essay on importance of robots

Impact of Robotics: What It Is And How It Benefits The World

Technology & Innovation
Emerging Tech
TECH REVIEWS
Artificial Intelligence
Machine Learning

While you’re doing your research, trying to figure out what is robotics on your smartphone or laptop. But did you ever wonder what makes your mobile device and its components so powerful every single way? One word, Robots!

That’s right. Robots are among us ! And they are here in a good and very helpful way. These highly skilled machines have been around to fulfill one mission. And that is to simply make our lives easier and better.

But, the question is, how much do you know about robotics?

In this article, we’ll be taking you on an in-depth look at what robots truly are. Unveiling its common types, applications and the benefits of using these robots in our daily life. Enough said and let’s delve deeper into understanding these robots.

Introduction to Robotics

Robotics is the study of robots. And robots are technologically-advanced machines that carry out complex tasks by command. With the combination of computer designs and technology, they usually come in different shapes, sizes and functionalities. While some robots carry out tasks without supervision, others function with command. Ultimately, it all comes down to the most important aspect, which is to make our life better!

Despite its purpose of making everyone’s life easier, some of these robots are actually here to be your companion. Thus, it’s not a strange sight to even see humanoid robots that resemble humans or animals in every way. That includes appearance, characteristics to even behaviors. On the other hand, autonomous robots in the manufacturing factories are unlikely to keep you entertained but rather to carry out intricate tasks.

Not all forms of robotics are in the shape of a human being. In fact, many of them feature a certain shape that is optimized for a specific purpose. A robotic arm is a great example. They are durable, flexible, and precise to perform a variety of tasks. Particularly in the automotive assembly lines.

Arguably the most interesting field in robotics, artificial intelligence (AI) robots is a revolution to the modern world. Featuring visual data processing and even facial recognition, robots nowadays is nothing like those in the bygone era. Believe or not, AI robots now can even converse in a human manner.

However, if you’re curious what are the types of robots available in the market; here’s the break down to help you understand robots better.

Types and Application of Robots

It’s almost everywhere that we use some sort of robots in everyday life. Whether it’s an automatic vacuum cleaner for floor cleaning or industrial robots that perform dangerous tasks in a factory. These robots are easily accessible and available whenever we need it. Here are a few types of robots to help you understand their applications and functionalities.

1. Industrial Robots

These highly powered machines are widely used in an industrial to the manufacturing environment. Specifically for their high-speed motion and accuracy. Unlike any (AI) robots, industrial robots are primarily automated, programmed, and controlled. They are programmed in a desirable motion to perform repetitive to dangerous tasks. While the common robots found in the industrial sector include — articulated robots, cartesian robots, SCARA robots, delta robots, cylindrical robots and more.

The usual robots you’ll find in the production line and automotive industry are articulated robots. As they are specifically developed for welding and material handling. On the other hand, cylindrical robots are mainly here to perform simpler applications like materials picking, placement, and rotation.

2. Domestic Robots

Nobody loves doing mundane chores after a long working day. Plus with everyone’s busy schedule nowadays, cleaning should be as quick and easy as possible. While many of us would still prefer manual cleaning especially for the tough corners and stains. But, household robots over-throned the conventional cleaning concept in all possible ways. Whether is the speed or consistency.

Due to the thriving demands, household robots nowadays come in different forms, designs, and specifications. And these robots might be just around the corner at home or even at your working space. Some of the examples include the vacuum cleaner, lawnmower, mobile webcams and many more.

3. Medical Robots

Robotics are beyond its limitations. Owing to rapid technological advancements in robotics, the medical sector also witnessed an increasing adoption of robotics engineering and technology into the field. Combining the intricate systems, any medical operations can be done with utmost precision and it’s truly revolutionary.

Arguably, autonomous robots is a future replacement for human medical staffs. These medical robots are already being used in the surgical field. Even though a professional doctor may have the skills and knowledge for surgical performances. Believe it or not, not even the best doctors in the world compete with a robot’s steady hands.

4. Military Robots

This is another type of robots performing dangerous tasks, mainly for military purposes. These include bomb disposal robots, transportation robots, and reconnaissance drones. Remote-controlled robots like these are also used in law enforcement, search and rescue, and other related fields.

5. Space Robots

This a special type of robotics that features high-grade hardware and software that can withstand the conditions in outer space. Unlike any other robots, astronaut uses these space robots to collect samples, assemble and fix pieces of equipment, structures related to astrology.

With the providing cameras, these robots are able to capture images of the planets and provide concise insights into the landscape, conditions, and atmosphere of the faraway worlds. This type of robots is widely used by the International Space Station, Mars rovers and other robots used in the space.

6. Entertainment Robots

As the name suggests, these robots are for entertainment purposes. They are designed for utilitarian use and to serve the robots’ owners as a companion. Typically, these robots are aesthetically pleasing with colorful appearances with interesting specifications. While the common examples of this type of robotics include the animatronics like robot dogs, a humanoid (Sophia) and Robo Sapien.

7. Competition Robots

This type of robots is for enthusiasts. These are robots that you create with your originality and personality. Bringing life into the robots that you create. Best examples of these are line followers and sumo-bots. Hobby and competition robots are great for people who want to understand and to further explore the prospect of robotics.

Artificial Intelligence Incorporated Robots

Benefits From The Use Of Robots

Robots is becoming more and more advanced, user-friendly and accessible. With a widespread of robots encompassing our everyday lives, not only it makes our work more efficient; it’s also cost-saving in the long-term. While the use of robots in our daily life sparks controversy in the working society; it’s undeniable that the use of robots brings more good than harms.

Need some justifications? Here are some of the benefits.

Increases Work Efficiency & Productivity

Robots are here to carry out the impossible tasks on behalf of human workers. Mainly because they are more precise and versatile than human workers. In result, there is a lower failure rate, increases the production and profit margin in conjunction to its speed. Though there are no indefinite results that prove robots don’t make mistakes. It is certain that these robots make lesser errors compared to a human.

Promote Skilled Workers

The implementation of robots in the working society means that there will be lesser repetitive jobs in the future. While it undeniably reduces job opportunities, but ultimately; it drives the future workforce to pick up new skills in order to stay competitive in the market. In the long-term, not only an individual can fully utilize its knowledge for the specific niche; it also promotes a better working environment for the workforce in the future.

Cost-Saving

Replacing manual workers with an automated system is beneficial in a sense where a business owner can increase work productivity. Regardless of the workload, these robots are able to carry out tasks unconditionally. Unlike human workers, robots work anytime anywhere. To add on, a company owner can also reduce the liability cost by avoiding the risk of injuries through the replacement of human with robots.

The emergence of remote diagnostics and online supports help lower the cost even further to support these robots at a minimal cost. The built-in rebooting and troubleshoot system reduce the repairing expenses and time. In the end, there is lesser downtime which leads to higher productivity.

Not to mention, deploying robots in the working field is able to make a cut in the energy cost. The best part, a robot is able to operate without any supervision and even under the extreme weather.

The use of robots is versatile. Unlike human worker that takes time and effort to master a skill, robots are versatile to carry out tasks through computerized software and (AI) customization. For instance, robots is performing in the medical field for intricate surgical procedures; military fields for security defense; utilitarian use for entertainments; and even for research in the outer space.

The advancement in the robotics field allows astronauts to carry out tasks beyond human physical capabilities. And they are a perfect substitute for the above factors. Above all, the existence of these advanced robotics is a perfect replica of human to carry out tasks in a secure way.

Today, It’s hard to imagine a world without robots. With their advanced systems and precision, they provided us with tons of high-tech gear and equipment to make our life easier. Without the in-depth study of robotics, not a single gadget and electronic devices would exist.

Will robots take over the human workforce in the future? Click here to read more.

5 Ways to Improve IT Automation

What is Building Information Modelling

Sla network: benefits, advantages, satisfaction of both parties to the contract, what is minecraft coded in, how much hp does a diablo tuner add, what is halo-fi, what is halo lock iphone, related posts.

The Role of Robotics in CNC Machining for Large Part Production

How Roboticists Are Embracing Generative AI For The Future

How Long Should A Robot Vacuum Last

How Long Does Shark Robot Vacuum Take To Charge

The Industry 4.0: Realizing Isaac Asimov’s Dream in the Age of Robots

Agility Robotics Appoints Peggy Johnson As New CEO, Focused On The Present

Content Automation: Can AI Write Like Humans?

How Much Is The Robot Vacuum

What is Building Information Modelling?

How to Use Email Blasts Marketing To Take Control of Your Market

Learn To Convert Scanned Documents Into Editable Text With OCR

Top Mini Split Air Conditioner For Summer

Comfortable and Luxurious Family Life | Zero Gravity Massage Chair

Fintechs and Traditional Banks: Navigating the Future of Financial Services

AI Writing: How It’s Changing the Way We Create Content

Privacy Overview
Strictly Necessary Cookies

This website uses cookies so that we can provide you with the best user experience possible. Cookie information is stored in your browser and performs functions such as recognising you when you return to our website and helping our team to understand which sections of the website you find most interesting and useful.

Strictly Necessary Cookie should be enabled at all times so that we can save your preferences for cookie settings.

If you disable this cookie, we will not be able to save your preferences. This means that every time you visit this website you will need to enable or disable cookies again.

To revisit this article, visit My Profile, then View saved stories .

Backchannel
Newsletters
WIRED Insider
WIRED Consulting

The WIRED Guide to Robots

Modern robots are not unlike toddlers: It’s hilarious to watch them fall over, but deep down we know that if we laugh too hard, they might develop a complex and grow up to start World War III. None of humanity’s creations inspires such a confusing mix of awe, admiration, and fear: We want robots to make our lives easier and safer, yet we can’t quite bring ourselves to trust them. We’re crafting them in our own image, yet we are terrified they’ll supplant us.

But that trepidation is no obstacle to the booming field of robotics. Robots have finally grown smart enough and physically capable enough to make their way out of factories and labs to walk and roll and even leap among us . The machines have arrived.

You may be worried a robot is going to steal your job, and we get that. This is capitalism, after all, and automation is inevitable. But you may be more likely to work alongside a robot in the near future than have one replace you. And even better news: You’re more likely to make friends with a robot than have one murder you. Hooray for the future!

The Complete History And Future of Robots

The definition of “robot” has been confusing from the very beginning. The word first appeared in 1921, in Karel Capek’s play R.U.R. , or Rossum's Universal Robots. “Robot” comes from the Czech for “forced labor.” These robots were robots more in spirit than form, though. They looked like humans, and instead of being made of metal, they were made of chemical batter. The robots were far more efficient than their human counterparts, and also way more murder-y—they ended up going on a killing spree .

R.U.R. would establish the trope of the Not-to-Be-Trusted Machine (e.g., Terminator , The Stepford Wives , Blade Runner , etc.) that continues to this day—which is not to say pop culture hasn’t embraced friendlier robots. Think Rosie from The Jetsons . (Ornery, sure, but certainly not homicidal.) And it doesn’t get much family-friendlier than Robin Williams as Bicentennial Man .

The real-world definition of “robot” is just as slippery as those fictional depictions. Ask 10 roboticists and you’ll get 10 answers—how autonomous does it need to be, for instance. But they do agree on some general guidelines : A robot is an intelligent, physically embodied machine. A robot can perform tasks autonomously to some degree. And a robot can sense and manipulate its environment.

Think of a simple drone that you pilot around. That’s no robot. But give a drone the power to take off and land on its own and sense objects and suddenly it’s a lot more robot-ish. It’s the intelligence and sensing and autonomy that’s key.

But it wasn’t until the 1960s that a company built something that started meeting those guidelines. That’s when SRI International in Silicon Valley developed Shakey , the first truly mobile and perceptive robot. This tower on wheels was well-named—awkward, slow, twitchy. Equipped with a camera and bump sensors, Shakey could navigate a complex environment. It wasn’t a particularly confident-looking machine, but it was the beginning of the robotic revolution.

Around the time Shakey was trembling about, robot arms were beginning to transform manufacturing. The first among them was Unimate , which welded auto bodies. Today, its descendants rule car factories, performing tedious, dangerous tasks with far more precision and speed than any human could muster. Even though they’re stuck in place, they still very much fit our definition of a robot—they’re intelligent machines that sense and manipulate their environment.

Robots, though, remained largely confined to factories and labs, where they either rolled about or were stuck in place lifting objects. Then, in the mid-1980s Honda started up a humanoid robotics program. It developed P3, which could walk pretty darn good and also wave and shake hands, much to the delight of a roomful of suits . The work would culminate in Asimo, the famed biped, which once tried to take out President Obama with a well-kicked soccer ball. (OK, perhaps it was more innocent than that.)

Today, advanced robots are popping up everywhere . For that you can thank three technologies in particular: sensors, actuators, and AI.

So, sensors. Machines that roll on sidewalks to deliver falafel can only navigate our world thanks in large part to the 2004 Darpa Grand Challenge, in which teams of roboticists cobbled together self-driving cars to race through the desert. Their secret? Lidar, which shoots out lasers to build a 3-D map of the world. The ensuing private-sector race to develop self-driving cars has dramatically driven down the price of lidar, to the point that engineers can create perceptive robots on the (relative) cheap.

Lidar is often combined with something called machine vision—2-D or 3-D cameras that allow the robot to build an even better picture of its world. You know how Facebook automatically recognizes your mug and tags you in pictures? Same principle with robots. Fancy algorithms allow them to pick out certain landmarks or objects .

Sensors are what keep robots from smashing into things. They’re why a robot mule of sorts can keep an eye on you, following you and schlepping your stuff around ; machine vision also allows robots to scan cherry trees to determine where best to shake them , helping fill massive labor gaps in agriculture.

New technologies promise to let robots sense the world in ways that are far beyond humans’ capabilities. We’re talking about seeing around corners: At MIT, researchers have developed a system that watches the floor at the corner of, say, a hallway, and picks out subtle movements being reflected from the other side that the piddling human eye can’t see. Such technology could one day ensure that robots don’t crash into humans in labyrinthine buildings, and even allow self-driving cars to see occluded scenes.

Within each of these robots is the next secret ingredient: the actuator , which is a fancy word for the combo electric motor and gearbox that you’ll find in a robot’s joint. It’s this actuator that determines how strong a robot is and how smoothly or not smoothly it moves . Without actuators, robots would crumple like rag dolls. Even relatively simple robots like Roombas owe their existence to actuators. Self-driving cars, too, are loaded with the things.

