I basically want a standard set of plates, bowls, cups and silverware, which is designed to work with an automated washing box that has slots (or maybe holders) for each to be deposited inside. The idea is, you use the item, and then feed it into the machine, and right there it cleans and done.
Within the machine, it can queue up a small amount of each item internally (in case you have more than one item), and then washes, rinses, and quickly spin or air dries each item, one at a time (or maybe for silverware, in small batches).
Lastly, it spits out the clean items either completely (or mostly) dry at the end of the process.
This way, you can own less dishes overall (because you wash/dry them instantly), and you get all the hard work mostly done. Maintenance would be mostly keeping it loaded with soap/cleaner, and making sure food waste doesn't clog it.
If you could pull that off and make it reasonably water and energy efficient... I think that would make a lot of people happy, self included! Not sure if washing things piecemeal can be made water and energy efficient though.
Some days I wish I regret not having more hardware/mechanical/electrical engineering experience!