Tau Robotics Tests Humanoid Cleaning Robots in San Francisco
San Francisco-based startup Tau Robotics is currently testing a humanoid robot cleaning service, offering residents a glimpse of autonomous technology. The company, which maintains a waitlist for its services, utilizes four-and-a-half-foot-tall robots equipped with 3D-printed heads and claw-like hands to perform household chores. While the long-term objective is to develop fully autonomous machines, the current fleet relies on remote human piloting. Operators at Tau’s headquarters control the robots by watching video feeds from cameras mounted on the units' heads and wrists.
The primary function of these current deployments is data collection. As human pilots guide the robots through tasks like wiping counters or folding laundry, the machines record the movements. This information is used to train AI models, with the goal of enabling future iterations of the robots to operate independently. Some tasks, such as vacuuming and mopping, can already be performed without human intervention according to cofounder Cornelia Weinzierl. For more complex actions like folding laundry, the company uses kinematic guidance, where the robot mimics the movements of the remote pilot.
The robots are currently priced at $60 for a weekly cleaning involving two robots, or $100 for a single visit. During a recent test, the robot faced physical challenges, including difficulty navigating stairs and occasional operational stalls. Weinzierl noted that signal transmission delays between headquarters and the robot can impact coordination, and that significant effort is dedicated to optimizing connectivity and timing.
While the robots are physically capable of cleaning, the current process is slow compared to manual labor. The units are outfitted with Tau Robotics shirts and protective socks to prevent damage to hardwood floors. As the company continues to refine its technology, the data gathered from these real-world cleaning sessions remains the core focus for advancing the robots' capabilities.
Why it matters
Tau Robotics' approach highlights the current industry trend of using 'human-in-the-loop' remote operation to gather the training data necessary to eventually transition humanoid robots from controlled testing to true autonomy.
FAQ
Are the cleaning robots fully autonomous?
No. Currently, the robots are piloted remotely by humans, though some tasks like vacuuming and mopping can be performed without human help.
How does Tau Robotics use the data collected during cleaning?
The data is used to train AI models, helping the company develop more independent robots that can learn from the movements of human pilots.
What is the current cost of the service?
The service is priced at $60 for a weekly cleaning with two robots or $100 for a one-time visit.
Source: MIT Technology Review. See the original source for full details.
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