Actuators are great for powering massive robot arms on a car assembly line, but a newish field, known as soft robotics, is devoted to creating actuators that operate on a whole new level. Unlike mule robots, soft robots are generally squishy, and use air or oil to get themselves moving. So for instance, one particular kind of robot muscle uses electrodes to squeeze a pouch of oil, expanding and contracting to tug on weights . Unlike with bulky traditional actuators, you could stack a bunch of these to magnify the strength: A robot named Kengoro, for instance, moves with 116 actuators that tug on cables, allowing the machine to do unsettlingly human maneuvers like pushups . It’s a far more natural-looking form of movement than what you’d get with traditional electric motors housed in the joints.

And then there’s Boston Dynamics, which created the Atlas humanoid robot for the Darpa Robotics Challenge in 2013. At first, university robotics research teams struggled to get the machine to tackle the basic tasks of the original 2013 challenge and the finals round in 2015, like turning valves and opening doors. But Boston Dynamics has since that time turned Atlas into a marvel that can do backflips , far outpacing other bipeds that still have a hard time walking. (Unlike the Terminator, though, it does not pack heat.) Boston Dynamics has also begun leasing a quadruped robot called Spot, which can recover in unsettling fashion when humans kick or tug on it . That kind of stability will be key if we want to build a world where we don’t spend all our time helping robots out of jams. And it’s all thanks to the humble actuator.

At the same time that robots like Atlas and Spot are getting more physically robust, they’re getting smarter, thanks to AI. Robotics seems to be reaching an inflection point, where processing power and artificial intelligence are combining to truly ensmarten the machines . And for the machines, just as in humans, the senses and intelligence are inseparable—if you pick up a fake apple and don’t realize it’s plastic before shoving it in your mouth, you’re not very smart.

This is a fascinating frontier in robotics (replicating the sense of touch, not eating fake apples). A company called SynTouch, for instance, has developed robotic fingertips that can detect a range of sensations , from temperature to coarseness. Another robot fingertip from Columbia University replicates touch with light, so in a sense it sees touch : It’s embedded with 32 photodiodes and 30 LEDs, overlaid with a skin of silicone. When that skin is deformed, the photodiodes detect how light from the LEDs changes to pinpoint where exactly you touched the fingertip, and how hard.

Far from the hulking dullards that lift car doors on automotive assembly lines, the robots of tomorrow will be very sensitive indeed.

Increasingly sophisticated machines may populate our world, but for robots to be really useful, they’ll have to become more self-sufficient. After all, it would be impossible to program a home robot with the instructions for gripping each and every object it ever might encounter. You want it to learn on its own, and that is where advances in artificial intelligence come in.

Take Brett. In a UC Berkeley lab, the humanoid robot has taught itself to conquer one of those children’s puzzles where you cram pegs into different shaped holes. It did so by trial and error through a process called reinforcement learning. No one told it how to get a square peg into a square hole, just that it needed to. So by making random movements and getting a digital reward (basically, yes, do that kind of thing again ) each time it got closer to success, Brett learned something new on its own . The process is super slow, sure, but with time roboticists will hone the machines’ ability to teach themselves novel skills in novel environments, which is pivotal if we don’t want to get stuck babysitting them.

Another tack here is to have a digital version of a robot train first in simulation, then port what it has learned to the physical robot in a lab. Over at Google , researchers used motion-capture videos of dogs to program a simulated dog, then used reinforcement learning to get a simulated four-legged robot to teach itself to make the same movements. That is, even though both have four legs, the robot’s body is mechanically distinct from a dog’s, so they move in distinct ways. But after many random movements, the simulated robot got enough rewards to match the simulated dog. Then the researchers transferred that knowledge to the real robot in the lab, and sure enough, the thing could walk—in fact, it walked even faster than the robot manufacturer’s default gait, though in fairness it was less stable.

13 Robots, Real and Imagined

Image may contain Art Painting Wood Figurine Human and Person

They may be getting smarter day by day, but for the near future we are going to have to babysit the robots. As advanced as they’ve become, they still struggle to navigate our world. They plunge into fountains , for instance. So the solution, at least for the short term, is to set up call centers where robots can phone humans to help them out in a pinch . For example, Tug the hospital robot can call for help if it’s roaming the halls at night and there’s no human around to move a cart blocking its path. The operator would them teleoperate the robot around the obstruction.

Speaking of hospital robots. When the coronavirus crisis took hold in early 2020, a group of roboticists saw an opportunity: Robots are the perfect coworkers in a pandemic. Engineers must use the crisis, they argued in an editorial , to supercharge the development of medical robots, which never get sick and can do the dull, dirty, and dangerous work that puts human medical workers in harm’s way. Robot helpers could take patients’ temperatures and deliver drugs, for instance. This would free up human doctors and nurses to do what they do best: problem-solving and being empathetic with patients, skills that robots may never be able to replicate.

The rapidly developing relationship between humans and robots is so complex that it has spawned its own field, known as human-robot interaction . The overarching challenge is this: It’s easy enough to adapt robots to get along with humans—make them soft and give them a sense of touch—but it’s another issue entirely to train humans to get along with the machines. With Tug the hospital robot, for example, doctors and nurses learn to treat it like a grandparent—get the hell out of its way and help it get unstuck if you have to. We also have to manage our expectations: Robots like Atlas may seem advanced, but they’re far from the autonomous wonders you might think.

What humanity has done is essentially invented a new species, and now we’re maybe having a little buyers’ remorse. Namely, what if the robots steal all our jobs? Not even white-collar workers are safe from hyper-intelligent AI, after all.

A lot of smart people are thinking about the singularity, when the machines grow advanced enough to make humanity obsolete. That will result in a massive societal realignment and species-wide existential crisis. What will we do if we no longer have to work? How does income inequality look anything other than exponentially more dire as industries replace people with machines?

These seem like far-out problems, but now is the time to start pondering them. Which you might consider an upside to the killer-robot narrative that Hollywood has fed us all these years: The machines may be limited at the moment, but we as a society need to think seriously about how much power we want to cede. Take San Francisco, for instance, which is exploring the idea of a robot tax, which would force companies to pay up when they displace human workers.

I can’t sit here and promise you that the robots won’t one day turn us all into batteries , but the more realistic scenario is that, unlike in the world of R.U.R. , humans and robots are poised to live in harmony—because it’s already happening. This is the idea of multiplicity , that you’re more likely to work alongside a robot than be replaced by one. If your car has adaptive cruise control, you’re already doing this, letting the robot handle the boring highway work while you take over for the complexity of city driving. The fact that the US economy ground to a standstill during the coronavirus pandemic made it abundantly clear that robots are nowhere near ready to replace humans en masse.

The machines promise to change virtually every aspect of human life, from health care to transportation to work. Should they help us drive? Absolutely. (They will, though, have to make the decision to sometimes kill , but the benefits of precision driving far outweigh the risks.) Should they replace nurses and cops? Maybe not—certain jobs may always require a human touch.

One thing is abundantly clear: The machines have arrived. Now we have to figure out how to handle the responsibility of having invented a whole new species.

If You Want a Robot to Learn Better, Be a Jerk to It A good way to make a robot learn is to do the work in simulation, so the machine doesn’t accidentally hurt itself. Even better, you can give it tough love by trying to knock objects out of its hand.

Spot the Robot Dog Trots Into the Big, Bad World Boston Dynamics' creation is starting to sniff out its role in the workforce: as a helpful canine that still sometimes needs you to hold its paw.

Finally, a Robot That Moves Kind of Like a Tongue Octopus arms and elephant trunks and human tongues move in a fascinating way, which has now inspired a fascinating new kind of robot.

Robots Are Fueling the Quiet Ascendance of the Electric Motor For something born over a century ago, the electric motor really hasn’t fully extended its wings. The problem? Fossil fuels are just too easy, and for the time being, cheap. But now, it’s actually robots, with their actuators, that are fueling the secret ascendence of the electric motor.

This Robot Fish Powers Itself With Fake Blood A robot lionfish uses a rudimentary vasculature and “blood” to both energize itself and hydraulically power its fins.

Inside the Amazon Warehouse Where Humans and Machines Become One In an Amazon sorting center, a swarm of robots works alongside humans. Here’s what that says about Amazon—and the future of work.

This guide was last updated on April 13, 2020.

Enjoyed this deep dive? Check out more WIRED Guides .

Smart. Open. Grounded. Inventive. Read our Ideas Made to Matter.

Which program is right for you?

Through intellectual rigor and experiential learning, this full-time, two-year MBA program develops leaders who make a difference in the world.

A rigorous, hands-on program that prepares adaptive problem solvers for premier finance careers.

A 12-month program focused on applying the tools of modern data science, optimization and machine learning to solve real-world business problems.

Earn your MBA and SM in engineering with this transformative two-year program.

Combine an international MBA with a deep dive into management science. A special opportunity for partner and affiliate schools only.

A doctoral program that produces outstanding scholars who are leading in their fields of research.

Bring a business perspective to your technical and quantitative expertise with a bachelor’s degree in management, business analytics, or finance.

A joint program for mid-career professionals that integrates engineering and systems thinking. Earn your master’s degree in engineering and management.

An interdisciplinary program that combines engineering, management, and design, leading to a master’s degree in engineering and management.

Executive Programs

A full-time MBA program for mid-career leaders eager to dedicate one year of discovery for a lifetime of impact.

This 20-month MBA program equips experienced executives to enhance their impact on their organizations and the world.

Non-degree programs for senior executives and high-potential managers.

A non-degree, customizable program for mid-career professionals.

Gensler exec: ‘Amplify your impact as you advance your career’

How can we preserve human ability in the age of machines?

Want to invest wisely? Check your prior beliefs at the door

Credit: Shutterstock / Marish

Ideas Made to Matter

A new study measures the actual impact of robots on jobs. It’s significant.

Jul 29, 2020

Machines replacing humans in the workplace has been a perpetual concern since the Industrial Revolution, and an increasing topic of discussion with the rise of automation in the last few decades. But so far hype has outweighed information about how automation — particularly robots, which do not need humans to operate — actually affects employment and wages.

The recently published paper, “Robots and Jobs: Evidence from U.S. Labor Markets, " by MIT professor Daron Acemoglu and Boston University professor Pascual Restrepo, PhD ’16, finds that industrial robots do have a negative impact on workers.

The researchers found that for every robot added per 1,000 workers in the U.S., wages decline by 0.42% and the employment-to-population ratio goes down by 0.2 percentage points — to date, this means the loss of about 400,000 jobs. The impact is more sizable within the areas where robots are deployed: adding one more robot in a commuting zone (geographic areas used for economic analysis) reduces employment by six workers in that area.

To conduct their research, the economists created a model in which robots and workers compete for the production of certain tasks.

Industries are adopting robots to various degrees, and effects vary in different parts of the country and among different groups — the automotive industry has adopted robots more than other sectors, and workers who are lower and middle income, perform manual labor, and live in the Rust Belt and Texas are among those most likely to have their work affected by robots.

“It’s obviously a very important issue given all of the anxiety and excitement about robots,” Acemoglu said. “Our evidence shows that robots increase productivity. They are very important for continued growth and for firms, but at the same time they destroy jobs and they reduce labor demand. Those effects of robots also need to be taken into account.”

“That doesn't mean we should be opposed to robots, but it does imply that a more holistic understanding of what their effects are needs to be part of the discussion … automation technologies generally don't bring shared prosperity by themselves,” he said. “They need to be combined with other technological changes that create jobs.”

Industrial robots are automatically controlled, reprogrammable, multipurpose machines that can do a variety of things like welding, painting, and packaging. They are fully autonomous and don’t need humans to operate them. Industrial robots grew fourfold in the U.S. between 1993 and 2007, Acemoglu and Restrepo write, to a rate of one robot per thousand workers. Europe is slightly ahead of the U.S. in industrial robot adoption; the rate there grew to 1.6 robots per thousand workers during that time span.

Improvements in technology adversely affect wages and employment through the displacement effect , in which robots or other automation complete tasks formerly done by workers. Technology also has more positive productivity effects by making tasks easier to complete or creating new jobs and tasks for workers. The researchers said automation technologies always create both displacement and productivity effects, but robots create a stronger displacement effect.

Acemoglu and Restrepo looked at robot use in 19 industries, as well as census and American Community Survey data for 722 commuting zones, finding a negative relationship between a commuting zone’s exposure to robots and its post-1990 labor market outcomes.

Adding one robot to a geographic area reduces employment in that area by six workers.

Between 1990 and 2007, the increase in robots (about one per thousand workers) reduced the average employment-to-population ratio in a zone by 0.39 percentage points, and average wages by 0.77%, compared to commuting zones with no exposure to robots, they found. This implies that adding one robot to an area reduces employment in that area by about six workers.

But what happens in one geographic area affects the economy as a whole, and robots in one area can create positive spillovers. These benefits for the rest of the economy include reducing the prices of goods and creating shared capital income gains. Including this spillover, one robot per thousand workers has slightly less of an impact on the population as a whole, leading to an overall 0.2 percentage point reduction in the employment-to-population ratio, and reducing wages by 0.42%. Thus, adding one robot reduces employment nationwide by 3.3 workers.

In a separate study of robot adoption in France , Acemoglu and his co-authors found that French manufacturing firms that added robots became more productive and profitable, but that increases in robot use led to a decline in employment industrywide.

Disproportionate impacts

The impact of robots varies among different industries, geographic areas, and population groups. Unsurprisingly, the effect of robots is concentrated in manufacturing. The automotive industry has adopted robots more than any other industry, the researchers write, employing 38% of existing robots with adoption of up to 7.5 robots per thousand workers.

The electronics industry employs 15% of robots, while plastics and chemicals employ 10%. Employees in these industries saw the most negative effects, and researchers also estimate negative effects for workers in construction and retail, as well as personal services. While the automotive industry adopted robots at a quicker pace and to a greater degree than other sectors, that industry did not drive the study’s results. The impact of robots was consistent when that industry was taken out of the equation, the researchers write.

The automotive industry employs 38% of existing industrial robots.

Robots are most likely to affect routine manual occupations and lower and middle class workers, and particularly blue-collar workers, including machinists, assemblers, material handlers, and welders, Acemoglu and Restrepo write. Both men and women are affected by adoption of robots, though men slightly more. For men, impacts are seen most in manufacturing jobs. For women, the impacts were seen most in non-manufacturing jobs.

Robots negatively affect workers at all education levels, though workers without college degrees were impacted far more than those with a college degree or more. The researchers also found robot adoption does not have a positive effect on workers with master’s or advanced degrees, which could indicate that unlike other technology, industrial robots are not directly complementing high-skill workers.

Some parts of the United States saw relatively small adoption of robots, while in other states, including Kentucky, Louisiana, Missouri, Texas, and Virginia, robots have been adopted more along the order of two to five robots per thousand workers. In some parts of Texas, that number goes up to five to 10 per thousand workers, the researchers found. Detroit was the commuting zone with the highest exposure to robots.

