• Home
  • Latest
  • Fortune 500
  • Finance
  • Tech
  • Leadership
  • Lifestyle
  • Rankings
  • Multimedia

Trendingnow

1

‘It’s only when you see 49-ton trucks in China running on batteries that you realize how serious electrification is’: Octopus Energy CEO Greg Jackson on Europe’s incumbency problem

2

The Pentagon and Britain are bracing for the power to go out. The ultrawealthy got there first, with backup generators, escape homes, and stockpiles

3

Pentagon orders bases to plan for 90 days without the grid as Britain urges families to stockpile food and water

1

‘It’s only when you see 49-ton trucks in China running on batteries that you realize how serious electrification is’: Octopus Energy CEO Greg Jackson on Europe’s incumbency problem

2

The Pentagon and Britain are bracing for the power to go out. The ultrawealthy got there first, with backup generators, escape homes, and stockpiles

3

Pentagon orders bases to plan for 90 days without the grid as Britain urges families to stockpile food and water
AI

Hate Assembling IKEA Furniture? This Robot Might Be Able to Help

By
Erin Corbett
Erin Corbett
Down Arrow Button Icon
By
Erin Corbett
Erin Corbett
Down Arrow Button Icon
January 17, 2019, 1:07 PM ET
Google source logo
Add Fortune on Google for similar content.

Researchers have designed a robot operating system that can process and understand how-to instructions, and put them into action, Science News reports.

Dileep George, an artificial intelligence and neuroscience researcher at Vicarious AI in San Francisco, and colleagues have programmed a robot to read and understand visual instruction manuals and build things from them. These robots might even be able to assemble IKEA furniture, known for its difficult construction, which has “some of us [screaming] at the mere sight of a hex key,” as Lifehacker describes.

In most cases, robots need to be programmed with very exact instructions on how to move around.

“Even when you try to teach robots by demonstration, they’re just repeating the exact same motions you show them, not the concept underlying them,” said George.

But in their abstract, the researchers describe the new robot as having “a computational framework that replicates aspects of human concept learning.” The operating system was able to learn 500 general concepts, including how to “arrange objects in a circle,” according to Science News.

The robot’s instructions include commands for it to analyze a visual scene, in addition to “directing gaze and attention, imagining new objects, manipulating the contents of a visual working memory, and controlling arm movement,” according to the abstract.

In other words, this robot could save you from ever needing to assemble your own IKEA furniture again.

About the Author
By Erin Corbett
See full bioRight Arrow Button Icon

Latest in


Most Popular

Fortune Secondary Logo
Rankings
  • 100 Best Companies
  • Fortune 500
  • Global 500
  • Fortune 500 Europe
  • Most Powerful Women
  • World's Most Admired Companies
  • See All Rankings
  • Lists Calendar
Sections
  • Finance
  • Fortune Crypto
  • Features
  • Leadership
  • Health
  • Commentary
  • Success
  • Retail
  • Mpw
  • Tech
  • Lifestyle
  • CEO Initiative
  • Asia
  • Politics
  • Conferences
  • Europe
  • Newsletters
  • Personal Finance
  • Environment
  • Magazine
  • Education
Customer Support
  • Frequently Asked Questions
  • Customer Service Portal
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms Of Use
  • Single Issues For Purchase
  • International Print
Commercial Services
  • Advertising
  • Fortune Brand Studio
  • Fortune Analytics
  • Fortune Conferences
  • Business Development
  • Group Subscriptions
About Us
  • About Us
  • Press Center
  • Work At Fortune
  • Terms And Conditions
  • Site Map
  • About Us
  • Press Center
  • Work At Fortune
  • Terms And Conditions
  • Site Map
  • Facebook icon
  • Twitter icon
  • LinkedIn icon
  • Instagram icon
  • TikTok icon
  • YouTube icon

    Recommended For You

    © 2026 Fortune Media IP Limited. All Rights Reserved. Use of this site constitutes acceptance of our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy | CA Notice at Collection and Privacy Notice | Do Not Sell/Share My Personal Information
    FORTUNE is a trademark of Fortune Media IP Limited, registered in the U.S. and other countries. FORTUNE may receive compensation for some links to products and services on this website. Offers may be subject to change without notice.