods, offering a window into the health of the people who live there.

Other dirty jobs that we have already handed over to robots include household tasks like vacuuming and washing, with devices that roam around our homes.Robots in the home are advancing from just cleaning floors to taking on bathrooms, including toilets. An Israeli company is working on a robot that attaches to the toilet and cleans the bowl automatically. We happily welcome new technology that promises to be helpful and share some of the dirty work.

Interested in becoming an IEEE member?

Related Stories

Male surgeon sitting at surgical robotic console

Robotics | 4 months ago

Why Surgical Robots Are on the Cusp of Major Breakthroughs 

Read more about Robotic Exoskeletons Transforming Lives and Industries

Robotics | 3 years ago

Robotic Exoskeletons Transforming Lives and Industries

woman with robot friend

Robotics | 5 years ago

“Robot Friends” and VR for Loneliness During the Pandemic

underwater auv

Green Technology | 5 years ago

What to Know About Oceanic Engineering and the Marine Robots They Work With

INTERACTIVE EXPERIENCES

Close Navigation