Overall, robots have a mixed effect: replacing jobs that relatively high-wage manufacturing employees used to perform, while also making firms more efficient and more productive, Acemoglu said. Some areas are most affected by the mixed impact of robots. “In the U.S., especially in the industrial heartland, we find that the displacement effect is large,” he said. “When those jobs disappear, those workers go and take other jobs from lower wage workers. It has a negative effect, and demand goes down for some of the retail jobs and other service jobs.”

Acemoglu and Restrepo emphasize that looking at the future effect of robots includes a great deal of uncertainty, and it is possible the impact on employment and wages could change when robots become more widespread. Industries adopting more robots over the last few decades could have experienced other factors, like declining demand or international competition, and commuting zones could be affected by other negative shocks.

But the researchers said their paper is the first step in exploring the implications of automation, which will become increasingly widespread. There are relatively few robots in the U.S. economy today and the economic impacts could be just beginning.

Robotic technology is expected to keep expanding, with an aggressive scenario predicting that robots will quadruple worldwide by 2025. This would mean 5.25 more robots per thousand workers in the U.S., and by the researchers’ estimate, a 1 percentage point lower employment-to-population ratio, and 2% lower wage growth between 2015 and 2025. In a more conservative scenario, the stock of robots could increase slightly less than threefold, leading to a 0.6 percentage point decline in the employment-to-population ratio and 1% lower wage growth.

The economic crisis spurred by the COVID-19 pandemic will further exacerbate the good and bad impacts of robots and technology, Acemoglu said. “The good because we are really dependent on digital technologies. If we didn't have these advanced digital technologies, we wouldn't be able to use Zoom or other things for teaching and teleconferencing. We would not be able to keep factories going in many areas because workers haven't fully gotten back to work,” he said. “But at the same time, by the same token, this increases the demand for automation. If the automation process was going too far or had some negative effects, as we find, then those are going to get multiplied as well. So we need to take those into account.”

Read "Robots and Jobs: Evidence from U.S. Labor Markets"

Workers look at a robotic arm in a laboratory

A-Z Publications

Annual Review of Control, Robotics, and Autonomous Systems

Volume 4, 2021, review article, what is robotics why do we need it and how can we get it.

Daniel E. Koditschek 1
View Affiliations Hide Affiliations Affiliations: Department of Electrical and Systems Engineering, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19104, USA; email: [email protected]
Vol. 4:1-33 (Volume publication date May 2021) https://doi.org/10.1146/annurev-control-080320-011601
First published as a Review in Advance on January 05, 2021
Copyright © 2021 by Annual Reviews. All rights reserved

Robotics is an emerging synthetic science concerned with programming work. Robot technologies are quickly advancing beyond the insights of the existing science. More secure intellectual foundations will be required to achieve better, more reliable, and safer capabilities as their penetration into society deepens. Presently missing foundations include the identification of fundamental physical limits, the development of new dynamical systems theory, and the invention of physically grounded programming languages. The new discipline needs a departmental home in the universities, which it can justify both intellectually and by its capacity to attract new diverse populations inspired by the age-old human fascination with robots.

Article metrics loading...

Full text loading...

