3 ms·
Oddly enough, the most difficult part of this would probably be folding the clothes. Take a towel for instance. When I want to fold a towel, I begin by searchin
by brwr 14y ago
Oddly enough, the most difficult part of this would probably be folding the clothes. Take a towel for instance. When I want to fold a towel, I begin by searching for the corners of the towel. As it turns out, this is a rather difficult problem for robots to solve.
Unfortunately, however, robots might be the most practical solution to this problem.
It could definitely be achieved, it's just a matter at engineering a new type of washer/dryer. What I don't understand is why washers and dryers are separate entities. Yes, engineering a machine that both washes and drys clothes would be difficult, but I'm confident that it could be done.
This is definitely one of the more difficult options!
- gatsby 14y agoAgreed. Given the range of sizes and types of washable/foldable items (i.e. you fold a sheet differently than a pair of jeans, and socks are folded differently than a tshirts), it would take some pretty interesting technology to solve this problem. However, provided that most washers and dryers cost $500-1000+ each, there would be a lot of money available for this technology and likely a very high demand.
- ahulak 14y agoIt's already been done: http://www.cnet.com/8301-13553_1-10009797-32.html http://www.cnet.com/8301-13553_1-10009797-32.html Like you said, it's the folding that's hard.
- brwr 14y agoSomeone else posted that farther down. The problem is that the capacity is so low. People want capacities that are to the tune of 5.0 cf for a washer and 8.0-9.0 cf for a dryer. The model in that article is only 2.44 cf. That is to be expected though, seeing as I don't know of anyone else making a similar device, but we still need to improve before sales would make it worth manufacturing in mass.
- nzmsv 14y agoCombo washer/dryers are probably more common in Europe than separate machines, and come in a big range of capacities. It's just hard to make a big one work on a North American 120V 15A circuit. I think a more realistic solution to fully automating laundry would be something like the LG TROMM Styler. It's a wardrobe that dry-cleans clothes.
- brwr 14y agoThis could work if you had a lot of clothes and didn't wear anything too often. Dry cleaning clothes too frequently will ruin them. Why is it any more difficult to build a machine that works on a 120V 15A circuit? I never studied circuits, so consider me a layman.
- xauronx 14y agoI had a theoretical project when I was younger to alleviate clothes folding. Essentially, you would have a vertical stack of thin layers. _ _ _ _ When you wanted to put your clothes away the machine would lift all of the layers up until you got to an empty one. Put the shirt down, it snaps a picture of it and catalogs it. When you want to get dressed, you flick through your catalog, select a shirt and it lifts all of the layers to get to that article of clothing. Essentially you wouldn't need to fold clothes, simply lay them out.
- brwr 14y agoThis is actually a fairly feasible solution. It isn't that much different than a typical industrial robotic arm. You should turn your theoretical project into a company. People will pay a lot of money for innovation and convenience.
- DanBC 14y agoFolding clothes always makes me think of this advanced t-shirt fold technique. (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b5AWQ5aBjgE https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b5AWQ5aBjgE) In the UK we have washer / dryers. They're not great. They tend to be condensing, not vented, dryers. (Vented dryers are better) And there's more to go wrong. Separate machines are better.
- brwr 14y agoThat was magical. I must learn how to do that.