Robotics - Some of my Best Friends are Cyborgs

For the last 40 years the world of robotics has promised us intelligent devices that would clean the house and deliver breakfast in bed. Many would argue that there is no need as the organic equivalent does the job pretty well (NB Political correctness activists - this is a genderless statement). This article takes a look at the world of robotics and pins down where we actually are in respect of useful applications.

What is a robot?

Strictly speaking a robot is a piece of tin and silicon that exhibits at least 2 of the following:

• recognises its environment (it has senses such as sight and touch)
• can move
• can make decisions without human intervention.

Who are the big names in robotics?

Celebrity robots include:

HAL - the onboard space ship computer in '2001 A Space Odyssey'. Whilst it couldn't move it could make decisions such as killing an astronaut when it felt that this would be in the best interests of the mission (see Robotic laws below).

Tomagoshi - The intelligent Japanese toy that needs both nourishment and emotional attention. A neat 'built in obsolescence' feature is its ability to die under certain circumstances (neglect)

K9 - UK Time Traveller, Doctor Who's tin (foil?)/silicon dog like pet. No obvious functionality exhibited other than loyalty.

Robocop - Half policeman half robot, screen idol Robocop's digital attitude to good and evil, will no doubt become a role model for post community policing law enforcement.

Some Guidelines for Building a Robot...

Given that reality is fiction once technology catches up (eg. mobile phones were first used in StarTrek), it is worth being aware of the author Isaac Asimov's 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 the 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.

These laws, if applied, can have scary consequences. Eg If a computer is programmed to maximise the survival of humanity, it may contrive war, famine and natural disasters to keep the world population at a level that increases the long term prospects for mankind, but at the cost of individual people.

As time progresses, it won't be doctors who decide your fate but computer programmers (more specifically neuroscienceware engineers).

What's warm?

Process control - Its a little dreary, but automated factory plants are a very popular example. The robotic arm detects the component, picks it up (without crushing it) and paints it. A non-robotic approach may well crush the component or paint the air between components.

Remote control - Surgery over the Internet requires the robotic limbs to replicate the actions and timings of the remote surgeon. Similarly post macho bomb disposal experts are greatly in favour of this approach.

What's hot?

Bots -Today search engines are in the main both simple and stupid. Bots are next generation software engines that scour the Web searching for information on your behalf. Some bots are smart enough to anticipate your needs and learn to search on what you might find useful. Eg. Designing your evening's television viewing by selecting options from online video jukeboxes.

Programmable animals - Furbies aside, defence agencies around the world have been so inspired by Robocop that they have invested large sums on trying to graft silicon to organic tissue. This has been cracked and associated applications include remote controlled rodents, with camcorder attached, that can 'case the joint' behind enemy lines without fear of detection. If you have ever crushed a fly and the noise was closer to crunch than splat then beware.

Bug fighting - Inspired by Jules Verne, biotechnologists are developing a technology for fighting illness; the intra human submarine. This microscopic vessel works its way around your system seeking out biological predators and destroying them. Was it wind or was it a tactical car bomb let off in your lower intestines? This same technology will eventually be used to perform internal surgery.

Conclusion

Robotics has not yet delivered a silicon based butler. But it is delivering. The convergence of artificial intelligence, real time systems and mechanics (actual motion or data navigation motion) promises to be an exploitable opportunity in the not too distant future. It may even have the best interests of mankind at heart.