Literature Cited

1. Simon HA. 2019 . The Sciences of the Artificial Cambridge, MA: MIT Press [Google Scholar]
2. Schmidt M 2010 . Do I understand what I can create?. Synthetic Biology: The Technoscience and Its Societal Consequences M Schmidt, A Kelle, A Ganguli-Mitra, H Vriend 81– 100 Dordrecht, Neth: Springer [Google Scholar]
3. Knuth DE. 1974 . Computer programming as an art. Commun. ACM 17 : 12 667– 73 [Google Scholar]
4. Milner R. 1993 . Elements of interaction: Turing Award lecture. Commun. ACM 36 : 1 78– 89 [Google Scholar]
5. Harper R. 2013 . Practical Foundations for Programming Languages Cambridge, UK: Cambridge Univ. Press [Google Scholar]
6. Puliafito C , Mingozzi E , Longo F , Puliafito A , Rana O 2019 . Fog computing for the Internet of Things: a survey. ACM Trans. Internet Technol . 19 : 18 [Google Scholar]
7. Shalf J. 2020 . The future of computing beyond Moore's law. Philos. Trans. R. Soc. A 378 : 20190061 [Google Scholar]
8. Hopcroft JE , Ullman JD. 1979 . Introduction to Automata Theory, Languages and Computation Reading, MA: Addison-Wesley [Google Scholar]
9. Fein L. 1959 . The role of the university in computers, data processing, and related fields. Commun. ACM 2 : 9 7– 14 [Google Scholar]
10. Denning PJ. 2007 . Computing is a natural science. Commun. ACM 50 : 7 13– 18 [Google Scholar]
11. Landauer R. 1961 . Irreversibility and heat generation in the computing process. IBM J. Res. Dev. 5 : 183– 91 [Google Scholar]
12. Markov IL. 2014 . Limits on fundamental limits to computation. Nature 512 : 147– 54 [Google Scholar]
13. Falkoff AD , Iverson KE , Sussenguth EH. 1964 . A formal description of SYSTEM/360. IBM Syst. J. 3 : 198– 261 [Google Scholar]
14. Moore GE. 2006 . Cramming more components onto integrated circuits, reprinted from Electronics, vol. 38, number 8, April 19, 1965, pp. 114 ff. IEEE Solid-State Circuits Soc. Newsl 11 : 3 33– 35 [Google Scholar]
15. Dennard RH , Rideout VL , Bassous E , Leblanc AR. 1974 . Design of ion-implanted MOSFET's with very small physical dimensions. IEEE J. Solid-State Circuits 9 : 256– 68 [Google Scholar]
16. Bohr M. 2007 . A 30 year retrospective on Dennard's MOSFET scaling paper. IEEE Solid-State Circuits Soc. Newsl . 12 : 1 11– 13 [Google Scholar]
17. Krishnan S , Garimella SV , Chrysler G , Mahajan R 2007 . Towards a thermal Moore's law. IEEE Trans. Adv. Packag . 30 : 462– 74 [Google Scholar]
18. Pop E. 2010 . Energy dissipation and transport in nanoscale devices. Nano Res 3 : 147– 69 [Google Scholar]
19. DeHon A. 2015 . Fundamental underpinnings of reconfigurable computing architectures. Proc. IEEE 103 : 355– 78 [Google Scholar]
20. Theis TN , Wong HSP. 2017 . The end of Moore's law: a new beginning for information technology. Comput. Sci. Eng . 19 : 41– 50 [Google Scholar]
21. Bennett C. 1973 . Logical reversibility of computation. IBM J. Res. Dev . 17 : 525– 32 [Google Scholar]
22. Carlton DB , Lambson B , Scholl A , Young AT , Dhuey SD et al. 2011 . Computing in thermal equilibrium with dipole-coupled nanomagnets. IEEE Trans. Nanotechnol . 10 : 1401– 4 [Google Scholar]
23. Mead C , Conway L. 1980 . Introduction to VLSI Systems Reading, MA: Addison-Wesley [Google Scholar]
24. Bell CG , Newell A. 1971 . Computer Structures: Readings and Examples New York: McGraw-Hill [Google Scholar]
25. McCarthy J. 1960 . Recursive functions of symbolic expressions and their computation by machine, part I. Commun. ACM 3 : 4 184– 95 [Google Scholar]
26. McCarthy J. 1962 . A basis for a mathematical theory of computation Memo 31 Artif. Intell. Proj., Mass. Inst. Technol Cambridge, MA: [Google Scholar]
27. Martin-Lof P. 1984 . Constructive mathematics and computer programming. Philos. Trans. R. Soc. A 312 : 501– 18 [Google Scholar]
28. Wood AK. 2012 . Warships of the Ancient World Oxford, UK: Osprey [Google Scholar]
29. Pierce BC. 2002 . Types and Programming Languages Cambridge, MA: MIT Press [Google Scholar]
30. Appel AW , Beringer L , Chlipala A , Pierce BC , Shao Z et al. 2017 . Position paper: the science of deep specification. Philos. Trans. R. Soc. A 375 : 20160331 [Google Scholar]
31. McCarthy J 1981 . History of Lisp. History of Programming Languages RL Wexelblat 173– 85 New York: Academic [Google Scholar]
32. Cohen PR. 1995 . Empirical Methods for Artificial Intelligence Cambridge, MA: MIT Press [Google Scholar]
33. Russell SJ , Norvig P. 2009 . Artificial Intelligence: A Modern Approach Upper Saddle River, NJ: Prentice Hall [Google Scholar]
34. Reynolds M , Cortese A , Liu Q , Wang W , Cao M et al. 2020 . Surface electrochemical actuators for micron-scale fluid pumping and autonomous swimming. Bull. Am. Phys. Soc In press [Google Scholar]
35. Oishi K , Klavins E. 2014 . Framework for engineering finite state machines in gene regulatory networks. ACS Synthet. Biol . 3 : 652– 65 [Google Scholar]
36. Reverdy PB , Vasilopoulos V , Koditschek DE. 2020 . Motivation dynamics for autonomous composition of navigation tasks. IEEE Trans. Robot . In press [Google Scholar]
37. Miracchi L. 2019 . A competence framework for artificial intelligence research. Philos. Psychol . 32 : 588– 633 [Google Scholar]
38. Robot. Ind. Assoc 2020 . Joseph Engelberger: the Father of Robotics. Robotic Industries Association https://www.robotics.org/joseph-engelberger/about.cfm [Google Scholar]
39. Whitney DE. 1996 . Why mechanical design cannot be like VLSI design. Res. Eng. Des . 8 : 125– 38 [Google Scholar]
40. Mead C. 1989 . Analog and Neural Systems Boston: Addison-Wesley [Google Scholar]
41. Schuman CD , Potok TE , Patton RM , Birdwell JD , Dean ME et al. 2017 . A survey of neuromorphic computing and neural networks in hardware. arXiv:1705.06963 [cs.NE]
42. Achour S , Sarpeshkar R , Rinard M. 2016 . Configuration synthesis for programmable analog devices with Arco. PLDI' 16: Proceedings of the 37th ACM SIGPLAN Conference on Programming Language Design and Implementation 177– 93 New York: ACM [Google Scholar]
43. Mirvakili SM , Hunter IW. 2018 . Artificial muscles: mechanisms, applications, and challenges. Adv. Mater . 30 : 1704407 [Google Scholar]
44. Meijer K , Bar-Cohen Y , Full RJ 2003 . Biological inspiration for musclelike actuators of robots. Biologically Inspired Intelligent Robots Y Bar-Cohen, CL Breazeal 26– 45 Bellingham, WA: Soc. Photo-Opt. Instrum. Eng. [Google Scholar]
45. Full RJ 1989 . Mechanics and energetics of terrestrial locomotion: bipeds to polypeds. Energy Transformations in Cells and Animals W Wieser, E Gnaiger 175– 82 New York: Thieme [Google Scholar]
46. Hunter IW , Hollerbach JM , Ballantyne J. 1992 . A comparative analysis of actuator technologies for robotics. Robot. Rev . 2 : 299– 342 [Google Scholar]
47. Zhang J , Sheng J , O'Neill CT , Walsh CJ , Wood RJ et al. 2019 . Robotic artificial muscles: current progress and future perspectives. IEEE Trans. Robot . 35 : 761– 81 [Google Scholar]
48. Spenko MJ , Saunders JA , Haynes GC , Cutkosky MR , Rizzi AA et al. 2008 . Biologically inspired climbing with a hexapedal robot. J. Field Robot . 25 : 223– 42 [Google Scholar]
49. Ruina A. 1998 . Nonholonomic stability aspects of piecewise holonomic systems. Rep. Math. Phys . 42 : 91– 100 [Google Scholar]
50. Kubow TM , Full RJ. 1999 . The role of the mechanical system in control: a hypothesis of self-stabilization in hexapedal runners. Philos. Trans. R. Soc. B 354 : 849 – 61 [Google Scholar]
51. Holmes P , Full RJ , Koditschek DE , Guckenheimer J. 2006 . The dynamics of legged locomotion: models, analyses, and challenges. SIAM Rev 48 : 207– 304 [Google Scholar]
52. McGeer T. 1990 . Passive dynamic walking. Int. J. Robot. Res . 9 : 62– 82 [Google Scholar]
53. Collins SH , Wisse M , Ruina A. 2001 . A three-dimensional passive-dynamic walking robot with two legs and knees. Int. J. Robot. Res . 20 : 607– 15 [Google Scholar]
54. Schmitt J , Holmes P. 2000 . Mechanical models for insect locomotion: dynamics and stability in the horizontal plane I. Theory Biol. Cybernet . 83 : 501– 15 [Google Scholar]
55. Parrondo JMR , Horowitz JM , Sagawa T. 2015 . Thermodynamics of information. Nat. Phys . 11 : 131– 39 [Google Scholar]
56. Debiossac M , Grass D , Alonso JJ , Lutz E , Kiesel N. 2020 . Thermodynamics of continuous non-Markovian feedback control. Nat. Commun . 11 : 1360 [Google Scholar]
57. Messler RW. 1993 . Joining of Advanced Materials Boston: Butterworth-Heinemann [Google Scholar]
58. Kadic M , Milton GW , van Hecke M , Wegener M. 2019 . 3D metamaterials. Nat. Rev. Phys . 1 : 198– 210 [Google Scholar]
59. Sussman DM , Cho Y , Castle T , Gong X , Jung E et al. 2015 . Algorithmic lattice kirigami: a route to pluripotent materials. PNAS 112 : 7449– 53 [Google Scholar]
60. Yuan H , Pikul J , Sung C 2018 . Programmable 3-D surfaces using origami tessellations. Origami 7 : Proceedings of the 7th International Meeting on Origami in Science, Mathematics, and Education , Vol. 3: Engineering One RJ Lang, M Bolitho, Z You 893– 906 St. Albans, UK: Tarquin [Google Scholar]
61. Guseinov R , McMahan C , Pérez J , Daraio C , Bickel B. 2020 . Programming temporal morphing of self-actuated shells. Nat. Commun . 11 : 237 [Google Scholar]
62. Chan TS , Carlson A. 2019 . Physics of adhesive organs in animals. Eur. Phys. J. Spec. Top . 227 : 2501– 12 [Google Scholar]
63. Mason MT. 2018 . Toward robotic manipulation. Annu. Rev. Control Robot. Auton. Syst . 1 : 1– 28 [Google Scholar]
64. Cutkosky MR , Wright PK. 1986 . Friction, stability and the design of robotic fingers. Int. J. Robot. Res . 5 : 20– 37 [Google Scholar]
65. Tian Y , Pesika N , Zeng H , Rosenberg K , Zhao B et al. 2006 . Adhesion and friction in gecko toe attachment and detachment. PNAS 103 : 19320– 25 [Google Scholar]
66. Autumn K , Sitti M , Liang YA , Peattie AM , Hansen WR et al. 2002 . Evidence for van der Waals adhesion in gecko setae. PNAS 99 : 12252– 56 [Google Scholar]
67. Murray RM , Li Z , Sastry SS. 1994 . A Mathematical Introduction to Robotic Manipulation Boca Raton, FL: CRC [Google Scholar]
68. Johnson A , Koditschek D. 2013 . Legged self-manipulation. IEEE Access 1 : 310– 34 [Google Scholar]
69. Milner R. 1999 . Communicating and Mobile Systems: The Pi Calculus Cambridge, UK: Cambridge Univ. Press [Google Scholar]
70. Eisenhaure J , Kim S. 2017 . A review of the state of dry adhesives: biomimetic structures and the alternative designs they inspire. Micromachines 8 : 125 [Google Scholar]
71. McEvoy MA , Correll N. 2015 . Materials that couple sensing, actuation, computation, and communication. Science 347 : 1261689 [Google Scholar]
72. Gholipour B , Bastock P , Craig C , Khan K , Hewak D , Soci C. 2015 . Amorphous metal-sulphide microfibers enable photonic synapses for brain-like computing. Adv. Opt. Mater . 3 : 635– 41 [Google Scholar]
73. Asada H , Youcef-Toumi K. 1987 . Direct-Drive Robots: Theory and Practice Cambridge, MA: MIT Press [Google Scholar]
74. Kim S , Laschi C , Trimmer B. 2013 . Soft robotics: a bioinspired evolution in robotics. Trends Biotechnol 31 : 287– 94 [Google Scholar]
75. Gregorio P , Ahmadi M , Buehler M. 1997 . Design, control, and energetics of an electrically actuated legged robot. IEEE Trans. Syst. Man Cybernet. B 27 : 626– 34 [Google Scholar]
76. Piccoli M , Yim M. 2015 . Anticogging: torque ripple suppression, modeling, and parameter selection. Int. J. Robot. Res . 35 : 148– 60 [Google Scholar]
77. De A , Stewart-Height A , Koditschek D. 2019 . Task-based control and design of a BLDC actuator for robotics. IEEE Robot. Autom. Lett . 4 : 2393– 400 [Google Scholar]
78. Ordonez C , Gupta N , Collins EG , Clark JE , Johnson AM 2012 . Power modeling of the XRL hexapedal robot and its application to energy efficient motion planning. Adaptive Mobile Robotics AKM Azad, NJ Cowan, MO Tokhi, GS Virk, RD Eastman 689– 96 Singapore: World Sci. [Google Scholar]
79. Makadia A , Patterson A , Daniilidis K. 2006 . Fully automatic registration of 3D point clouds. 2006 IEEE Computer Society Conference on Computer Vision and Pattern Recognition 1297– 304 Piscataway, NJ: IEEE [Google Scholar]
80. Arslan O. 2019 . Statistical coverage control of mobile sensor networks. IEEE Trans. Robot . 35 : 889– 908 [Google Scholar]
81. Bajcsy R. 1988 . Active perception. Proc. IEEE 76 : 966– 1005 [Google Scholar]
82. Bajcsy R , Aloimonos Y , Tsotsos JK. 2018 . Revisiting active perception. Auton. Robots 42 : 177– 96 [Google Scholar]
83. Cowan NJ , Lee J , Full RJ. 2006 . Task-level control of rapid wall following in the American cockroach. J. Exp. Biol . 209 : 1617– 29 [Google Scholar]
84. Cowan NJ , Fortune ES. 2007 . The critical role of locomotion mechanics in decoding sensory systems. J. Neurosci . 27 : 1123– 28 [Google Scholar]
85. Cowan NJ , Ankarali MM , Dyhr JP , Madhav MS , Roth E et al. 2014 . Feedback control as a framework for understanding tradeoffs in biology. Integr. Comp. Biol . 54 : 223– 37 [Google Scholar]
86. Miracchi L. 2017 . Generative explanation in cognitive science and the hard problem of consciousness. Philos. Perspect . 31 : 267– 91 [Google Scholar]
87. Brooks RA. 1991 . Intelligence without representation. Artif. Intell . 47 : 139– 59 [Google Scholar]
88. Sontag ED. 1998 . Mathematical Control Theory: Deterministic Finite Dimensional Systems New York: Springer [Google Scholar]
89. Francis BA , Wonham WM. 1976 . The internal model principle of control theory. Automatica 12 : 457– 65 [Google Scholar]
90. Brown GS , Campbell DP. 1948 . Principles of Servomechanisms: Dynamics and Synthesis of Closed-Loop Control Systems New York: Wiley [Google Scholar]
91. Mason MT. 1993 . Kicking the sensing habit. AI Mag 14 : 1 58– 59 [Google Scholar]
92. Erdmann M , Mason MT. 1988 . An exploration of sensorless manipulation. IEEE J. Robot. Autom . 4 : 369– 79 [Google Scholar]
93. Brooks R. 1986 . A robust layered control system for a mobile robot. IEEE J. Robot. Autom . 2 : 14– 23 [Google Scholar]
94. Roberts SF , Koditschek DE , Miracchi LJ. 2020 . Examples of Gibsonian affordances in legged robotics research using an empirical, generative framework. Front. Neurorobot . 14 : 12 [Google Scholar]
95. Metz C. 2019 . Turing Award won by 3 pioneers in artificial intelligence. New York Times Mar. 27. https://www.nytimes.com/2019/03/27/technology/turing-award-ai.html [Google Scholar]
96. Narendra KS , Parthasarathy K. 1990 . Identification and control of dynamical systems using neural networks. IEEE Trans. Neural Netw . 1 : 4– 27 [Google Scholar]
97. Esteves C , Allen-Blanchette C , Makadia A , Daniilidis K 2018 . Learning SO(3) equivariant representations with spherical CNNs. Computer Vision – ECCV 2018 V Ferrari, M Hebert, C Sminchisescu, Y Weiss 54– 70 Cham, Switz: Springer [Google Scholar]
98. Buehler M , Iagnemma K , Singh S 2009 . The DARPA Urban Challenge: Autonomous Vehicles in City Traffic Berlin: Springer [Google Scholar]
99. Sofge E. 2015 . The DARPA Robotics Challenge was a bust. Popular Science July 6. https://www.popsci.com/darpa-robotics-challenge-was-bust-why-darpa-needs-try-again [Google Scholar]
100. Marcus G. 2012 . Why making robots is so darn hard. New Yorker Dec. 13. https://www.newyorker.com/news/news-desk/why-making-robots-is-so-darn-hard [Google Scholar]
101. Guizzo E , Ackerman E. 2015 . The hard lessons of DARPA's Robotics Challenge. IEEE Spect 52 : 8 11– 13 [Google Scholar]
102. Schmelzer R. 2018 . Why are robotics companies dying. ? Forbes Oct. 29. https://www.forbes.com/sites/cognitiveworld/2018/10/29/why-are-robotics-companies-dying [Google Scholar]
103. Vanderborght B. 2019 . Robotic dreams, robotic realities. IEEE Robot. Autom. Mag . 26 : 1 4– 5 [Google Scholar]
104. Mervis J 2020 . U.S. Lawmakers unveil bold $100 billion plan to remake NSF. Science May 26. https://www.sciencemag.org/news/2020/05/us-lawmakers-unveil-bold-100-billion-plan-remake-nsf [Google Scholar]
105. Kerry CF , Karsten J 2017 . Gauging investment in self-driving cars Rep., Brookings Inst Washington, DC: [Google Scholar]
106. Bhana Y. 2015 . Drone technology: a tricky take-off or the future of ecommerce. ? TranslateMedia Feb. 9. https://www.translatemedia.com/us/blog-us/drone-technology-tricky-take-off-future-ecommerce [Google Scholar]
107. Rosenberg N. 1976 . Perspectives on Technology Cambridge, UK: Cambridge Univ. Press [Google Scholar]
108. Rizzo U , Barbieri N , Ramaciotti L , Iannantuono D. 2020 . The division of labour between academia and industry for the generation of radical inventions. J. Technol. Transf . 45 : 393– 413 [Google Scholar]
109. Latombe JC. 1991 . Robot Motion Planning New York: Springer [Google Scholar]
110. Thrun S , Burgard W , Fox D. 2006 . Probabilistic Robotics Cambridge, MA: MIT Press [Google Scholar]
111. Mason MT , Salisbury JK Jr 1985 . Robot Hands and the Mechanics of Manipulation Cambridge, MA: MIT Press [Google Scholar]
112. Mason MT. 2001 . Mechanics of Robotic Manipulation Cambridge, MA: MIT Press [Google Scholar]
113. Raibert MH. 1986 . Legged Robots That Balance Cambridge, MA: MIT Press [Google Scholar]
114. Westervelt ER , Grizzle JW , Chevallereau C , Choi JH , Morris B. 2007 . Feedback Control of Dynamic Bipedal Robot Locomotion Boca Raton, FL: CRC [Google Scholar]
115. Tedre M , Simon , Malmi L 2018 . Changing aims of computing education: a historical survey. Comput. Sci. Educ. 28 : 158– 86 [Google Scholar]
116. Hewitt C , Kumar V. 2018 . The gap in CS, mulling irrational exuberance. Commun. ACM 61 : 11 8– 9 [Google Scholar]
117. Dixon L. 2020 . Autonowashing: the greenwashing of vehicle automation. Transp. Res. Interdiscip. Perspect . 5 : 100113 [Google Scholar]
118. SAE Int 2014 . Taxonomy and definitions for terms related to on-road motor vehicle automated driving systems Stand. J3016, SAE Int. Warrendale, PA: [Google Scholar]
119. Shladover SE. 2018 . Connected and automated vehicle systems: introduction and overview. J. Intel. Transp. Syst . 22 : 190– 200 [Google Scholar]
120. Soteropoulos A , Mitteregger M , Berger M , Zwirchmayr J. 2020 . Automated drivability: toward an assessment of the spatial deployment of level 4 automated vehicles. Transp. Res. A 136 : 64– 84 [Google Scholar]
121. Miller ID , Cladera F , Cowley A , Shivakumar SS , Lee ES et al. 2020 . Mine tunnel exploration using multiple quadrupedal robots. IEEE Robot. Autom. Lett . 5 : 2840– 47 [Google Scholar]
122. Zhang F , Niu W. 2019 . A survey on formal specification and verification of system-level achievements in industrial circles. Acad. J. Comput. Inf. Sci . 2 : 22– 34 [Google Scholar]
123. Moon FC. 2003 . Franz Reuleaux: contributions to 19th century kinematics and theory of machines. Appl. Mech. Rev . 56 : 261– 85 [Google Scholar]
124. Wiener N. 1948 . Cybernetics: Or Control and Communication in the Animal and the Machine New York: Wiley & Sons [Google Scholar]
125. Conway F , Siegelman J. 2006 . Dark Hero of the Information Age: In Search of Norbert Wiener, the Father of Cybernetics New York: Basic Books [Google Scholar]
126. Mayr O. 1971 . Maxwell and the origins of cybernetics. Isis 62 : 425– 44 [Google Scholar]
127. Newell A , Simon HA. 1972 . Human Problem Solving Englewood Cliffs, NJ: Prentice Hall [Google Scholar]
128. Krieger A , Susil RC , Menard C , Coleman JA , Fichtinger G et al. 2005 . Design of a novel MRI compatible manipulator for image guided prostate interventions. IEEE Trans. Biomed. Eng . 52 : 306– 13 [Google Scholar]
129. Fasola J , Mataric MJ. 2012 . Using socially assistive human–robot interaction to motivate physical exercise for older adults. Proc. IEEE 100 : 2512– 26 [Google Scholar]
130. Jacobs LF. 2012 . From chemotaxis to the cognitive map: the function of olfaction. PNAS 109 : 10693– 700 [Google Scholar]
131. Ilton M , Bhamla MS , Ma X , Cox SM , Fitchett LL et al. 2018 . The principles of cascading power limits in small, fast biological and engineered systems. Science 360 : eaao1082 [Google Scholar]
132. Clark J , Goldman DI , Lin PC , Lynch G , Chen TS et al. 2008 . Design of a bio-inspired dynamical vertical climbing robot. Robotics: Science and Systems III W Burgard, O Brock, C Stachniss 9– 16 Cambridge, MA: MIT Press [Google Scholar]
133. Goldman DI , Chen TS , Dudek DM , Full RJ. 2006 . Dynamics of rapid vertical climbing in cockroaches reveals a template. J. Exp. Biol . 209 : 2990– 3000 [Google Scholar]
134. Lynch GA , Clark JE , Lin PC , Koditschek DE. 2012 . A bioinspired dynamical vertical climbing robot. Int. J. Robot. Res . 31 : 974– 96 [Google Scholar]
135. Federle W , Labonte D. 2019 . Dynamic biological adhesion: mechanisms for controlling attachment during locomotion. Philos. Trans. R. Soc. B 374 : 20190199 [Google Scholar]
136. Autumn K , Dittmore A , Santos D , Spenko M , Cutkosky M. 2006 . Frictional adhesion: a new angle on gecko attachment. J. Exp. Biol . 209 : 3569– 79 [Google Scholar]
