The Age of Robots
We're close to making humanlike machines. It's time to reckon with the promises and perils
Beyond a morass of ethical issues, what exactly might all of this mean for humanity? The speculations range from the catastrophic to the merely creepy. Most unpleasant is the "what goes around comes around" scenario, where the machines turn the tables and enslave us for a change. There is actually historical precedent for a robot rebellion; the word robot comes from robota, the Czech for an annual debt of forced labor. In 1848, the serfs rose up against their Austro-Hungarian landlords in protest. A different story, to be sure, but the term and the concept of mechanized serfs entered the Western consciousness with the grim baggage of class warfare.
Alternatively, the robots of the future could simply ignore us, leaving us to pursue our archaic organic mode of life, irrelevant but hardly dangerous. Finally, there is the "if you can't beat 'em, join 'em" scenario. Hans Moravec, a roboticist at Carnegie Mellon University, proposes that humanity may be able to survive, and even achieve a level of immortality, by digitally uploading our own consciousness into advanced robots.
We're probably decades away from having to worry about anything more than running out of batteries. Still, it seems clear that big changes are coming, and while humans--the flesh and blood type--usually manage to adapt to technological change, the period of adjustment can sometimes get pretty uncomfortable. As with any new technology, there will certainly be some unintended, and quite possibly unpleasant, consequences as robots begin to play a regular role in our day-to-day lives, USC's Mataric notes. But she's confident that the potential benefits outweigh the risks. "I hope society is strong and wise enough to stop abuses without stopping science," she says, "but I think all of that is still a long way off." Before anyone has to start really worrying about our place in the future, the techies have a heck of a lot more work to do.
Man-made Man
Many of the skills we take for granted--running, listening, recognizing a friend's face--are still beyond even the most advanced robots. But scientists are trying to fine-tune the pieces, one by one. Here's a look at some of the important parts of being human.
Head
Robot heads are packed with sensors and communication gear. To date, the computerized "brains" are usually too big to fit inside a human-size head, so many models are linked to an external computer bank; others rely on human controllers.
Face
Even a robot likes to look its best. Some designers favor a rugged mechanical feel while others shoot for realism. This silicone mask is fitted with metal shape-memory actuators to mimic human expressions.
Eyes
Our two eyes deliver front and peripheral vision, in stereo. Robots like Cog need four cameras and plenty of computer power to imitate the trick. The next challenge is actually recognizing objects and faces.
Hands
Not all robots need four fingers and an opposable thumb. A hand is a terribly complex thing, but to work with human tools Robonaut requires the full complement of human digits, its hands can grasp, hold, and twist, just like the real thing.
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