Never Fear, Robots Can Now Do Your IKEA Flat-Packs For You

Finally, robots that are useful for us everyday plebs.

Robots are the stuff of apocalyptic sci-fi movies and high-tech labs that most of us regular, non-science folk will never venture to. While they're certainly in the 'cool' basket, they've never really catered to us mere plebians.

That is, until now.

Some scientists have been working on creating robots that can assemble IKEA flat-pack furniture: a damn near impossible task for many.

The relatable researchers from Singapore's Nanyang Technological University gave the robots arms, grippers, sensors and 3D cameras and then put them to task on an IKEA dining chair.

After sifting through all the nuts and bolts, the robots reportedly completed the dining chair in 20 minutes which, without a doubt, has to be a world record.

The researchers told Reuters that this is just basic-level stuff. Wot.

"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," the researchers said.

Five to 10 years.

Look, if qualified fearmongers, Elon Musk and Stephen Hawking, are right and robots will take over the world in the future, I'll happily submit to our metal overlords if they can help build my IKEA purchases. That's a trade worth making.