Robots

Exploring Robotics: From Origins to Innovations and Concerns

A robot is a mechanical or virtual artificial agent, typically an electromechanical machine guided by a computer program or electronic circuitry. When robots are virtual software agents, they are usually referred to as bots.

The term “robot” originated from a 1920 play, R.U.R., by the Czech writer Karel Čapek, although it was Karel’s brother, Josef Čapek, who coined the term. In a 1933 article in the Czech journal Lidové noviny, Josef explained that he had initially wanted to call the creatures featured in the play “laboři” (meaning “workers” in Latin labor). However, he found the word unsatisfactory and consulted his brother, who suggested “roboti”. The word “robota” literally means “corvée” or “serf labor” in Czech, and figuratively denotes “drudgery” or “hard work”, and also “work” or “labor” in many Slavic languages.

Robotics is the branch of technology dealing with the design, construction, operation, and application of robots, along with computer systems for their control, sensory feedback, and information processing.

Usage of Robots

Robots can generally be autonomous or semi-autonomous and are now employed across various fields. They have replaced humans in performing repetitive and hazardous tasks that humans prefer not to undertake, or are unable to do due to size limitations, or which take place in extreme environments such as outer space or the ocean floor. For example, robots are utilized in industries like car manufacturing and in households for domestic chores. Some robots are capable of responding to speech or even serving as medical operating tools.

Innovations

In 2008, Caterpillar Inc. developed a dump truck capable of autonomous operation without a human operator. Many analysts speculate that self-driving trucks may eventually revolutionize logistics. By 2014, Caterpillar had introduced a self-driving dump truck, expected to significantly alter mining processes. In 2015, it is projected that within the next few decades, most trucks will be self-driving.

Marge, a literate or “reading robot,” derives intelligence from software. She can read newspapers, identify and correct misspelled words, learn about entities like Barclays Bank, and discern between superior and inferior restaurants.

Baxter is a novel robot distinct from other industrial robots as it possesses learning capabilities. A worker can teach Baxter tasks by physically demonstrating desired motions for it to memorize. Baxter’s arm features additional dials, buttons, and controls for enhanced precision and functionality. Unlike conventional industrial robots requiring extensive programming and coding, Baxter can be programmed by any regular worker in a matter of minutes. This eliminates the need for software engineers and enables Baxter to perform multiple complex tasks.

Concerns

The increasing use of robots raises concerns about their societal impact. They are often associated with rising unemployment as they replace human workers in various roles. Ethical concerns arise regarding the use of robots in military combat. The potential for robot autonomy and its ramifications have been explored in fiction and pose realistic concerns for the future.