137. Santos D , Spenko M , Parness A , Kim S , Cutkosky M. 2007 . Directional adhesion for climbing: theoretical and practical considerations. J. Adhes. Sci. Technol . 21 : 1317– 41 [Google Scholar]
138. Cutkosky MR. 2015 . Climbing with adhesion: from bioinspiration to biounderstanding. Interface Focus 5 : 20150015 [Google Scholar]
139. Asbeck AT , Kim S , Cutkosky MR , Provancher WR , Lanzetta M. 2006 . Scaling hard vertical surfaces with compliant microspine arrays. Int. J. Robot. Res . 25 : 1165– 79 [Google Scholar]
140. Kim S , Spenko M , Trujillo S , Heyneman B , Santos D , Cutkosky MR. 2008 . Smooth vertical surface climbing with directional adhesion. IEEE Trans. Syst. Man Cybernet. C 24 : 65– 74 [Google Scholar]
141. Jamone L , Ugur E , Cangelosi A , Fadiga L , Bernardino A et al. 2018 . Affordances in psychology, neuroscience, and robotics: a survey. IEEE Trans. Cogn. Dev. Syst . 10 : 4– 25 [Google Scholar]
142. Li C , Zhang T , Goldman DI. 2013 . A terradynamics of legged locomotion on granular media. Science 339 : 1408– 12 [Google Scholar]
143. Othayoth R , Thoms G , Li C 2020 . An energy landscape approach to locomotor transitions in complex 3D terrain. PNAS 117 : 14987– 95 [Google Scholar]
144. Boothroyd G. 1994 . Product design for manufacture and assembly. Comput.-Aided Des 26 : 505– 20 [Google Scholar]
145. Papadakis P. 2013 . Terrain traversability analysis methods for unmanned ground vehicles: a survey. Eng. Appl. Artif. Intell . 26 : 1373– 85 [Google Scholar]
146. Shill JJ , Collins EG Jr , Coyle E , Clark J 2015 . Tactile surface classification for limbed robots using a pressure sensitive robot skin. Bioinspir. Biomimet . 10 : 016012 [Google Scholar]
147. Wu XA , Huh TM , Sabin A , Suresh SA , Cutkosky MR. 2019 . Tactile sensing and terrain-based gait control for small legged robots. IEEE Trans. Robot . 36 : 15– 27 [Google Scholar]
148. Marden JH , Allen LR 2002 . Molecules, muscles, and machines: universal performance characteristics of motors. PNAS 99 : 4161– 66 [Google Scholar]
149. Kenneally G , Chen WH , Koditschek DE 2018 . Actuator transparency and the energetic cost of proprioception. Proceedings of the 2018 International Symposium on Experimental Robotics J Xiao, T Kröger, O Khatib 485– 95 Cham, Switz: Springer [Google Scholar]
150. Alexander R. 1990 . Three uses for springs in legged locomotion. Int. J. Robot. Res . 9 : 53– 61 [Google Scholar]
151. Kenneally G , De A , Koditschek DE. 2016 . Design principles for a family of direct-drive legged robots. IEEE Robot. Autom. Lett . 1 : 900– 7 [Google Scholar]
152. Pratt GA , Williamson MM. 1995 . Series elastic actuators. Proceedings of the 1995 IEEE/RSJ International Conference on Intelligent Robots and Systems , Vol. 1 399– 406 Piscataway, NJ: IEEE [Google Scholar]
153. Loughlin C , Albu-Schäffer A , Haddadin S , Ott C , Stemmer A et al. 2007 . The DLR lightweight robot: design and control concepts for robots in human environments. Ind. Robot 34 : 376– 85 [Google Scholar]
154. Duperret J , Kramer B , Koditschek DE 2016 . Core actuation promotes self-manipulability on a direct-drive quadrupedal robot. 2016 International Symposium on Experimental Robotics D Kulić, Y Nakamura, O Khatib, G Venture 147– 59 Cham, Switz: Springer [Google Scholar]
155. Topping TT , Kenneally G , Koditschek D. 2017 . Quasi-static and dynamic mismatch for door opening and stair climbing with a legged robot. 2017 IEEE International Conference on Robotics and Automation 1080– 87 Piscataway, NJ: IEEE [Google Scholar]
156. Gilpin K , Rus D. 2010 . Modular robot systems. IEEE Robot. Autom. Mag . 17 : 3 38– 55 [Google Scholar]
157. Rubenstein M , Cornejo A , Nagpal R. 2014 . Programmable self-assembly in a thousand-robot swarm. Science 345 : 795– 99 [Google Scholar]
158. Yim M , Shen WM , Salemi B , Rus D , Moll M et al. 2007 . Modular self-reconfigurable robot systems. Robot. Autom. Mag. IEEE 14 : 1 43– 52 [Google Scholar]
159. Daudelin J , Jing G , Tosun T , Yim M , Kress-Gazit H , Campbell M. 2018 . An integrated system for perception-driven autonomy with modular robots. Sci. Robot . 3 : eaat4983 [Google Scholar]
160. Tosun T , Sung C , McCloskey C , Yim M. 2019 . Optimal structure synthesis for environment augmenting robots. IEEE Robot. Autom. Lett . 4 : 1069– 76 [Google Scholar]
161. Bourgeois J , Goldstein SC. 2015 . Distributed intelligent MEMS: progresses and perspectives. IEEE Syst. J . 9 : 1057– 68 [Google Scholar]
162. Jindrich DL , Full RJ. 2002 . Dynamic stabilization of rapid hexapedal locomotion. J. Exp. Biol . 205 : 2803– 23 [Google Scholar]
163. Daley MA , Voloshina A , Biewener AA. 2009 . The role of intrinsic muscle mechanics in the neuromuscular control of stable running in the guinea fowl. J. Physiol . 587 : 2693– 707 [Google Scholar]
164. Diacu F , Holmes P. 1999 . Celestial Encounters: The Origins of Chaos and Stability Princeton, NJ: Princeton Univ. Press [Google Scholar]
165. Bemporad A , Morari M. 1999 . Control of systems integrating logic, dynamics, and constraints. Automatica 35 : 407– 27 [Google Scholar]
166. Conley CC. 1978 . Isolated Invariant Sets and the Morse Index Providence, RI: Am Math. Soc. [Google Scholar]
167. Culbertson J , Gustafson P , Koditschek DE , Stiller PF. 2020 . Formal composition of hybrid systems. Theory Appl. Categ . 35 : 1634– 82 [Google Scholar]
168. Kvalheim MD , Gustafson P , Koditschek DE. 2020 . Conley's fundamental theorem for a class of hybrid systems. arXiv:2005.03217 [math.DS] (in review for SIAM J. Appl. Dyn. Syst .)
169. Johnson AM , Burden SA , Koditschek DE. 2016 . A hybrid systems model for simple manipulation and self-manipulation systems. Int. J. Robot. Res . 35 : 1354– 92 [Google Scholar]
170. Goebel R , Sanfelice RG , Teel A. 2009 . Hybrid dynamical systems. IEEE Control Syst. Mag . 29 : 2 28– 93 [Google Scholar]
171. Koditschek DE 1989 . The application of total energy as a Lyapunov function for mechanical control systems. Dynamics and Control of Multibody Systems JE Marsden, PS Krishnaprasad, JC Simo 131– 57 Providence, RI: Am. Math. Soc. [Google Scholar]
172. Whitney DE. 1969 . Resolved motion rate control of manipulators and human prostheses. IEEE Trans. Man-Mach. Syst . 10 : 47– 53 [Google Scholar]
173. Reif JH. 1979 . Complexity of the mover's problem and generalizations. 20th Annual Symposium on Foundations of Computer Science 421– 27 Piscataway, NJ: IEEE [Google Scholar]
174. LaValle SM. 2006 . Planning Algorithms Cambridge, UK: Cambridge Univ. Press [Google Scholar]
175. Canny JF. 1988 . Complexity of Robot Motion Planning Cambridge, MA: MIT Press [Google Scholar]
176. LaValle SM , Kuffner JJ. 2001 . Randomized kinodynamic planning. Int. J. Robot. Res . 20 : 378– 400 [Google Scholar]
177. Farber M. 2003 . Topological complexity of motion planning. Discrete Comput. Geom . 29 : 211– 21 [Google Scholar]
178. Koditschek DE. 1992 . Task encoding: toward a scientific paradigm for robot planning and control. Robot. Auton. Syst . 9 : 5– 39 [Google Scholar]
179. Khatib O. 1986 . Real-time obstacle avoidance for manipulators and mobile robots. Int. J. Robot. Res . 5 : 90– 98 [Google Scholar]
180. Koditschek DE , Rimon E. 1990 . Robot navigation functions on manifolds with boundary. Adv. Appl. Math . 11 : 412– 42 [Google Scholar]
181. Bhatia NP , Szegö GP. 2002 . Stability Theory of Dynamical Systems Berlin: Springer [Google Scholar]
182. Baryshnikov Y , Shapiro B 2014 . How to run a centipede: a topological perspective. Geometric Control Theory and Sub-Riemannian Geometry G Stefani, U Boscain, J-P Gauthier, A Sarychev, M Sigalotti 37– 51 Cham, Switz: Springer [Google Scholar]
183. Baryshnikov Y. 2015 . Topological perplexity in feedback stabilization Paper presented at the Summer Graduate Program in Mathematics on Topological Methods in Complex Systems, Institute for Mathematics and Its Applications Minneapolis, MN: July 25. https://faculty.math.illinois.edu/∼ymb/talks/perp_talk/perp.html [Google Scholar]
184. Burridge RR , Rizzi AA , Koditschek DE. 1999 . Sequential composition of dynamically dexterous robot behaviors. Int. J. Robot. Res . 18 : 534– 55 [Google Scholar]
185. Lozano-Perez T , Mason MT , Taylor RH. 1984 . Automatic synthesis of fine-motion strategies for robots. Int. J. Robot. Res . 3 : 3– 24 [Google Scholar]
186. Fikes RE , Nilsson NJ. 1971 . STRIPS: a new approach to the application of theorem proving to problem solving. Artif. Intell . 2 : 189– 208 [Google Scholar]
187. Hogan N. 1985 . Impedance control: an approach to manipulation: part I—theory. J. Dyn. Syst. Meas. Control 107 : 1– 7 [Google Scholar]
188. Guastello S , Nathan D , Johnson MJ 2009 . Attractor and Lyapunov models for reach and grasp movements with application to robot-assisted therapy. Nonlinear Dyn. Psychol. Life Sci . 13 : 99– 121 [Google Scholar]
189. Bloch A , Chang DE , Leonard N , Marsden J 2001 . Controlled Lagrangians and the stabilization of mechanical systems. II. Potential shaping. IEEE Trans. Autom. Control 46 : 1556– 71 [Google Scholar]
190. Arslan O , Guralnik DP , Koditschek DE. 2016 . Coordinated robot navigation via hierarchical clustering. IEEE Trans. Robot . 32 : 352– 71 [Google Scholar]
191. Farber M , Grant M , Lupton G , Oprea J. 2019 . An upper bound for topological complexity. Topol. Appl. 255 : 109– 25 [Google Scholar]
192. Johnson AM , Koditschek DE. 2013 . Toward a vocabulary of legged leaping. 2013 IEEE International Conference on Robotics and Automation 2568– 75 Piscataway, NJ: IEEE [Google Scholar]
193. Brill A , De A , Johnson AM , Koditschek DE. 2015 . Tail-assisted rigid and compliant legged leaping. 2015 IEEE/RSJ International Conference on Intelligent Robots and Systems 6304– 11 Piscataway, NJ: IEEE [Google Scholar]
194. Haynes GC , Cohen FR , Koditschek DE. 2011 . Gait transitions for quasi-static hexapedal locomotion on level ground. Robotics Research: The 14th International Symposium ISRR 105– 21 Berlin: Springer [Google Scholar]
195. Koditschek DE 1989 . Robot planning and control via potential functions. The Robotics Review 1 JJ Craig, O Khatib, T Lozano-Pérez 349– 67 Cambridge, MA: MIT Press [Google Scholar]
196. Donald B , Xavier P , Canny J , Reif J. 1993 . Kinodynamic motion planning. J. ACM 40 : 1048– 66 [Google Scholar]
197. Koditschek DE. 1987 . Adaptive techniques for mechanical systems. Proceedings of the Fifth Yale Workshop on Applications of Adaptive Systems Theory 259– 65 New Haven, CT: Yale Univ. [Google Scholar]
198. Rizzi A. 1998 . Hybrid control as a method for robot motion programming. 1998 IEEE International Conference on Robotics and Automation , Vol. 1 832– 37 Piscataway, NJ: IEEE [Google Scholar]
199. Ayanian N , Kallem V , Kumar V. 2011 . Synthesis of feedback controllers for multiple aerial robots with geometric constraints. 2011 IEEE/RSJ International Conference on Intelligent Robots and Systems 3126– 31 Piscataway, NJ: IEEE [Google Scholar]
200. Bemporad A , Morari M 1999 . Robust model predictive control: a survey. Robustness in Identification and Control A Garulli, A Tesi 207– 26 London: Springer [Google Scholar]
201. Conway L. 2012 . Reminiscences of the VLSI revolution: how a series of failures triggered a paradigm shift in digital design. IEEE Solid-State Circuits Mag 4 : 4 8– 31 [Google Scholar]
202. Bernstein N. 1967 . The Coordination and Regulation of Movements Oxford, UK: Pergamon [Google Scholar]
203. Full R , Koditschek D. 1999 . Templates and anchors: neuromechanical hypotheses of legged locomotion on land. J. Exp. Biol . 202 : 3325– 32 [Google Scholar]
204. Libby T , Johnson AM , Chang-Siu E , Full RJ , Koditschek DE. 2015 . Comparative design, scaling, and control of appendages for inertial reorientation. IEEE Trans. Robot . 32 : 1380– 98 [Google Scholar]
205. Eldering J , Kvalheim M , Revzen S. 2018 . Global linearization and fiber bundle structure of invariant manifolds. Nonlinearity 31 : 4202– 45 [Google Scholar]
206. De A , Burden SA , Koditschek DE. 2018 . A hybrid dynamical extension of averaging and its application to the analysis of legged gait stability. Int. J. Robot. Res . 37 : 266– 86 [Google Scholar]
207. De A , Koditschek DE 2018 . Averaged anchoring of decoupled templates in a tail-energized monoped. Robotics Research: Volume 2 A Bicchi, W Burgard 269– 85 Cham, Switz: Springer [Google Scholar]
208. De A , Koditschek DE 2018 . Vertical hopper compositions for preflexive and feedback-stabilized quadrupedal bounding, pacing, pronking, and trotting. Int. J. Robot. Res . 37 : 743– 78 [Google Scholar]
209. Franci A , Golubitsky M , Bizyaeva A , Leonard NE. 2020 . A model-independent theory of consensus and dissensus decision making. arXiv:1909.05765 [math.OC]
210. Guckenheimer J , Holmes P. 1983 . Nonlinear Oscillations, Dynamical Systems, and Bifurcations of Vector Fields New York: Springer [Google Scholar]
211. Topping TT , Vasilopoulos V , De A , Koditschek DE 2019 . Composition of templates for transitional pedipulation behaviors Paper presented at the International Symposium on Robotics Research Hanoi, Vietnam: Oct. 6–10. https://repository.upenn.edu/ese_papers/860 [Google Scholar]
212. Bizzi E , Mussa-Ivaldi FA , Giszter S 1991 . Computations underlying the execution of movement: a biological perspective. Science 253 : 287– 91 [Google Scholar]
213. Ting LH , McKay JL. 2007 . Neuromechanics of muscle synergies for posture and movement. Curr. Opin. Neurobiol . 17 : 622– 28 [Google Scholar]
214. Ting L , Chiel H , Trumbower R , Allen J , McKay JL et al. 2015 . Neuromechanical principles underlying movement modularity and their implications for rehabilitation. Neuron 86 : 38– 54 [Google Scholar]
215. Taborri J , Agostini V , Artemiadis PK , Ghislieri M , Jacobs DA et al. 2018 . Feasibility of muscle synergy outcomes in clinics, robotics, and sports: a systematic review. Appl. Bionics Biomech . 2018 : 3934698 [Google Scholar]
216. Ghrist RW. 2014 . Elementary Applied Topology Scotts Valley, CA: CreateSpace [Google Scholar]
217. Barr M , Wells C. 1990 . Category Theory for Computing Science New York: Prentice Hall [Google Scholar]
218. Hudak P , Courtney A , Nilsson H , Peterson J 2002 . Arrows, robots, and functional reactive programming. Advanced Functional Programming: Revised Lectures J Jeuring, SLP Jones 159– 87 Berlin: Springer [Google Scholar]
219. Perez I , Bärenz M , Nilsson H. 2016 . Functional reactive programming, refactored. ACM SIGPLAN Not 51 : 12 33– 44 [Google Scholar]
220. Brockett RW. 1988 . On the computer control of movement. 1988 IEEE International Conference on Robotics and Automation 534– 40 Piscataway, NJ: IEEE [Google Scholar]
221. Murray R , Deno D , Pister K , Sastry S. 1992 . Control primitives for robot systems. IEEE Trans. Syst. Man Cybernet . 22 : 183– 193 [Google Scholar]
222. Manikonda V , Krishnaprasad PS , Hendler J 1999 . Languages, behaviors, hybrid architectures, and motion control. Mathematical Control Theory J Baillieul, JC Willems 199– 226 New York: Springer [Google Scholar]
223. Hristu-Varsakelis D , Egerstedt M , Krishnaprasad PS. 2003 . On the structural complexity of the motion description language MDLe. 42nd IEEE International Conference on Decision and Control , Vol. 4 3360– 65 Piscataway, NJ: IEEE [Google Scholar]
224. Doyen L , Frehse G , Pappas GJ , Platzer A 2018 . Verification of hybrid systems. Handbook of Model Checking EM Clarke, TA Henzinger, H Veith, R Bloem 1047– 110 Cham, Switz: Springer [Google Scholar]
225. Kress-Gazit H , Fainekos G , Pappas G. 2009 . Temporal-logic-based reactive mission and motion planning. IEEE Trans. Robot . 25 : 1370– 81 [Google Scholar]
226. Dantam N , Stilman M. 2013 . The motion grammar: analysis of a linguistic method for robot control. IEEE Trans. Robot . 29 : 704– 18 [Google Scholar]
227. Kress-Gazit H , Fainekos GE , Pappas GJ. 2008 . Translating structured English to robot controllers. Adv. Robot . 22 : 1343– 59 [Google Scholar]
228. Tellex S , Kollar T , Dickerson S , Walter MR , Banerjee AG et al. 2011 . Understanding natural language commands for robotic navigation and mobile manipulation. Proceedings of the Twenty-Fifth AAAI Conference on Artificial Intelligence 1507– 14 Palo Alto, CA: AAAI Press [Google Scholar]
229. Saha I , Ramaithitima R , Kumar V , Pappas GJ , Seshia SA. 2014 . Automated composition of motion primitives for multi-robot systems from safe LTL specifications. 2014 IEEE/RSJ International Conference on Intelligent Robots and Systems 1525– 32 Piscataway, NJ: IEEE [Google Scholar]
230. Wong KW , Ehlers R , Kress-Gazit H. 2018 . Resilient, provably-correct, and high-level robot behaviors. IEEE Trans. Robot . 34 : 936– 52 [Google Scholar]
231. Tellex S , Gopalan N , Kress-Gazit H , Matuszek C. 2020 . Robots that use language. Annu. Rev. Control Robot. Auton. Syst . 3 : 25– 55 [Google Scholar]
232. Cowley A , Taylor CJ. 2011 . Stream-oriented robotics programming: the design of roshask. 2011 IEEE/RSJ International Conference on Intelligent Robots and Systems 1048– 54 Piscataway, NJ: IEEE [Google Scholar]
233. Kortik S , Saranli U. 2019 . Robotic task planning using a backchaining theorem prover for multiplicative exponential first-order linear logic. J. Intell. Robot. Syst . 96 : 179– 91 [Google Scholar]
234. Gorn S. 1963 . The computer and information sciences: a new basic discipline. SIAM Rev 5 : 150– 55 [Google Scholar]
235. Hofstra B , Kulkarni VV , Galvez SMN , He B , Jurafsky D , McFarland DA 2020 . The diversity–innovation paradox in science. PNAS 117 : 9284– 91 [Google Scholar]
236. Stoet G , Geary DC. 2018 . The gender-equality paradox in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics education. Psychol. Sci . 29 : 581– 93 [Google Scholar]
237. Merolla DM , Jackson O 2019 . Structural racism as the fundamental cause of the academic achievement gap. Sociol. Compass 13 : e12696 [Google Scholar]
238. NAFSA 2020 . Losing talent: an economic and foreign policy risk America can't ignore Policy Resour., NAFSA Washington, DC: [Google Scholar]
239. Quinn DM , Cooc N. 2015 . Science achievement gaps by gender and race/ethnicity in elementary and middle school: trends and predictors. Educ. Res . 44 : 336– 46 [Google Scholar]
240. Mendoza-Denton R , Patt C , Fisher A , Eppig A , Young I et al. 2017 . Differences in stem doctoral publication by ethnicity, gender and academic field at a large public research university. PLOS ONE 12 : e0174296 [Google Scholar]
241. Whittaker JA , Montgomery BL , Martinez Acosta VG 2015 . Retention of underrepresented minority faculty: strategic initiatives for institutional value proposition based on perspectives from a range of academic institutions. J. Undergrad. Neurosci. Educ . 13 : A136– 45 [Google Scholar]
242. Berends M. 2015 . Sociology and school choice: what we know after two decades of charter schools. Annu. Rev. Sociol . 41 : 159– 80 [Google Scholar]
243. Jabbar H , Fong CJ , Germain E , Li D , Sanchez J et al. 2019 . The competitive effects of school choice on student achievement: a systematic review. Educ. Policy https://doi.org/10.1177/0895904819874756 [Crossref] [Google Scholar]
244. Mishra S. 2020 . Social networks, social capital, social support and academic success in higher education: a systematic review with a special focus on ‘underrepresented’ students. Educ. Res. Rev . 29 : 100307 [Google Scholar]
245. Jenkins C. 2020 . Before we put $100 billion into AI.…. VentureBeat Aug. 8. https://venturebeat.com/2020/08/08/before-we-put-100-billion-into-ai [Google Scholar]
246. Johnson AM , Axinn S. 2013 . The morality of autonomous robots. J. Mil. Ethics 12 : 129– 41 [Google Scholar]
247. Vardi MY. 2016 . Are robots taking our jobs?. The Conversation Apr. 6. https://theconversation.com/are-robots-taking-our-jobs-56537 [Google Scholar]
248. Bernstein A , Raman A. 2015 . The great decoupling: an interview with Erik Brynjolfsson and Andrew McAfee. Harvard Business Review June. https://hbr.org/2015/06/the-great-decoupling [Google Scholar]
249. Zysman J , Kenney M. 2018 . The next phase in the digital revolution: intelligent tools, platforms, growth, employment. Commun. ACM 61 : 2 54– 63 [Google Scholar]
250. Hecht B , Wilcox L , Bigham JP , Schöning JP , Hoque E et al. 2018 . It's time to do something: mitigating the negative impacts of computing through a change to the peer review process. ACM Future of Computing Blog Mar. 29. https://acm-fca.org/2018/03/29/negativeimpacts [Google Scholar]
251. World Econ. Forum 2018 . The future of jobs report 2018 Rep., World Econ. Forum Geneva: [Google Scholar]
252. Autor DH. 2015 . Why are there still so many jobs? The history and future of workplace automation. J. Econ. Perspect . 29 : 3 3– 30 [Google Scholar]
253. Howard A , Kennedy M III 2020 . Robots are not immune to bias and injustice. Sci. Robot . 5 : eabf1364 [Google Scholar]

