<p><a href="https://people.eecs.berkeley.edu/~pabbeel/" rel="nofollow">Peter Abbeel</a> does work in deep learning for robotics, and one of the projects they've tackled is manipulating clothes. Here's a <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5FGVgMsiv1s" rel="nofollow">video from 2011</a> of their robot folding laundry (one piece at a time).</p>

<p>There are also companies attempting to market this; seven dreamers makes the <a href="https://laundroid.sevendreamers.com/?lang=en" rel="nofollow">Laundroid</a> and <a href="https://www.foldimate.com/" rel="nofollow">Foldimate</a> claims that it will start taking pre-orders in 2017.</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-10-01T23:48:41.117Z
2016-10-01T23:48:41.117Z
Matthew Gray
<p>I'm wondering how feasible it is to create a machine that can separate clothing from a basket.</p>

<p>At the most basic level it would distinguish between tops, pants, button downs and socks</p>

<p>Programmatically, I'd image this would require training a neural network to recognize these items, but in real time it becomes exponentially difficult to do this in a small space at a fast rate:</p>

<ol>
<li>pick up an item</li>
<li>lay it in such a way that is recognizable </li>
<li>deduce whether it is a top, button down, etc.</li>
<li>sort it accordingly</li>
</ol>

<p>If this sounds ridiculous please let me know...</p>

<p>If it is possible :</p>

<p>would this be based on some sort of computer vision?
or only a well trained neural network?</p>

<p>Any insight is much appreciated!</p>

<neural-networks><image-recognition>
Feasibility of sorting a basket of clothes in the real world
mir-aclewhip
# Feasibility of sorting a basket of clothes in the real world

(Asked by: username_0 on 2016-10-01)

I'm wondering how feasible it is to create a machine that can separate clothing from a basket.

At the most basic level it would distinguish between tops, pants, button downs and socks

Programmatically, I'd image this would require training a neural network to recognize these items, but in real time it becomes exponentially difficult to do this in a small space at a fast rate:

1. pick up an item
2. lay it in such a way that is recognizable
3. deduce whether it is a top, button down, etc.
4. sort it accordingly

If this sounds ridiculous please let me know...

If it is possible :

would this be based on some sort of computer vision?
or only a well trained neural network?

Any insight is much appreciated!

**Tags:** neural-networks, image-recognition


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## 1 answers

### Answer by username_1 on 2016-10-01. Score: 2 | Accepted answer

[Peter Abbeel](https://people.eecs.berkeley.edu/~pabbeel/) does work in deep learning for robotics, and one of the projects they've tackled is manipulating clothes. Here's a [video from 2011](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5FGVgMsiv1s) of their robot folding laundry (one piece at a time).

There are also companies attempting to market this; seven dreamers makes the [Laundroid](https://laundroid.sevendreamers.com/?lang=en) and [Foldimate](https://www.foldimate.com/) claims that it will start taking pre-orders in 2017.


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