What is a robot??
There really isn't just one definition for what a robot is, but the generic definition of a robot is a re-programmable machine that is capable of movement in the completion of a task using special coding that makes them different from other machines. The word "robotics" was accidentally created by Isaac Asimov, science fiction author, in his story, "Liar!" The word came from an old Slavic word that meant "monotonous or forced labor". When people think of a robot, they may think of the human-like machine that imitates people. However, robots are everywhere. They are vending machines, car washes, ATMs, remote controls, etc.
Timeline of Robotics
- 1400 BCE - Babylonians developed the clepsydra, which is defined as a clock that measures time using the flow of water
- 270 BCE - Greek inventor Csestibus creates a water clock that uses animated figurines
- Middle Ages: automatons were popular as part of clocks and religious worship
- 270 BCE - Greek inventor Csestibus creates a water clock that uses animated figurines
- Middle Ages: automatons were popular as part of clocks and religious worship
- 1495 - Leonardo Di Vinci designs the first humanoid robot
- 1727 - Albertus Magnus attempted to make an android (automaton resembling a human being) and the word "android" is entered into the Chambers Cyclopedia
- 1801 - Joseph Jacquard built an automated loom that was controlled by punch cards, which were also used for some of the earliest computers in the 20th century
- 1822 - Charles Babbage creates his "Difference Engine"
- 1727 - Albertus Magnus attempted to make an android (automaton resembling a human being) and the word "android" is entered into the Chambers Cyclopedia
- 1801 - Joseph Jacquard built an automated loom that was controlled by punch cards, which were also used for some of the earliest computers in the 20th century
- 1822 - Charles Babbage creates his "Difference Engine"
1899 - Tesla demonstrates a remote controlled vehicle that could go, stop, turn left/right, and turn its lights off. However, no one was really impressed by this
1926- the movie "Metropolis" is released. This was the first robot to be projected on the silver screen.
1926- the movie "Metropolis" is released. This was the first robot to be projected on the silver screen.
1946 - At MIT, the first general purpose digital computer solves its first problem
1954 - First programmable robot arm created by George Devol and Joe Engleberger
1961 - first industrial robot
1969 - Stanford arm is created by Victor Scheinman. It is the first electrically powered computer controlled robot arm
1954 - First programmable robot arm created by George Devol and Joe Engleberger
1961 - first industrial robot
1969 - Stanford arm is created by Victor Scheinman. It is the first electrically powered computer controlled robot arm
1989 - walking robot named Genghis is created
1994 - successful robot created to sample volcanic gases from Mt. Spurr
1997 - In Japan, first RoboCup Football Tournament
2003 - vacuuming robots are created
2004 - first flying robot, worlds lightest and smallest robot helicopter
2005 - Cornell University claims to have built the first self replicating robot using computerized cubes
1997 - In Japan, first RoboCup Football Tournament
2003 - vacuuming robots are created
2004 - first flying robot, worlds lightest and smallest robot helicopter
2005 - Cornell University claims to have built the first self replicating robot using computerized cubes
What does it take to be a robot?
Robots are systems. These systems contain sensors, control systems, manipulators, power supplies, and software. All of these things work together to perform a task and produce a result. There are a few essential characteristics of a robot.
1) SENSING : various types of sensors that may be included, used to sense its surroundings, light sensors, touch and pressure sensors, chemical sensors, hearing and sonar sensors, taste sensors
2) MOVEMENT : to be able to move around whether it is rolling on wheels, walking on legs, using gears to move
3) ENERGY : needs power source to power itself. Examples: solar power, electricity, battery
4) INTELLIGENCE : a programmer is the person who gives the robots its "intelligence". Because of the programs, the machine will know what to do to perform the task it is needed to do.
1) SENSING : various types of sensors that may be included, used to sense its surroundings, light sensors, touch and pressure sensors, chemical sensors, hearing and sonar sensors, taste sensors
2) MOVEMENT : to be able to move around whether it is rolling on wheels, walking on legs, using gears to move
3) ENERGY : needs power source to power itself. Examples: solar power, electricity, battery
4) INTELLIGENCE : a programmer is the person who gives the robots its "intelligence". Because of the programs, the machine will know what to do to perform the task it is needed to do.
The Positive Impact of Robots on Society
Between 2017 and 2025, it is possible that we will see economic growth brought on by advances in robotics. Robots are an extremely helpful tool that somehow affects everyone in society. They can help the elderly with their household chores. 3D printers have already created breakthroughs in manufacturing. Robotics can also improve the military.
Drone (unmanned aircraft systems) are currently used for the military. In the near future they probably will also be used for the civil environment and government functions. Already, drones are being used for crop spraying, African wildlife protection, drug monitoring, border control, policing, and scanning for repairs. Drones could have a $82 billion economic impact on the US. This is just in the next 10 years.
