2. Robotics Introduction

From this point on, you will be required to cover the syllabus outcomes in the Robotics course. You will cover them by answering the following questions. Please ensure you copy the questions to your website and provide an answer under each one.

1) What is a robot? 
A robot is a machine that gathers information about its environment and uses that information to follow complex instructions to conduct work.Today's robots are incorporating multiple sensors and are able to use this information to behave autonomously, making decisions for themselves based on information that they receive.



2) Provide an example of a robot and justify your choice.
Chosen robot: da Vinci Surgical System
The da Vinci Surgical System, made by Intuitive Surgical,Inc. of Sunnyvale, Calif, is cleared to perform surgery under the direction of a surgeon. The da Vinci is cleared to assist in advanced surgical techniques such as cutting and suturing. This robot provides surgeons with an alternative to both traditional open surgery and conventional laparoscopy, putting a surgeons hands at the controls of a state-of-the-art robotic platform. I chose The da Vinci System because it enables surgeons to perform even the most complex and delicate procedures through very small incisions with unmatched precision, providing an incentive to further medical innovation and meticulousness. 

The main benefits of this robot is its unparalleled 3D HD Visualisation, enhanced dexterity, precision and control, superior ergonomics, fast – foolproof setup and streamlined interface.

3) Include a picture of your robot.




4) Develop a timeline of the historical development of robots. Use an online timeline tool to create your time line.


5) Who is Isaac Asimov and what was he famous for?


See following for more information on Mr Asimov
Isaac Asimov is best known as the most successful writer of science fiction and popular science books. Asimov opened the doors for the new age of science fiction writing which the world had never experienced before him. Asimov is credited with having edited over 500 books. Asimov’s most successful work was on hard science fiction and his most notable book is the ‘Foundation Series’. The term “Robotics” was adopted by Asimov which went on to become a branch of technology.

He was also famous for his 3 laws of Robotics.
1.         A robot may not injure a human being or, through inaction, allow a human being to come to harm.
2.         A robot must obey any orders given to it by human beings, except where such orders would conflict with the First Law.
3.         A robot must protect its own existence as long as such protection does not conflict with the First or Second Law.



If you have time, watch the interview with Isaac Asimov in 1988





6) Add the three laws of robotics to the following table. Then complete the remaining two columns.


3 Robotic Laws

Benefits
Disadvantages
1) A robot may not injure a human being or, through inaction, allow a human being to come to harm.


Ensuring the safety of humans, making sure robots are not used for harmful purposes or in any way to threaten human life. 
Limiting the usage and functions of a robot. 
2) A robot must obey any orders given to it by human beings, except where such orders would conflict with the First Law.


Ensuring that robots won't rebel against their owner, obtains strict loyalty and trust in its owner and not be used for detrimental purposes
Limiting the creativity and effectiveness of robots to perform a plethora of activities and actions. 
3) A robot must protect its own existence as long as such protection does not conflict with the First or Second Law.

The robots have the ability to protect itself 
Difficult to destroy or tamper with robots. 

7) The EPRSE (Engineering and Physical Science Council Research Council) has developed 5 principles for robotic use and development. What are they?

1. Robots are multi-use tools. Robots should not be designed solely or primarily to kill or harm humans, except in the interests of national security.         
2. Humans, not robots, are responsible agents. Robots should be designed; operated as far as is practicable to comply with existing laws & fundamental rights & freedoms, including privacy.         
3. Robots are products. They should be designed using processes which assure their safety and security.
4. Robots are manufactured artefacts. They should not be designed in a deceptive way to exploit vulnerable users; instead their machine nature should be transparent.        
5. The person with legal responsibility for a robot should be attributed.          

Click on the link for more information.



8) Why has EPRSE developed the 5 principles?

1. Robots have a multiplicity of uses. However robots should never be designed solely or even principally, to be used as weapons with deadly or other offensive capability. This law, if adopted, limits the commercial capacities of robots, but the creators view it as an essential principle for their acceptance as safe in civil society.

2. They can make sure that robot actions are designed to obey the laws humans have made.Designers need to be reminded that building robots which do their tasks as well as possible will sometimes need to be balanced against protective laws and accepted human rights standards. Privacy is a particularly difficult issue, which is why it is mentioned. For example, a robot used in the care of a vulnerable individual may well be usefully designed to collect information about that person 24/7 and transmit it to hospitals for medical purposes. But the benefit of this must be balanced against that person's right to privacy and to control their own life.

