All consumer goods are heavily cost-driven. Household robots will be no exception, writes an Engineering.com columnist.

Toyota Research Institute demonstrated its research into machine learning, simulation, and manipulation in a virtual open house, which included a ceiling-mounted kitchen gantry robot.

Toyota Research Institute’s VP of robotics research explains how TRI is working on algorithmic techniques and simulation to improve manipulation for human-assist robots, eventually in the home.

The Laundroid consumer robot, which has been at CES for the past few years, hit the usual snags of price and performance, but other household robots will come.