class Activity:
Visit the following sites and write some brief notes on robotics
a) Things robots can do today
b) Things robots will be difficult to do
c) Complicated things can do in future
d) What the next generation of robots will do in future
http://library.thinkquest.org/06aug/02423/new_page_9.htm
http://bettscomputers.com/moodle/mod/resource/view.php?id=26
Go thro this link on robotics thinking, sensing and acting. MAKE SHORT NOTES where possible.
http://www.thetech.org/exhibits/online/robotics/
Individual task. Define the assigned terms and post your findings in the blog.
Sajni - Robot
Nafisa - Cyborg
Atiya- Humanoid
Tasin -Sensors
Immaculate- What is the limitations and capabilities of robots in term of vision
Rishad -What is the limitations and capabilities of robots in terms of sound and movement
Terry- What is the limitations and capabilities of robots in terms of touch
Gary-What is the limitations and capabilities of robots in terms of processing power
Todays Task 8/11/2010
Study the following articles and write a paragraph for each one stating the social/ethical issues and the area of impact of each news item.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/technology/6200005.stm
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/technology/6919271.stm
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/4647258.stm
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/4275245.stm
10 comments:
A Robot is a mechanical device that has a number of input and output devices with a control system allowing intelligent decisions to be made depending on the feedback received.
There are three main functions that robot has.
Safety - The work with dangerous substances like nuclear, radioactive and also many dangerous chemical need robots because if human is directly involved in the operation it may cause bad effect. Unpleasantness - Many works are unpleasant and tedious like welding, assembling certain parts of automotive products and janitorial works are unpleasant for human but still very important.
repetition and precision - robot does not feel tired so even they do the same thing for a thousand times they will still give the same performance.
What is the limitations and capabilities of robots in term of vision
Limitations:
Can only see if it’s moving
Can’t recognize some colours
Only sees things in a survival outlook, not on what it particularly sees.
Capabilities:
Able to see where it’s going itself
Can zoom into various things
Can see through buildings and help people in dangerous situations
Can move without human guidance
ROBOTICS:
These days robots can play the piano, they can assemble and dissemble parts of a machine, paint, cloth cutting and laser work etc. As we can see all these things that robots can do are very straight forward and tasks that follow a linear order or can be done by step by step instructions. That is on the one hand, but on the other hand, robots find it difficult to perform other kinds of tasks like these which future robots may be able to perfect: weaving, opening locks, machine greasing, making beds, finding leakages in pipes, etc. In my opinion these tasks are much harder to perform because they obviously require more intelligence. Robots will need a larger database to be knowledgeable to evaluate and perform more complicated tasks.
Robots may not be able to do many difficult things, more particularly to do with human movement and involvement, like for example: Hair cutting by today’s fashion, face makeup, ballet or other dancing’s.
Although these may be the things that robots may not be able to do there are things that robots may in fact be able to do in the future like: work for glass cuttings, assembling of big products such as TV or automobile, control of steam machines, walking on two legs, shaving sheep wool.
Other more complex actions robots can do seem more to do with mathematical calculations. Their ability to calculate at high speeds can be an advantage for us humans in many different areas in today’s world. For example: sensors, control programs, actuators, etc.
Something that I noticed is that overtime, we were more in control of how a robot was to work, or any other electronic device, but these days we humans are starting to make them more independent, while at the same time becoming dependant on them.
A sensor measures an aspect of the environment and produces a proportional electric signal. In general they sense a physical or chemical change in the environment.
Many of a robots sensors mimic aspects of our own senses, but not all of them. Robots are being built with sensors that can go beyond what humans can sense such as magnetic fields or ultrasonic sound waves.
Most robots use light sensors. Light sensors are used in navigation, for example, by allowing a robot to follow a white line. Other robots navigate using infrared light (the same invisible light used in your TV remote control). The robot sends out a beam of infrared light, some of which bounces off of an obstacle and returns to a light sensor on the robot.
Although the type of sensors that a robot will be equipped with will depend entirely on the function of the robot.
There are different types of sensors such as:
Light sensors
Motion sensors
Temperature
Humidity
Magnetic Fields
Electric fields
Above are just a few of the types of sensors. They are other more complex senses as well.
