What’s more Zen? A 3D Printer or a Robot Vacuum?

Image by the author.

I have two robotic devices in my home. One cleans the floor and the other melts plastic into various forms.

A few years back my family and I stayed at a friend’s home for a few days while he was away. It was like a spa vacation for us because his house was on a lush mountainside, had a hot tub and took many hours to get to. Every morning at 10am there would be a beep that would raise excitement for us. Following the sound a little, disc-shaped machine would slowly pull away from its base in the corner and intently proceed to traverse straight lines across every inch of the building’s floor. We would watch with curiosity from afar then gather in concern when it appeared set to bump into or break something. Each time it slowed, touched the object softly, then either turned and went in another direction or made its way, carefully, all the way around the obstruction. My kids and I would fret each time it headed toward the stairs to the basement, but no worry. The spry device would motor, full-force, right to the edge and then stop, turn, and continue its work until it was finished. It would then find its own way to its base, where it would back in, take a load off and recharge for the next day’s foray.

You may have deduced (from experience or the title) that this was a robot vacuum, a Roomba, to be precise. The takeaway from our vacation…