Supplementary Data

Download the Supplemental Appendix (PDF).

Article Type: Review Article

Most Read This Month

Most cited most cited rss feed, planning and decision-making for autonomous vehicles, learning-based model predictive control: toward safe learning in control, recent advances in robot learning from demonstration, a tour of reinforcement learning: the view from continuous control, haptics: the present and future of artificial touch sensation, safe learning in robotics: from learning-based control to safe reinforcement learning, magnetic methods in robotics, a century of robotic hands, distributed optimization for control, soft micro- and nanorobotics.

The Inventory

Support Quartz

Fund next-gen business journalism with $10 a month

Free Newsletters

How the robots alongside us will make the world a better place

People often ask me about the real-life potential for inhumane, merciless systems like Hal 9000 or the Terminator to destroy our society.

Growing up in Belgium and away from Hollywood, my initial impressions of robots were not so violent. In retrospect, my early positive affiliations with robots likely fueled my drive to build machines to make our everyday lives more enjoyable. Robots working alongside humans to manage day-to-day mundane tasks was a world I wanted to help create.

Now, many years later, after emigrating to the United States, finishing my PhD under Andrew Ng , starting the Berkeley Robot Learning Lab , and co-founding Covariant , I’m convinced that robots are becoming sophisticated enough to be the allies and helpful teammates that I hoped for as a child.

Recent advances in artificial intelligence (AI) are leading to the emergence of a new class of robot. These are machines that go beyond the traditional bots running preprogrammed motions; these are robots that can see, learn, think, and react to their surroundings.

While we may not personally witness or interact with robots directly in our daily lives, there will be a day over the next five years in which our households and workplaces are dependent upon the role of robots to run smoothly. Here are a few standout examples, drawn from some of my guests on The Robot Brains Podcast .

Robots that deliver medical supplies to extremely remote places

After spending months in Africa and South America talking to medical and disaster relief providers, Keenan Wyrobek foresaw how AI-powered drone technology could make a positive impact. He started Zipline , which provides drones to handle important and dangerous deliveries. Now shipping one ton of products a day, the company is helping communities in need by using robots to accomplish critical deliveries (they’re even delivering in parts of the US ).

Robots that automate recycling

Recycling is one of the most important activities we can do for a healthier planet. However, it’s a massive undertaking. Consider that each human being produces almost 5 lbs of waste a day and there are 7.8 billion of us. The real challenge comes in with second sorting—the separation process applied once the easy-to-sort materials have been filtered. Matanya Horowitz sat down with me to explain how AMP Robotics helps facilities across the globe save and reuse valuable materials that are worth billions of dollars but were traditionally lost to landfills.

Robots that handle dangerous, repetitive warehouse tasks

Marc Segura of ABB , a robotics firm started in 1988, shared real stories from warehouses across the globe in which robots are managing jobs that have high-accident rates or long-term health consequences for humans. With robots that are strong enough to lift one-ton cars with just one arm, and other robots that can build delicate computer chips (a task that can cause long-term vision impairments for a person), there are a whole range of machines handling tasks not fit for humans.

Working on ABB robotic equipment meant for use in warehouses.

Robots to help nurses on the frontlines

Long before covid-19 started calling our attention to the overworked nature of being a healthcare worker, Andrea Thomas of Diligent Robots noticed the issue. She spoke with me about the inspiration for designing Moxi, a nurse helper. Now being used in Dallas hospitals , the robots help clinical staff with tasks that don’t involve interacting with patients. Nurses have reported lowered stress levels as mundane errands like supply stocking is automatically handled. Moxi is even adding a bit of cheer to patients’ days as well.

A Moxie robot assists in a healthcare setting

Robots that run indoor farms

Picking and sorting the harvest is the most time-sensitive and time-consuming task on a farm. Getting it right can make a massive difference to the crop’s return. I got the chance to speak with AppHarvest ’s Josh Lessing , who built the world’s first “cross-crop” AI, Virgo, that learned how to pick all different types of produce. Virgo can switch between vastly different shapes, densities, and growth scenarios, meaning one day it can pick tomatoes, the next cucumbers, and after that, strawberries. Virgo currently operates at the AppHarvest greenhouses in Kentucky to grow non-GMO, chemical-free produce.

The robot future has already begun

Collaborating with software-driven co-workers is no longer the future; it’s now. Perhaps you’ve already seen some examples. You’ll be seeing a lot more in the decade to come.

Pieter Abbeel is the director of the Berkeley Robot Learning Lab and a co-founder of Covariant, an AI robotics firm. Subscribe to his podcast wherever you like to listen.

📬 Sign up for the Daily Brief

Our free, fast, and fun briefing on the global economy, delivered every weekday morning.

In the News

Robotics in the 21st Century

Building robots for the people.

The image that comes to mind when you hear Professor John Leonard describe his dream of developing a robot that is what he calls “a lifelong learner” is so cinematic it’s almost hard to believe:

“Maybe it operates for six or eight hours a day,” he begins. “It plugs itself in overnight, recharges its batteries, and ‘dreams’ about all the experiences it had that day. It does that same thing night after night, building models up over time so that it gradually gains a better understanding of the world and a better decision-making capability for taking the right actions.”

That something like this might be possible in our lifetime prompts us to ask ourselves if we’re not the ones who are dreaming.

It begs another question too: To what end? What place do advanced robotics have in the timeline of human progress? What do we really gain from these advancements? Is it simply a nerdy satisfaction that comes from knowing it can be done? Is it just a self-fulfillment of our science-fiction fantasies and fears?

Faculty in the MIT Department of Mechanical Engineering believe there is more to it than that. There is human progress to be made, and not just in the areas of first-world conveniences and national defense, although those possibilities exist too. But the potential for significantly improved human health and safety is significant – particularly in the field of assistive technologies for those suffering from paralysis and immobility, and in our ability to deal with or avoid emergencies, such as a threatening fire, a devastating nuclear disaster, a tragic car crash, or a dangerous police or military situation.

“I look at where robots can be really valuable,” says Associate Professor Sangbae Kim. “There are a lot of people looking for jobs, but we’re not interested in taking their jobs and replacing them with a robot. If you think seriously about where you can use a robot, where you really need a robot, it’s in environments where humans could not survive, such as where there have been nuclear disasters. There are many power plants in Europe that have had to shut their doors because people can’t get in to them, or where they need to dispose of waste but can’t because it is too dangerous for a human.”

In situations such as these, where robots can deliver aid that isn’t otherwise accessible, robots can be incredibly helpful. In a hot fire, a humanoid robot like the one Professor Kim is creating could walk into a building, find someone who is trapped, break down the door, pick them up, and carry them safely out. In a hostage situation or a police shootout, a robot could enter an uncertain circumstance, survey the scene, and report back to the police about how many people there are, whether they are carrying weapons, and so on, similar to what happened during the aftermath of the Boston Marathon bombing in 2013 when police found the suspects’ abandoned car and sent PackBots – developed by iRobot, a company co-founded by MechE alumna Helen Greiner – in for reconnaissance.

