The Future of Robotics

As the twenty first century just begins to unfold, what does the future of robotics have in store for us? Stories of artificial workers and companions have been with us for thousands of years, but the fully automated machine has only appeared as recent as the 20th century.

"If every instrument could accomplish its own work, obeying or anticipating the will of others . . . If the shuttle could weave, and the pick touch the lyre, without a hand to guide them, chief workmen would not need servants, nor masters slaves."
-- Aristotle

Today, many different types of robots are employed to do the work that is to dangerous, tedious, or requires to much precision, for humans. Robots are widely used in exploring, manufacturing, and even surgery. Not only are robots used as unquestioning and dedicated workers, but also as unconditional companions. After all, one could argue that human beings are nothing more than sentient robots with a conscience and free will.

Artificial Intelligence

A.I. has become a big part of the tech industry and has provided many solutions for the more challenging problems in computer science. Artificial Intelligence is usually defined as; an intelligent entity precieves its environment, and based on the information it collects and learns, makes decisions to maximize its chances of success.

The science of making intelligent machines and computer programs have come a long way, and currently we are able to produce a computer program with the intelligence of a cat. A program that can make decisions for itself and can learn from those decisions.

Robots in the Home

For years technology has made the daily grind of life a little more easier to deal with. From the personal computer that many people can't imagine living without today, to the mobile phone that lets us stay in touch with friends and family in an instant. But what about those mundane tasks around the home that most people would rather not do, such as vacuuming, doing the dishes, doing laundry, etc. Are robots the answer for lifes routine choirs? If the resources are available, than the answer will be an inevitable yes. As we are already seeing robots on the market that can do such tasks.

The word 'robot' is defined as any mechanical device for performing a task that otherwise could be done by a human. With this very broad definition, things that people wouldn't normally consider as being a robot, technically are, such as dishwashers and washing machines. But people may be desiring something with a bit more intelligence or something that is just more automated.

A well known company designing and building practical robots for the home is iRobot. Founded in 1990, they have been leading the way in providing robots not only for the home but also for military use and space exploration. Their line of home robots will vacuum, sweep, and clean your house all on auto pilot. Using visual sensors the robots will navigate obstacles on their own so you don't have to be there, just turn them on and let them go to work.

Robots in the Military

Many people believe the future of modern warfare will be fought by robots and automated weapons systems. The most distinguished machine currently in use today are the unmanned aerial vehicles. They are mainly used for surveillance and reconnaissance purposes, but they can also fire at ground targets without the use of a pilot.

Other reconnaissance robots being widely used are the small unmanned ground vehicles or tactical mobile robots. These robots look like mini-tanks and are very durable. Dragon Runner, a reconnaissance robot developed by the Robotics Institute, is the most durable military robot according to Guiness World Records.

One of the most innovative robots being designed for military use is the powered exoskeleton. Once, only a science fiction dream is now becoming a reality as the first powered exoskeletons are in development and testing phases. Raytheon's Military Exoskeleton, being designed for the U.S. Army amplifies the user's strength, endurance, and agility, allowing them to lift and carry heavy loads with ease. Raytheon's exoskeleton has been in development since 2000. Their goal, once complete, is to not only to have a robotic suit that enhances the wearer's physical attributes, but also, when the wearer sheds the suit, it will become a fully automated robot.

Ethics of Robotics in the Future

The development of new technologies have always raised questions that we must ask about ourselves. Automation and new technologies like robots are viewed by most people as inevitable. But as these new technologies help us advance as a society, what are we loosing as individuals? While every person would like to have all unpleasant tasks taken away, as we mature we learn that these unappealing tasks help us grow as individuals. If technology took away all of our problems than maybe it would also take away our determination and creativity that we get when facing a challenge.

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