Skip to content
Search AI Powered

Latest Stories

Singapore Researchers Create Robot That Can Assemble IKEA Furniture

Singapore Researchers Create Robot That Can Assemble IKEA Furniture
@Reuters/Twitter

If you're in your mid-20's and haven't spent a desperate night tipsily trying to assemble what certainly SEEMS to be an ordinary, straightforward chair from Swedish furniture giant IKEA, then you must be living in an apartment full of tables and couches on the verge of collapse because there's no way you're doing it right. IKEA furniture is known for two things: its affordable price and its difficult assembly process. Apparently a team of researchers in Singapore were so fed up with trying to track down the endless screws and pegs hidden inside the dozen (or so) plastic bags that they decided to just design a robot to build IKEA furniture for them.


Of course, the robot didn't learn to do it on its first try.

Though it took only 20 minutes for the robot to assemble a standard IKEA chair, it took the team of researchers at Nanyang Technological University (NTU) 3 years to teach it to do so. The robot (which is made of "arms, grippers, sensors, and 3D cameras") is only at the beginning of its journey, however, as researcher Quang-Cuong Pham told Reuters:

We have achieved the low level capability to teach the robot 'how to do it' and then in the next five to 10 years, high level reasoning - the 'what to do' - could be done too.

IKEA is behind the technological advances 100%!

I'll bet you didn't know IKEA had a global business area manager of kitchen and dining. Well, they do and her name is Cindy Andersen. Anderson commented to the Daily Mail:

It's interesting to see an example of how robots could potentially contribute to our vision of creating a better everyday life for many people.

We are very positive about embracing new technology.

It's no coincidence the robots were designed in Singapore.

Due to the country's strict laws which severely cap the amount of "cheap foreign labor" available to companies, many businesses turn to automation and robotics to "boost productivity." In fact, many restaurants and hotels use robots for everyday tasks!

THE FUTURE IS NOW.

Twitter is awestruck by these talented machines.

Sadly, however, all good things must come to an end.

There are those on Twitter who said the robot was too good to be true from the very start.

If you're thinking of moving, perhaps now is a good time to hold off.

In a couple years, you may be able to hire a robot assistant who will handle the IKEA assembly in your stead. They'll take care of everything—the building AND the crying.

More from Trending/funny-news

Screenshots from @sarahcelesteking's TikTok video
@sarahcelesteking/TikTok

Couple Stuns Emotional Grandma With Baby Announcement Hidden In Scratch-Off Lotto Ticket

While it isn't everyone's dream to have kids and grow a large family, some people dream their whole young lives for kids, and later, for grandchildren, and if they're lucky, for great-grandchildren.

When Sarah and Kevin King were dating, King's grandmother, "Granny" Rose Bell frequently asked the couple when they would have children. They promptly responded that they would wait until they were married.

Keep ReadingShow less
Screenshots from TikToker @gmakenzie's video
@gmakenzie/TikTok

High School English Teacher Reveals Teens Don't Know How To Text Anymore Due To Illiteracy

Texting was once discouraged by teachers, but now it's being encouraged due to an increasing number of younger people being unable to properly communicate through writing.

A high school teacher, TikToker Miss Makenzie, shared "just another teacher rant" in a video expressing frustration about the oft-overlooked problem of students becoming essentially illiterate.

Keep ReadingShow less
Robert F. Kennedy Jr.; Michelle Obama
Nathan Posner/Anadolu via Getty Images; Marla Aufmuth/Getty Images for Pennsylvania Conference for Women

'Make America Healthy Again' Fans Get Blunt Reminder Of Their Michelle Obama Hypocrisy

Amid the Senate confirmation hearings for Robert F. Kennedy Jr.—President Donald Trump's pick to lead the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS)—Republicans are being called out for hypocrisy as they openly support Kennedy's "Make America Healthy Again" slogan.

Kennedy has pledged to tackle what he calls an "epidemic" of chronic diseases, describing them as an "existential" threat to America's future. He argues that Americans have been "mass poisoned by big pharma and big food," blaming federal agencies for failing to intervene.

Keep ReadingShow less
Flavor Flav; Selena Gomez
Mike Lawrie/Getty Images; @selenagomez/Instagram

Flavor Flav Declares He's 'Team Selena Gomez' After Her Tearful Video Sparks Conservative Mockery

Rapper Flavor Flav came to Selena Gomez's defense after conservatives mocked her heartbreaking video in which she sobbed over the mass deportations of immigrants under Republican President Donald Trump's second term in the White House.

ICE raids began sweeping across the country and ripping families apart after Trump cracked down on immigration immediately following his inauguration on January 20.

Keep ReadingShow less

People Explain Which 'Rich Person Things' They'd Get Into If They Had Money

Money can buy a lot of happiness.

But it can't buy everything, like love. It can garner you a lot, though.

Keep ReadingShow less