O n The Jetsons, Rosie was the robot maid with a heart of silicon and the voice of an aging cocktail waitress. She did everything: cook, clean, take care of the kids. Today, a robot can help you ...

Sep. 12—The living room was a scene of horrific carnage. Godzilla was face down, snout pressed against the floor as if he couldn't squeeze enough Murphy's Oil Soap residue into his olfactory organs.

Robots still struggle with the unpredictable ways that fabric crumples and creases. But newer approaches offer the hope of better robotic household help. peepo/Getty Images More than 60 years ago, ...