3.This law is designed to make it clear that robots are just tools, designed to achieve goals and desires that humans specify. Users and owners have responsibilities as well as designers and manufacturers. Sometimes it is up to designers to think ahead because robots may have the ability to learn and adapt their behaviour. But users may also make robots do things their designers did not foresee. Sometimes it is the owner's job to supervise this, but if a robot's actions do turn out to break the law, it will always be the responsibility, legal and moral, of one or more human beings, not of the robot. Robots are simply not people. They are pieces of technology their owners will certainly want to protect but we will always value human safety over that of machines. Their principle aim here, was to make sure that the safety and security of robots in society would be assured, so that people can trust and have confidence in them.

4. One of the great promises of robotics is that robot toys may give pleasure, comfort and even a form of companionship to people who are not able to care for pets, whether due to rules of their homes, physical capacity, time or money. However, once a user becomes attached to such a toy, it would be possible for manufacturers to claim the robot has needs or desires that could unfairly cost the owners or their families more money. 


5. In this rule they try to provide a practical framework for what all the rules above already implicitly depend on: a robot is never legally responsible for anything. It is a tool. If it malfunctions and causes damage, a human will be to blame.

Click the EPSRC logo ago to get more information.


9) The EPRSE believe robots have the potential to provide immense positive impact to society. Do you believe this statement is true? Justify your answer.

I agree with the EPRSE and believe that robots do have the potential to provide an immense positive impact to society, and are currently demonstrating this.
Intelligent robots will continue to expand their use in industry, which will free operators from dangerous, dull, and dirty tasks and increase our standard of living. Jobs outsourced to low wage countries can return when cost effective robots can do the repetitive tasks and employees can conceptualise new products, implement the production and maintain the equipment.

From a more personal viewpoint robots will improve our lives by freeing us from simple tasks and working to make us safer. Intelligent cars today use advanced sensors to warn or even brake the car when a collision is detected or the vehicle is in danger of a rollover.  Auto park and auto drive are certainly features that will assist and increase safety. Simple as they are robot lawn mowers and vacuum cleaners give us an idea of how robots will gradually be offered to reduce housework.


Robot companions should become more popular with improved voice recognition and processing power. Today kids' toys can respond to voice and touch that is perceived as more than an automatic response. In the future robots should be able to have an even greater impact by being able to understand speech and perform simple tasks and even learn auditory nuances that will allow them to sense happiness or sadness and respond in an appropriate manner.  This may give more independence to the disabled, comfort to the lonely or just be an alternative "pet".

10) How far will robotics go? Are we close to making realistic humanoid robots?....  Check out the following two videos...


This interesting video shows Ray Kurzweil officially introducing the new university for singularity. My understanding of singularity is that technology has been growing exponentially and Kurzweil thinks that in 2045, robots will surpass the "brainpower equivalent to that of all human brains combined," and this is called the point of singularity. After technology gets to this point, Kurzweil thinks they will take over their own development leaving little need for humanitarian work. I think this is a very interesting topic because the ideology of "robots taking over the world" has generally been left to science fiction, but this is evidence that it might actually end up happening and this is how far robots can go if we continue innovating and creating these machines.In terms of the advancement of Humanoid Robots, a blog entitled 'When Humanoid Robots become real' believes that 'within 25 years humanoid robots will become the largest selling consumer product. They can clean your house, do various chores, help care for the sick and elderly, and so on. There will be no limit to the valued services that these human-like robots will be able to provide. People will pay a lot to have robots around to help them in every way imaginable,' demonstrating the reality that are robots, and its prevalence in modern day society.

 

Following video is where we currently are at with Humanoid Robots




Following German video is where they are predicting we will soon be...





11. So... what do you think. Do you think it is possible a Robot like Eve 2.0 will be made?

 I believe that as long as the Robot abides by the 3 Robot Laws created by Asimov, then there is a definite possibility for a Robot like Eve 2.0 to be made, due to their advanced aesthetics, militaristic efficiency and non-questionable compliance with its owner.  

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