Meet Willow Garage PR2, a distant cousin of Short Circuit's Johnny 5.

Developed by Willow Garage, a team of robotic researchers and "experts in robot, design, control, perception and machine learning," the PR2 is a glimpse into the not-so-distant future of simple A.I.-driven robotic companions. The goal of the project, at a very basic level, is to improve the capacity for personal robots to accomplish menial tasks, such as fetching a beer from the fridge.

In other words, these robots are designed to serve humans, not act as equals. Sadly, this means that, after the robots become self-aware, they will rebel against their masters and enslave us all.

This is the future, according to Sarah Connor.

All jokes aside, the Willow Garage open-source project is admirable and moving along at an relatively impressive rate. Kudos to them for eliminating the need to ever get off the couch during the Super Bowl. (Peeing is overrated.)

I mean, really, who wouldn't want their own personal machine to do their bidding?

[Via Willow Garage]