Medical robots improve the safety and quality of being operated on. They help instruments, equipment, and tools for diagnosis. While improving safety, they also improve the training and education of medical workers. This is possible because of simulators and more vivid visuals. Surgical robots improve the procedure quality and accuracy. This means that the complication rates are also reduced. Prosthetics and exoskeletons are offered to amputees or people with movement disabilities. Some of these devices can even help wheelchair users walk again!
Autonomous vehicles, also known as driverless cars, will probably be on the road by 2018, maybe even sooner than that. The way we travel every day will be dramatically changes. It can reduce the amount of car crashes daily because these are usually caused by human error.
Robots seem incredibly helpful and beneficent for humans.However, one of the biggest and most controversial aspects of robotics is artificial assistance/intelligence. Many fear that technological singularity is coming.
Drone (unmanned aircraft systems) are currently used for the military. In the near future they probably will also be used for the civil environment and government functions. Already, drones are being used for crop spraying, African wildlife protection, drug monitoring, border control, policing, and scanning for repairs. Drones could have a $82 billion economic impact on the US. This is just in the next 10 years.
Medical robots improve the safety and quality of being operated on. They help instruments, equipment, and tools for diagnosis. While improving safety, they also improve the training and education of medical workers. This is possible because of simulators and more vivid visuals. Surgical robots improve the procedure quality and accuracy. This means that the complication rates are also reduced. Prosthetics and exoskeletons are offered to amputees or people with movement disabilities. Some of these devices can even help wheelchair users walk again!
Autonomous vehicles, also known as driverless cars, will probably be on the road by 2018, maybe even sooner than that. The way we travel every day will be dramatically changes. It can reduce the amount of car crashes daily because these are usually caused by human error.
Robots seem incredibly helpful and beneficent for humans.However, one of the biggest and most controversial aspects of robotics is artificial assistance/intelligence. Many fear that technological singularity is coming.
The Negative Affects and Dangers of Robots....
There have been so many robotic breakthroughs in recent times. For example, machines have been administering sedatives to patients at a hospital, a robot working as a bellhop delivers things to people's rooms in a hotel, and a software even wrote a breaking news article that was then published by the Los Angeles Times. Because of this, there are huge fears that robots will take over jobs. This is actually very likely. It used to be believed that robots would always create new jobs, but now people are starting to question this statement. Some jobs will become completely obsolete. Many workers feel threatened by technology. In a poll of Americans who were unemployed, 37% of those who wanted a job said that technology was the reason they didn't have one. This is already happening. In the future, self driving vehicles will put truck and taxi drivers out of work. The same thing could happen for ad sales agents, pilots, telemarketers, chefs, and even therapists. Assistant robots are devices that help with every day chores like vacuuming the floor, and companion robots are more interactive. They provide "friendship". Parents are afraid that companion robots will negatively affect young people. They say that the younger generation will become dependent on them, thus creating laziness. One of the biggest concerns of robots is the laziness of humanity. When robots start doing people's tasks for them, people will start relying on robots to do everything. People will then lose the knowledge of how to do every day things. The american work force has already started gaining skills at a slower rate than in the past. Machines can now learn, not just follow programmed instructions. Because of this, people think that robots will learn how to feel and think on their own. They could very well take over humanity and make humans obsolete. This still remains one of the biggest fears of people around the world. It is also one of the most popular science fiction topic, with millions of movies and books based on what could go wrong. So, the question now is, will robots take over? |
Sources
http://robotics.ece.auckland.ac.nz/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=31
http://www.thomasnet.com/articles/engineering-consulting/robotics-history
http://www.forbes.com/sites/davidewalt/2012/11/27/30-great-moments-in-the-history-of-robots/
http://www.galileo.org/robotics/intro.html
http://robotenomics.com/2014/04/23/5-areas-in-robotics-that-will-transform-society-and-their-economic-impact/
http://news.psu.edu/story/314066/2014/04/30/research/robots-may-need-include-parental-controls
http://www.nytimes.com/2014/12/16/upshot/as-robots-grow-smarter-american-workers-struggle-to-keep-up.html?_r=0&abt=0002&abg=0
http://www.thomasnet.com/articles/engineering-consulting/robotics-history
http://www.forbes.com/sites/davidewalt/2012/11/27/30-great-moments-in-the-history-of-robots/
http://www.galileo.org/robotics/intro.html
http://robotenomics.com/2014/04/23/5-areas-in-robotics-that-will-transform-society-and-their-economic-impact/
http://news.psu.edu/story/314066/2014/04/30/research/robots-may-need-include-parental-controls
http://www.nytimes.com/2014/12/16/upshot/as-robots-grow-smarter-american-workers-struggle-to-keep-up.html?_r=0&abt=0002&abg=0