Many ethical and moral issues arise from the rise of robots in today’s world. Human employment is being taken over by robots and there is a clear distinction from what a human can do and what a robot can. Perfecting robots means making them closer to what us humans can do. Is this a good thing or a bad thing is the question. Many other issues like what will be the difference between a robot and a human in the future? Or which types of robots should be and which shouldn’t be created?
For the first issue, and probably many others that are similar, I think it is important to know the actual statistics about robots. We just found out that they won’t be able to dance, neither make cut hair or do other things that are unique to us humans. Therefore, for now I think it is best we think about what is happening right now and work on improving that. Therefore the second issue is more realistic. For example robots can be pollutants or they can take jobs away or they can be harmful to man, etc.
ITGS - Task 8/11/2010
Study the following articles and write a paragraph for each one stating the social/ethical issues and the area of impact of each news item
Article 1 - Robots could demand legal rights
Social Issues:
- The development of artificial intelligence and its impact on law and politics
- Increasing consideration of rights of Robots, allowing them more freedom and privileges than other animate beings e.g. plants and animals
- Adjusting to a society of ‘digital’ and human citizens
- The impact that this new society with an increased population can have on earth’s resources and the environment
Ethical Issues:
- Is it right to treat a robot like a human being?
- Should robots be allowed to reproduce, improve themselves or develop their own artificial intelligence?
AOI: All areas will be affected in a way
- B & E: Competition for employment opportunities due to more efficient digital employees
- Edu: Robotic Teachers armed with AI can prove as solution to lack of teachers in most developing nations and remote areas
- Medicine: Robosurgeons
- S & E: It will revolutionize research as robots will be able to do/go/see things humans cannot…Strain on Natural resources
ITGS - Task 8/11/2010
Study the following articles and write a paragraph for each one stating the social/ethical issues and the area of impact of each news item
Article 1 - Robots could demand legal rights
Social Issues:
- The development of artificial intelligence and its impact on law and politics
- Increasing consideration of rights of Robots, allowing them more freedom and privileges than other animate beings e.g. plants and animals
- Adjusting to a society of ‘digital’ and human citizens
- The impact that this new society with an increased population can have on earth’s resources and the environment
Ethical Issues:
- Is it right to treat a robot like a human being?
- Should robots be allowed to reproduce, improve themselves or develop their own artificial intelligence?
AOI: All areas will be affected in a way
- B & E: Competition for employment opportunities due to more efficient digital employees
- Edu: Robotic Teachers armed with AI can prove as solution to lack of teachers in most developing nations and remote areas
- Medicine: Robosurgeons
- S & E: It will revolutionize research as robots will be able to do/go/see things humans cannot…Strain on Natural resources
Article 2 - Robots battle for military prize
Social Issues:
- Impact on technology on warfare
- The increasing consideration robots being allowed to control military technology
- Reduced human fatality and other risks in espionage and warfare
Ethical Issues:
- Should robots be allowed independence when it comes to handling weapons and other military equipment
- Who is responsible to ensure that the safety of humans is not jeopardized by allowing them to do so
- Can these robots be ‘hijacked’ of control by the enemy and be used as a weapon against its creators?
AOI:
- B & E: Markets opening up for military technology
- Politics and Legislation: Responsibility, Liability, Code of conduct
Article 3 - Dextrous mini-robots to aid ops
Social Issues:
- The increasing consideration of Robots and robotic devices in Surgery assistance
- Concerns from patients arising over trust and confidence in Robots to effectively perform surgery
- The impact that this technology will have on the medical field as machines are given more consideration than humans in being able to perform surgical operations
Ethical Issues:
- Should robots be allowed to operate on humans? Who will be responsible for ensuring their effective operation? Who will be liable in instances where this is not the case
Control: "My concern with robotics is that you are putting surgeons in a position where they are completely reliant on machines which are expensive, can wear out, and become obsolete".
Dr. Christopher Eden
AOI:
- Medicine: Robosurgeons will improve recovery times and comfort for patients
- S & E: It will revolutionize research as robots will be able to do and see things humans cannot
Article 4 - Brain-controlled 'robo-arm' hope
Social Issues:
- Improving the lives of the disabled through cyborg technologies
- Accessibility of the technology due to costing
Ethical Issues:
- Will the technology work for all?
- Due to their short life-span, will it be ethical to charge for new prosthesis?
AOI:
- Medicine: improve functionality for patients
- Government: Providing the technology for the masses
Post a Comment