Gurman: Apple’s first robotics project could lie a table-top device with an arm that moves a display

With Apple reportedly considering an entry into the robotics arena, a recent Apple project involved a home robot that could follow a person around the home, according to Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman in his latest “Power On” newsletter. 

He adds that some involved in the effort have even postulated that Apple could get into humanoid technology and build a machine that can handle household chores. But such advances are probably a decade away, and it doesn’t appear that Apple has even agreed to head in that direction.

From his report: A nearer-term move into robotics would be a device Apple has been working on for several years: a table-top product that uses a robotic arm to move around a display. The arm could be used to mimic a human on the other side of a FaceTime call, shifting the screen to recreate a nod or a shake of the head. But this device, too, doesn’t have unified support from Apple’s executive team.

So for now, Apple will probably make more incremental improvements to its current lineup: new device sizes, colors and configurations, alongside accessories that could squeeze more revenue from the iPhone. That’s largely been the key to the company’s success during Tim Cook’s tenure as chief executive officer

This info from Gurman is from the free edition of “Power On”. If you like it, consider subscribing to Bloomberg.com—you’ll receive the newsletter earlier and get exclusive access to a Q&A section.