*****************

HERMES-29_sized.jpg

Associate Professor Sangbae Kim: Disaster Response and Rescue

For many, Professor Kim’s robotic cheetah needs no introduction. The nature-inspired quadruped machine is as graceful and nimble as it is strong and powerful, like the cheetah itself. Built with electric motors – as opposed to hydraulic motors – and self-designed actuators, in collaboration with Professor Jeff Lang in MIT’s Electrical Engineering and Computer Science Department, the robotic cheetah can bear the impact of running for more than an hour at speeds up to 13 mph, can autonomously jump over obstacles and land smoothly, and is powered by an 8-kilogram battery that lasts for two hours.

But you may be surprised to hear that the cheetah is only half of the picture. The other half is HERMES, a quadruped humanoid robot that can stand up on two legs and use its other two limbs for hard mechanical work and object manipulation.

“If you look at all of the current robots in the world, very few of them can do anything that involves dynamic interaction with environments,” says Professor Kim. “Our cheetah is constantly interacting dynamically with the environment, but it is not doing any of the delicate position control tasks that manufacturing robots do. So I’m focused on bringing this dynamically interactive capability and infrastructure from the cheetah to the manipulation world. This will allow our robot to tackle unstructured and unexpected situations in disaster sites.”

HERMES and the cheetah will soon merge to become a life-saving disaster response robot. That unity will result in a robot that looks like a mix between a monkey and a human, and will be able to autonomously direct itself to a dangerous scene where it could, for example, use an ax to break down a door or find a trapped child, instead of sending a firefighter into a life-threatening situation. Or where it can walk into a nuclear disaster to inspect the situation and take emergency action. Modern-day robots have the physical speed in motion to carry out such tasks – in fact, they’re even faster than humans, who, according to Professor Kim, take about 100 to 200 milliseconds to physically respond, whereas robots can respond in a millisecond or two and generate speed much higher than humans can. But what about the quick thinking that is required in emergency situations?

“If a door is jammed and the robot needs to break it down using an ax, there is the question of what strike pattern to use,” says Professor Kim. “It becomes a very complex task, and developing autonomous algorithms for such a variable, complex task can be extremely challenging at this point.”

To overcome this intelligence limitation in robots, Professor Kim is designing a system that incorporates a human operator in the loop. In a virtual reality-type scene, the human operator wears a sensor suit and views the situation through a camera installed on the robot, then gives the robot instructions by simply moving his or her own body in response to the robot’s surroundings and goals, like a “surrogate,” as Professor Kim calls it.

And here is where we meet the one major technical challenge standing between Professor Kim and a saved life: the question of balance – how an operator feels the balance of the robot. Professor Kim and his research group are working now on how to answer this missing piece of the puzzle by developing a force feedback system that informs the human operator about the robot’s balance, allowing the operator to “feel” whether it is going to fall or slip and then virtually correct its center of mass.

He estimates that within five years the technology will be ready for action, and within another five, the disaster bot – part cheetah, part human – will be properly tested and suited up with fireproof materials, ready to jump into the fray.

Professor John Leonard: Simultaneous Localization and Mapping (SLAM)

There are some feats, such as quick decision-making, that robots simply aren’t well suited for – and many technical questions have yet to be answered. Science-fiction movies and mainstream media might lead us to believe that we’re so close to full robot autonomy that we can reach out and touch it, but according to faculty members in MechE, we’re not as close as it may seem.

“Abilities such as object detection and recognition, interpreting the gestures of people, and human-robot interactions are still really challenging research questions,” says Professor John Leonard. “A fully self-driving car, able to drive autonomously in Boston at any time of year, is still quite a long time away, in my opinion, despite some of the predictions being made to the contrary.”

Professor John Leonard was one of the first researchers to work on the problem of simultaneous localization and mapping (SLAM). The question was how to deal with uncertainties in robotic navigation so that a robot can locate and navigate itself on a map that it’s still in the process of building.

SLAM asks three questions: How do you best represent the environment? What trajectory best fits the collected data? What are the constraints of the physical system? Professor Leonard has been working on the most effective ways of answering these questions since his graduate student days at Oxford University. Back then, he says, the sensors to collect data were primitive and the ability to compute large amounts of data was limited. There was – and still is – a lot of uncertainty as a robot moves in space and time toward a future that is completely unknown to it – unknown terrain, unknown objects, unknown twists and turns.

He gives the example of a robot car moving through the world. “If you just count the wheel rotations and try to integrate the change in position, accounting for the changes in heading, there is noise in those measurements. And over time as you integrate that you get increased error. The robot becomes less sure of where it is relative to where it started.

“Also,” he continues, “when a robot measures the world, there are errors in those measurements. Some of the sensor readings are totally sporadic. There is ambiguity. So measurements are uncertain both in how the robot moves and its perception of the world.”

Even in places where the uncertainty is decreased, such as a location where the robot has already been – there is the issue of “dead reckoning error,” meaning that the map the robot develops as it moves is slightly off from its actual trajectory so that when the robot comes back to a known location, identified by the camera’s position, the map shows that it’s slightly adrift from its actual location. Without finding a way to close the loop, the robot becomes lost and can no longer progress in an accurate way.

Professor Leonard, along with collaborators in Ireland, has developed an advanced algorithm that can correct for drift to close loops in dense 3D maps.

In his earlier days when image-processing power was rather weak, Professor Leonard’s solution was focused on sparsity – the idea that less data was more. Instead of collecting entire sets of data, researchers gathered points intermittently, and filled in the gaps with estimations. But now, he says, thanks to video game console developers, GPUs (graphical processing units) are so advanced that, instead of settling for sparse data, he’s gathering data sets that are as dense as possible.

And it’s this improvement in technology – along with techniques to close the loop – that led Professor Leonard to realize that, in combination, the two could enable something that had never been done before in autonomous mapping: an expanded map that wasn’t restricted to a small area.

“If you can accrue the information from a big area,” he explains, “then when you come back to where you started, you can use all that information as a constraint—and propagate that back through your trajectory estimate with improved confidence in its accuracy.”

His current work is the integration of object recognition into SLAM. “If you can represent the world in terms of objects, you will get a more efficient and compact representation of all the raw data. It’s also a way to gain a more semantically meaningful means of presentation for potentially interacting with people. If you could train a system to recognize objects, then the robot could detect the objects and use them to map their locations, and even perhaps manipulate them and move them through the world.”

Professor Domitilla Del Vecchio: On-Board Vehicle Safety Systems

Considering, then, that humans are strong in areas such as intelligence where robots are not, and vice versa, it makes sense that several MechE faculty are focusing on ways to combine their best characteristics into one effective human-robot system. (MechE’s own Professor Emeritus Thomas Sheridan – who, in 1978, established an eight-level taxonomy of human-machine interactions that became the basis for understanding how people interact with products and complex systems – was a pioneer in this field.)

Associate Professor Domitilla Del Vecchio is creating on-board safety systems that provide semi-autonomous control for commercial vehicles, particularly in congested situations prone to crashes such as highway merges, rotaries, and four-way intersections. Her system is programmed to take control of the car as needed in order to achieve safety.

“Full autonomy on the road is probably not going to be realistic for the next five to 10 years,” she says. “We are developing a system that can monitor the driver, monitor the situation in the traffic, and intervene only when it is absolutely necessary.”

You’re probably familiar with a scene like this: A car that was waiting at a four-way intersection starts accelerating. Almost at the same time, another car starts moving toward the first, out of turn, trying to make a left. Before surrounding drivers can even consciously process what is happening, brakes screech and a loud crash pierces the air. Automobile pieces go flying.

Professor Del Vecchio is developing onboard safety controls to help prevent a situation just like that. Her group is designing a safety system that would anticipate this type of collision – before you do – and initiate automatic action on your behalf to prevent it. An extremely complex computation would go on behind the scenes to consider all the facts of the situation – placement of cars, speeds, and angles to determine the probability that the crash will take place.

But there’s a problem: The algorithms to do those computations are incredibly complex, and to do them online would take minutes, which of course you don’t have. “So many of these algorithms that have been developed are beautiful,” says Professor Del Vecchio. “You can run them in simulation, and they work very well. But if you want to implement them on a real-time platform, it’s never going to work.”

Instead of developing algorithms that do the full computations, she has determined where approximations can be made in the algorithms to save time. Since there are certain monotonic aspects of a car’s behavior – break harder, and the speed decreases; increase the throttle, and the speed increases – she has been able to develop algorithms that scale, and calibrate them for a reasonable range of uncertainties, which can also be modeled from data.

“With approximations,” she says, “of course you lose something, so we are also able to quantify those losses and guarantee a certain success rate, a probabilistic safety. In return, we gain quick autonomous decision-making in polynomial time.”

Her research group is also working to find ways of decreasing the uncertainty. If communication is possible from vehicle to vehicle, then a considerable amount of uncertainty is removed and vehicles can cooperate with each other. Although there is a delay that usually renders the information old by the time it arrives, she has developed an algorithm that uses the old information and makes a useful prediction about the present based on it.

Professor Del Vecchio’s group has been collaborating with Toyota since 2008 and with Chrysler since 2013. They have tested their safety systems on full-scale vehicles in realistic scenarios and have found them to be successful. Their ultimate goal is to enable vehicles to become smart systems that optimally interact with both drivers and the environment.

Professor Harry H. Asada: Wearable Robotics

Since Professor Emeritus Sheridan discovered decades ago that humans aren’t particularly good at monitoring otherwise autonomous robots, faculty members like Professor Harry Asada want to take the interactions even further. He has a long-term vision of creating a wearable robot that is so well attuned to its operator through advanced sensing and interpretation that it becomes an extension of their mind and body.

Professor Asada and his research group are focused on developing robotic fingers, arms, and legs to help stroke victims or persons with a physical handicap to compensate for lost functionality, or to enhance human capabilities. It may sound a bit supernatural, but for Professor Asada, it’s anything but. His goal is to build wearable robots that can be perceived as an extension of human limbs. To achieve this goal, his robots must work naturally, through implicit direction from the user, rather than through explicit commands. For his work on robotic fingers, his team started with neuromotor control theory.

“There are 600 muscles and 200 degrees of freedom in the human body,” says Professor Asada. “Our brain does not control all 600 muscles individually. When it sends a command for movement, each command coordinates a group of muscles working together. When you grasp something, the brain is telling the muscles to move according to certain patterns.” Applying that theory to their development of wearable extra fingers, they found that there are three main patterns of motion that, when used in various combinations, make up 95% of common hand movements. The first is the opening and closing of the fingers in sync with each other; the second is an out-of-phase movement; and the third is a twist or rotation of the fingers.

Next, they conducted studies with patients and doctors at Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital and analyzed users’ placement and orientation of their hands while they performed approximately 100 common daily chores, then asked them where additional fingers would be most useful.

Outfitting their test subjects with sensor gloves to detect various combinations of bending joints, Professor Asada’s team was able to design a set of control algorithms based on the resulting data and the known hand-motion patterns, and ultimately program robotic fingers to be prepared for a variety of tasks. On their functioning hand, users wear a glove with embedded sensors that detect their movements. Based on those movements, Professor Asada’s robotic hand, which adds two extra fingers (and six joints), can interpret that data as a certain task and coordinate its two fingers to complement the healthy hand. Professor Asada has also embedded force sensors in the robotic fingers to determine if a stable grasp has been achieved.

This gets to the core of Professor Asada’s research: a robot that can sense which task a user is about to tackle based on their posture, and intuitively and naturally complement it in real time. His ultimate goal is for users of his wearable robotics to forget that they’re wearing them altogether – the robots would be so intuitive and self-sustaining that they would feel like a natural part of the body.

It’s this same principle that drives his other research in wearable robotics as well. His group is also developing extra arms that could be used in manufacturing scenarios where the labor is strenuous, such as work that is consistently done with ones’ arms over their shoulders, or work that would normally require two people. He’s using similar sensors to detect the placement and movement of shoulders, so that the robot arms can determine the task – for example, soldering – and support it; he’s even pursuing the use of a camera that can scan eye movements to determine where a person is looking.

Professor Kamal Youcef-Toumi: Advanced Safety and Intelligence

How many times have you wished aloud to an empty room for some help with a task – to assist with a car repair, clean up the house before a dinner party, or contribute to an assembly line? You probably said it in vain, resigned to the fact that it would never happen in your lifetime, but Professor Kamal Youcef-Toumi has something that will change your mind.

Like Professor Asada, Professor Kamal Youcef-Toumi is developing robots that can sense a gesture or expression from a human collaborator and understand the subtle complexities in meaning – and then “instinctively” understand how best to proceed.

Along with his research group, he is working to implement high-level sensing capabilities of robots that can aid in industrial fields such as manufacturing. One of these capabilities is, well, let’s call it “sensitivity.” He is developing robots that will quite literally “sense” subtle cues from a human who is working by its side, and then through a complex web of algorithms, decipher those cues and adapt to them. To say nothing of the fact that some humans have trouble sensing implicit cues through body language or hand gestures, the thought of a robot picking up on such non-verbal hints is impressive indeed.

“The robot is a machine, so we have to give it information,” says Professor Youcef-Toumi, “but we want it to also have some intelligence of its own so that it’s building on the information we’ve given it, and we don’t have to tell it every little step.

“Imagine we are sitting in a restaurant,” he continues. “We order tea. We don’t have to say to the server, ‘Please bring two cups, two spoons, two napkins, and two saucers.’ All of that is implied. This is similar. The robot starts with some information and uses new information to keep building on that.”

In Professor Youcef-Toumi’s demonstrations, his research group will present the concept using well defined tasks and environments, but his final robot will be able to make decisions about new interactions and environments in real time. He says that the robot – which is not being designed as a humanoid robot at this point – will sense tools or objects, their placement, and human gestures and motion, among other things – to paint a picture for itself about what it is expected to do.

“In the end,” says Professor Youcef-Toumi, “we want the robots and humans working together as if the robot is another human with you, complementing your work, even when you leave the scene and come back. It should adjust to resume complementing you and proceed in that way.” Professor Youcef-Toumi has also been working on a robot that can swim through water or oil in a pipe system, or crawl through one filled with natural gas. The robot his group has designed leverages pressure changes to detect particularly small leaks (down to approximately 1mm) in a pipe made of any material, carrying any product. The robot can pinpoint a tiny leak that a current system would miss, determine exactly at what angle and location on the pipe’s circumference it exists, and navigate there on its own with knowledge of where it is in context of the whole system. All of this data is collected, recorded, and transmitted wirelessly via relays to a control center.

“Small leaks that go undetected for a long time can weaken the foundation of a building, or collapse a street or sidewalk. Contamination is also a big safety concern. Most of the time the water is going from the pipe to the outside, but there are times when the pressure changes and the water flows outside, mixes with whatever is around the pipe, and then flows back in,” he says.

It’s hard to predict whether or not full automation will happen in our lifetimes, but it’s not a stretch to say that here in MechE, we get a little bit closer every day. We can see the benefits to humankind at each step, from prevention to response, and we wait for the day when robots become dreamers themselves.

