ROBOTICS

Discussion

Robot Research

Research is now concentrating on designing humanoid robots that look and act more like humans so that their interaction with us will be easier and more acceptable. These robots will have enhanced physical abilities and artificial intelligence (AI) to enable them to make their own decisions based on information taken from their environment.

At the forefront of this research are Japan and the USA with Kismet, Asimo and Repliee Q1Expo.

Kismet, a head-eye robot is part of the Sociable Machines Project at MIT (Massachusetts Institute of Technology). It is capable of facial expressions, reacting to light and noise and can make limited vocalizations in response to social cues from its human carers.

Asimo (Advanced Step in Innovative Mobility) is part of the Honda Humanoid Project. It looks like a human in a space suit carrying a backpack and has mastered the art of walking; climbing stairs and even performing keep–fit exercises while retaining its balance –no mean feat for a robot. It can also recognise moving objects, its environment, postures and gestures, sounds and facial features. More importantly Asimo can make distinctions between these recognitions and is able to react accordingly. It can therefore distinguish whether someone is waving or offering their hand in greeting and similarly can recognize different faces and address these faces by name.

Though not capable yet of Asimo’s abilities Repliee Q1Expo has other unique qualities. ‘She’ has been designed by Professor Ishiquro of Osaka University to look like a Japanese female. Instead of a plastic frame she has a skin of silicone and though only able to sit at present she can move her torso as if human and is even able to ‘flutter her eyelids’.

Future Development

Some researchers think that as the processing power of computers increases then so will the possibility of universal, human-level intelligence robots becoming a reality. Certainly there will be increasing convergence because humans are already moving closer towards becoming Cyborgs with their pacemakers, bionic arms and legs, artificial retinas and cochlea implants.

Human –Robot interaction

Warwick (1998) talks about the reactions to one of his Seven Dwarf robots at a girl's school. This robot was moving slower than the rest and the other robots were seen to gather around it in an intimidating manner. The girls and Warwick became upset at its predicament and eventually, to cheers; Warwick rescued the apparently frightened robot. Sony’s robotic dog, Aibo (Japanese for ‘pal’) can mimic many dog-like actions such as rolling-over, scratching and chasing a ball while maintaining its balance. Menzel & D’Aluisio (2000) in ‘A Dog’s Life’ tell us how a Japanese family have given their Aibo a name; often refer to it as 'he', think of him as a pet not a machine and like him to spend the day amusing himself!

Possible Fears

If a small metallic machine and a robotic dog can invoke such reactions then how will we react to humanoid robots? Foerst (1999) suggests that we could question "our very own nature". If we can build machines that look like us then perhaps we are also machines carrying out pre-programmed instructions. He also suggests that if we think of humanoid robots as people then we may have to reconsider the way we treat all people?

Security and safety, some believe, should be the main concerns as humanoid robots are allowed into our homes and offices. In industrial situations barriers often separate robots from their human counterparts but this is impossible within the constraints of human domiciles and workplaces.

Will it be necessary to evoke Asimov’s (1950) Three 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 this does not conflict with the first two laws".

According to Dr Whitby in an article in the Economist: Asimov's laws "... were a narrative device, and were never actually meant to work in the real world". Japan, however, has already implemented guidelines for robots and robots cannot be insured there.

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