Robots can see— they can even paint my nails | Clockwork Nail Painting Robot Demo | Summary and Q&A

TL;DR

Clockwork is a robotic nail painter that uses computer vision and AI to paint nails in as fast as seven minutes.

Key Insights

• 🖱️ Clockwork uses computer vision and AI to create a 3D map of the finger, allowing for accurate nail painting.
• 🤖 The robot can paint all ten fingers in as fast as seven minutes, providing a quick and convenient experience.
• 🤗 Clockwork's development involved overcoming challenges in achieving submillimeter accuracy and designing an ergonomic hand rest.
• 🥶 The goal of Clockwork is to automate tasks like nail painting, freeing up people's time for more meaningful activities.
• 🐕‍🦺 Clockwork aims to partner with corporate buildings and retail stores to make its services easily accessible.
• 😤 The company is a startup experiencing high demand and is looking to expand its team.
• 👤 Clockwork offers a user-friendly touch screen interface to enhance the customer experience.

Transcript

Read and summarize the transcript of this video on Glasp Reader (beta).

Questions & Answers

Q: How does Clockwork paint nails?

Clockwork uses computer vision and AI to create a high-resolution 3D map of the customer's finger. The robot then follows the instructions to paint the nail accurately.

Q: How long does it take to paint all ten fingers with Clockwork?

Clockwork can paint all ten fingers in as fast as seven minutes. Some customers have even completed the process in just six minutes.

Q: What were the challenges in developing Clockwork?

One of the challenges was achieving submillimeter accuracy in 3D painting. Another challenge was designing an ergonomic hand rest to accommodate different finger shapes.

Q: Is Clockwork safe to use?

Yes, Clockwork has built-in safety measures. If a customer feels uncomfortable, they can simply remove their hand, and the robot will stop painting.

Q: How does Clockwork paint nails?

Clockwork uses computer vision and AI to create a high-resolution 3D map of the customer's finger. The robot then follows the instructions to paint the nail accurately.

More Insights

• Clockwork uses computer vision and AI to create a 3D map of the finger, allowing for accurate nail painting.

• The robot can paint all ten fingers in as fast as seven minutes, providing a quick and convenient experience.

• Clockwork's development involved overcoming challenges in achieving submillimeter accuracy and designing an ergonomic hand rest.

• The goal of Clockwork is to automate tasks like nail painting, freeing up people's time for more meaningful activities.

• Clockwork aims to partner with corporate buildings and retail stores to make its services easily accessible.

• The company is a startup experiencing high demand and is looking to expand its team.

• Clockwork offers a user-friendly touch screen interface to enhance the customer experience.

• Those interested in trying out Clockwork can visit the website clockwork.com and sign up for updates.

Summary

In this video, the host visits Clockwork in San Francisco to try out the first nail painting robot available to the public. The robot uses computer vision technology to accurately paint nails and can complete all ten fingers in as fast as seven minutes. The host learns about the development process and the challenges the team faced in creating a robot that can paint nails with submillimeter accuracy. The robot is designed to provide a convenient and automated nail painting experience, allowing people to spend their time on more important tasks. Clockwork is looking to partner with locations around the country to make the robot easily accessible to the public.

Questions & Answers

Q: How long did it take for Clockwork to develop their first prototype?

It took Clockwork approximately eight months from ideation to putting a machine in front of users who had never seen it before. The quick turnaround was important to gather early feedback and determine if the product was something people really wanted.

Q: How does the robot paint nails?

The robot uses two 3D cameras to take quick pictures of the user's finger, creating a high-resolution 3D map of the fingernail. This map is sent to an AI, which determines the edges and instructs the robot on where to paint. The robot then follows these instructions to accurately paint the user's nail.

Q: What were some of the challenges in creating the nail painting robot?

One of the challenges was achieving submillimeter accuracy in painting the nails. While self-driving cars don't require such precision, Clockwork needed it to ensure no polish would end up on the cuticles or skin. Another unexpected challenge was figuring out the finger rest or hand rest, as people's fingers vary in shape and size.

Q: Is the robot's touch accurate when painting nails?

Yes, the robot's touch is remarkably accurate. Clockwork has implemented multiple layers of security, and users can pull out their hand at any time to stop the painting process. The touch screen also enhances the user experience and provides additional opportunities for customization.

Q: How can people try out the nail painting robot?

Clockwork is in the process of finding partners across the country to make the robot accessible to the public. The aim is to have the robot located in corporate buildings or retail stores, making it a convenient and easily reachable experience.

Q: Is Clockwork hiring?

Yes, Clockwork is a startup that is currently looking to expand its team due to high demand and potential growth. Although they currently have six team members, they are actively seeking new talent.

Q: What is the long-term goal of Clockwork?

Clockwork aims to create an automated future where tasks like nail painting can be handled by robots, freeing up people's time to focus on things they enjoy. The goal is to automate mundane tasks and allow individuals to redirect their energy to more meaningful activities.

Q: How can people follow up with Clockwork?

People can visit Clockwork's website at clockwork.com to find out more information and potentially sign up for their email list. The company aims to keep individuals informed about future developments and locations where the robot will be available.

Q: How fast can the robot paint all ten fingers?

The robot can paint all ten fingers in as fast as seven minutes. However, with practice, some users have completed the process in as little as six minutes.

Q: What type of locations does Clockwork want to partner with?

Clockwork wants to partner with corporate buildings or retail stores to maximize convenience for users. The goal is to have the robot be easily accessible to people during their everyday routines.

Takeaways

Clockwork has developed a nail painting robot that uses computer vision technology to paint nails accurately and efficiently. The team overcame challenges in achieving submillimeter accuracy and designing the hand rest to accommodate different finger shapes. The robot's touch is precise, and multiple layers of security ensure user comfort. Clockwork is actively seeking partners and expanding its team to meet the growing demand. The long-term goal is to create an automated future where robots handle mundane tasks, freeing up individuals to focus on more meaningful activities. To stay updated on Clockwork's progress, individuals can visit their website at clockwork.com.

Summary & Key Takeaways

• Clockwork is a robot designed to paint nails using a cartridge with nail polish.

• The machine uses computer vision and AI to create a 3D map of the finger and instruct the robot where to paint.

• Clockwork can paint all ten fingers in as little as seven minutes, making it a quick and convenient option for customers.