Robo-Scooper!
March 28, 2011 at 9:25 am 5 comments
Today Engadget reports on nifty Japanese technology that may revolutionize poop patrol!
The SWITL robotic hand, designed by Furukawakikou can pick up wet, gooey messes and move them without changing their shape. SWITL was developed to speed up and simplify the handling of soft and/or gooey materials at bakeries.
How does it work? According to Engadget it may be the tool of Satan:
Unfortunately, Furukawa Kikou isn’t providing any details about the science behind SWITL so we’ll just assume that it’s Satan’s work until otherwise informed.
When SWITL was first announced back in June of 2009 Japan Tech Niche reported (italics mine):
The “SWITL” was developed base on a need for automated process for lining up bread dough at the factory which was handled manually before. “SWITL” is technology is patent pending and can apply not only in the food industry but also in wide different filed of applications. The company is planning to develop a new products implementing “SWITL” technology in a near future. Interesting idea indeed, I leave it to your imaginative mind to come up with the SWITL new applications.
Evil or not, cross Roomba with SWITL and dog poop littering yards and parks across the country could be, well, eliminated!
Smartdogs' Weblog 
1.
elaine | March 28, 2011 at 12:11 pm
Impressive!!
Now, how do I teach my dogs to dump on a teflon-coated, stainless steel platform? Can I buy THAT product from the same place as the SWITL?
2.
Christopher@BorderWars | March 28, 2011 at 3:00 pm
Wow, the amazing bit to me is that it picked up the very thin smears at the periphery like they were nothing, then put them back down in the exact same state. I’d expect that certain forces would be more significant when acting on those bits and deform them as they were picked up or put down again.
3.
pickupdogpoo | March 28, 2011 at 5:25 pm
Unbelievable. I wonder if this product works in the grass. If so I would invest in one for my pooper scooper business.
4.
Rob McMillin | March 28, 2011 at 5:44 pm
Yeah, I ran into this from another friend on Facebook. The video here seems to be more or less a proof-of-concept of the technology, while the actual application is on a doughnut making machine.
5.
techplusinc | March 28, 2011 at 10:09 pm
Wow, now I’ve heard it all. It amazes me where technology has taken us. If and I mean if I would consider ever starting a pooper scooper business I would certainly look into this new poopnoligy.