Related News

New computer vision method helps speed up screening of electronic materials

Content Tags

Robotics and Social Impact: How Robots are Changing Society

Troy Milner is a renowned writer and robotics enthusiast, contributing to the Zivarobotics.com blog. With his passion for robotics and expertise in the field, he provides readers with captivating content that delves into the latest advancements in artificial intelligence, automation, and manufacturing.

Robotics and Social Impact: How Robots are Changing Society

The introduction of robotics into society has had a diverse and far-reaching impact on people’s lives. From automation in the workplace to virtual assistants and robots that can navigate streets safely, robots are changing how we live and work in many ways. In particular, they are helping us to increase efficiency in a multitude of industries and are becoming more and more embedded into our everyday lives.

But their introduction has also stirred up a host of ethical and practical questions. How responsible should we be for the behavior of robotic systems? Are robots playing a role in exacerbating social inequalities? How should society manage the increasing prevalence of robotics? And what impact could incorrigible robots have on safety and security? All these questions and more need to be thoughtfully addressed as robots become more and more a part of our lives.

Robotics presents us not only with opportunities for great efficiency, but also with moral and ethical questions. For instance, do robots have any rights that need to be respected, and if so, how should those rights be established? Should robots be held to the same safety regulations as humans and other animals? And, just as important, how can society strike the right balance between technology and the rights of humans?

Another major ethical dilemma posed by robotics is the question of intelligence and autonomy. Should robots be allowed to make decisions on their own, or should they always operate under the approval and direction of humans? While having autonomous robots may get rid of tedious tasks, it could also potentially rob people of their jobs, displacing those in certain industries.

Overall, robots present a unique opportunity for society, with the potential to increase efficiency, improve safety, and enhance the quality of life for many. But, at the same time, the use of robots must be done with an eye towards protecting the social and ethical interests of all people. As robotics becomes more ubiquitous in our lives and culture, these questions will only become more pressing and challenging.

Current Trends in Robotics

Advanced robotics have heralded a new era in automation and artificial intelligence. The introduction of robots in manufacturing and industrial settings has led to significant advances in production capabilities and workflow efficiency. This has allowed for faster turnaround times and lower costs for businesses, resulting in optimal customer satisfaction. Additionally, advanced robots are now being used to automate complex tasks and can even be seen in autonomous vehicles, which utilize machine learning algorithms that allow them to drive with minimal human intervention.

The emergence of social robots has also advanced the capabilities of robotics. Social robots are able to interact with people in a more natural way than traditional industrial robots. They can provide assistance in a variety of tasks such as healthcare and education, as well as providing companionship and entertainment in a more personal manner. These robots use speech recognition, gesture recognition, and facial recognition technology to interact with people, providing a more human-like interface. Additionally, machine learning algorithms allow them to continuously adapt and evolve to better understand conversations and ensure optimal performance.

As the capabilities of robots increase, businesses and individuals are finding more and more ways to use them for practical solutions in their daily lives. From healthcare to education and entertainment, social robots have become an invaluable asset in many fields. The potential for robots to improve efficiency, provide comfort, and perform tasks in ways that were once thought impossible has made them a popular option for many applications.

The Changing Role of Robots in Society

As robots become increasingly prevalent, their role in society is undergoing dramatic changes, far beyond what we have ever witnessed before.Now, robots are not only taking over mundane tasks previously done by humans such as manufacturing and assembly line work, but they have the potential to become integrated into larger social circles, providing companionship and advice.

Robots are becoming increasingly intelligent and increasingly capable of performing tasks that were once exclusively carried out by humans. In some cases, robots are taking on skilled tasks requiring cognitive skills and judgement which, before, could only be accomplished by human workers. This has the potential to reshape the labor market in a radical way, with far reaching implications for the economy.

At the same time, robots are being developed to take on social and emotional roles. They could be deployed to provide companionship for the elderly or socially isolated individuals, potentially providing vital mental health benefits. Similarly, robots are also being used to “teach” young children the basic skills necessary for them to be well-adjusted members of society.

Robots are no longer a thing of the future; they are starting to play a significant role in our everyday lives. As we witness advances in robotics technology, it is becoming clear that the role of robots in our society is changing rapidly and with significant implications.

Social and Ethical Implications

The rise of robots in society brings about a lot of ethical questions to consider. As robots increasingly become a part of our daily lives, issues of privacy, safety, and security need to be addressed. We must be mindful of the potential for robots to be used for ulterior motives and other nefarious activities. Additionally, the introduction of automation into the job market also presents uncertainty as to how this will affect future employment opportunities.

The potential social implications of robotic technology is perhaps just as important as the ethical questions to consider. As robots begin to take on more human-like characteristics, how we interact and form relationships with them should be an important concern. For instance, there is a growing body of research to suggest that robots such as Kismet, Leonardo, and Jibo, which have been designed to mimic human behavior, can teach us a lot about human psychology. From this, we can learn more about our own social dynamics, as well as how we can better design our interactions with robots.

It is clear that robots will continue to become a larger part of our lives. As such, there are social and ethical implications that continue to arise as a result. It is essential that industry professionals, policy makers, and the general public alike strive to understand the potential implications of this technology and take steps to ensure it is used responsibly and ethically.

Robotics has become an integral part of many industries, from manufacturing and medical procedures to home care and space exploration. The possibilities for robots to improve lives and make the world a safer and more efficient place are undeniable, and this is why exploring the ethical implications of robotics is vital. For example, robots are often seen as being more efficient than humans, which raises the question of whether they should be given jobs that were once reserved for humans. With autonomous robots involved in areas such as healthcare, they introduce ethical dilemmas as it can be difficult to ascertain which decisions they should be making and what the implications of their decisions should be.

Robotics are rapidly becoming part of the global Internet of Things (IoT) with robots networked together, allowing them to gather and exchange data and make decisions on the fly. This raises concerns about privacy, security, and the possibility of malicious use, as data generated and gathered by robots may contain personal information. There are also ethical and moral considerations such as the defining of robotic rights and robots taking on more human-like roles. It is thus important to consider potential risks and implications before advancing robotics technology, in order to ensure that it is used responsibly and for the benefit of all.

Many experts have begun to put forward frameworks for robotics regulation, in order to address the issues above and ensure that automation works for everyone. For instance, there is the Robot Ethics Charter which outlines the principles for ethical decision making in robotics and the European Union’s ethical guidelines for trustworthy AI. Similarly, the European Robotics Forum released ethical standards regarding ‘good robotics practices’, suggesting areas such as safety, data protection and transparency. By considering such frameworks and developing regulations to respond to the ethical implications of robotics, we can ensure that robotics is used responsibly and to the benefit of all.

Future of Robotics: Predictions and Trends
How to Build a Robot: Step-by-Step Guide for Beginners
Types of Robot Grippers: Pros and Cons

Robotics and Gaming: How Robotics has Changed the Gaming Industry

Robotics in Medicine: From Surgical Robots to Prosthetics
How ePRO is Revolutionizing Data Collection in Clinical Trials

Sensors and Actuators in Robotics: How They Work

111 Robots Essay Topic Ideas & Examples

🏆 best robots topic ideas & essay examples, 👍 good essay topics on robots, ⭐ simple & easy robots essay titles, ❓ questions about robots.

Discussion: Will Robots Replace Us? The world is moving forward, space and the ocean’s depths, and the peculiarities of the brain’s structure and the human body are being studied.
Robots: The Use in Everyday Tasks The recent advancements in robotics and artificial intelligence have the potential to automate a wide range of human activities and to dramatically reshape the way people live and work in the coming decades.
Characteristics of Robotics What concerns the elaboration of an obstacle course in a “real-world” simulation, it is essential to ensure the presence of several procedure testing steps that will determine the functionality of a robot. What concerns the […]
Use of Robots in Computer Science Currently, the most significant development in the field of computer science is the inclusion of robots as teaching tools. The use of robots in teaching computer science has significantly helped to endow students with valuable […]
Robots’ Impact and Human Employment Opportunities Many of the costs of complying with the isolation rules, the costs associated with the spread of the disease, can actually be offset by replacing the workforce with robots.
Visions of the Future in the Film I, Robot Even though some of the aspects of the filmmaker’s vision of future are possible, and very likely to become reality, the essence of the film appears highly unrealistic.
The Dyson Robotic Vacuum: Target Group and Marketing Plan Thus, the target audience of Dyson in Ontario is practical and prudent people who, when buying equipment, pay attention primarily to the prestige of the brand, the quality, and the durability of the purchased goods.
Autonomous Robots Since they are self sufficient, the autonomous robots have the capacity to work in the absence of human beings. In the future, humanoid robots might have the intelligence and emotions similar to those of human […]
Will Robots Take Over Human Jobs? Most of these people argue that due to the increasing number of computer equipped robots, the banking industry, the technical industry and even the administrative departments of many countries have suffered great losses at the […]
Isaac Asimov’s “Robot Dreams” and Alex Proyas’ “I, Robot” Driving to work involves the use of evolving technology as every car made today includes varying degrees of computerized information systems that inform the vehicle of important information everything from the need for an oil […]
Robots as a Factor in Unemployment Patterns One of the prevailing arguments in regards to this problem is that the advent of the robot technology is contributing towards a high rate of unemployment.
Robot Making: Materials for Building and Economic Factor As the science is progressing in recent times, we can be sure that it is a matter of time when we will get some economical alternatives of the materials that are needed to make a […]
Spot Mini Robot by Boston Dynamics While the bigger robots by Boston Dynamics are designed to operate in extreme conditions, Spot Mini is a household robot, which makes it marketable to a wider community and, therefore, profitable.
Robotic Pharmacy System Implementation Citing some of the key benefits of the robotic pharmacy system, one of the most important is that it reduces the need for technical labor significantly.
The Place of Humanity in the Robotic Future The developers are trying to implement the brain, the human mind, in a digital environment. Paying attention to mechanical machines, commonly called “robots”, can be seen that they are created in the image and likeness […]
Is the Robotics Development Helpful or Harmful? Robots remain the best option, as they will connect the children with the happenings in the school. They will dress the robot with their favorite clothes, communicate with the teacher using the robot, and swivel […]
Ways that Robotics Can Transform Our Daily Lives Robots will help to increase the labor force in the country in the future. Robots will be used to increase the productivity of human labor within the government sector and help in speeding up the […]
Drawing 3D Objects With Use of Robotic Arm The hot end of the printer melts the material and embeds it onto the surface onto the intended surface. The research also utilized the Arduino development board to interface the programs written and the physical […]
The Invento Robotics Products Analysis The 5 C’s of brand management has grown in popularity since it thoroughly evaluates all the important aspects of a company and allows for approach adjustments depending on what is and is not effective.
Boston Dynamics’ Spot Robot Dog Spot is a four-legged robot that evolved from SpotMini (the initial version) that offers multiple capabilities of operation, including climbing, jumping, walking.
The Wireless Robotic Car: Design Project In this prototype, the task is to design a robotic car that can be controlled by a computer using wireless communication technology.
Aliens Concept in “I, Robot” by Alex Proyas: Film Analysis The purpose of this paper is to analyze the concept of aliens and its implications in the movie I, Robot. It is possible to state that modern advancements are the reflection of something different from […]
Autonomous Controller Robotics: The Future of Robots The middle level is the Coordination level which interfaces the actions of the top and lower level s in the architecture.
Exploring the Capabilities and Potential of Soft Robotics One of the critical advantages of soft robots is their ability to deform and adapt to their surroundings, making them ideal for tasks that require a high degree of flexibility and expertise.
Mobile Robots: Impact on Supply Chain Management According to the article, some of the advantages of using an RSC include the ability to dump reusable components and emissions during transit, and presence of collection, recovery, recycling, dismantling, and re-manufacturing facilities.
Robotic Process Automation Implementation Robotics in the tax system is a highly rational, reasonable, and beneficial idea that will help improve the service and make any process more accessible.
STEM (Science), Robots, Codes, Maker’s Space Overview Students’ interest in STEM, Robotics, Coding, and Engineering education and professions has been shown to be stimulated by early exposure to STEM knowledge.
The Hybrid Robot Vacuum Cleaners The EUFY series of hybrid vacuum cleaners is one of the most popular choices in the market, and the company offers products in various pricing ranges. In the context of hybrid robot vacuum cleaners, market […]
Robotics and Related Social & Political Problems The combination of engineering and computer science has aided people in developing the field of robotics. The social impact of robotics lies in the problems that robots are designed to solve.
Hyper Evolution: The Rise of the Robots From the video, the robots look like real human beings, and they have been capacitated to act in a human way in what is known as machine learning technology powered by artificial intelligence. Hyper evolution […]
Amazon’s AI-Powered Home Robots The objective of the present plan is to provide a comprehensive analysis and evaluation of the introduction of AI-powered home robots as Amazon’s next disruptive customer product.
Robots on the Battlefield: Benefits vs. Constraints The principal obstacle to the introduction of robots on the battlefield is related to the impossibility of operating in the current environment.
Robotic Snowblower’s Segmentation, Targeting, and Positioning Strategy For success, a business needs to conduct a structured analysis of the market and competitors, segment consumers into narrow groups, assess the market’s attractiveness, and correctly position the brand.
Robot Revolution in the Contemporary Society The lack of human resources in the middle of the 20th century and the development of industrial technologies led to the appearance of robots.
Healthcare Robots: Entering the Era of a Technological Breakthrough However, using robots as medical doctors’ assistants has been only a figment of the most daring dreams until recently.
“A Robot Can Be Warehouse Worker’s Pal” by Jennifer Smith Employees working alongside the robots are guided adequately. This method makes it possible for companies to achieve their objectives in a timely manner.
Artificial Intelligence in “I, Robot” by Alex Proyas To begin with, AI is defined by Nilsson as a field of computer science that attempts to enhance the level of intelligence of computer systems.
Robotics and Artificial Intelligence in Organizations Otherwise, cognitively complex tasks and those demanding emotional intelligence will be performed by humans, with the support of robotics and AI. Therefore, this study speaks of the importance of employee trust in AI and organization.
Disinfecting Robots: Care Ethics, and Design Thus, the utilization of this technology may be expected to reduce the incidence rate of HAIs. However, it is essential to consider the cost of this technology and reimbursement as they may be key factors […]
Robot Interaction Language (ROILA) and Robot Creativity The difference of ROILA from other languages for computing is that it should be simple for both machines and humans to understand.
The Personal and Servicing Robotic Market For the product to receive a successful launch, the focus will be placed on the target market and not the product features.
Process Description of a Rescue Robot Roboticists in the physical design of rescue robots ensure that the robots can traverse places that are physically unreachable to human rescuers and additionally equip them with a variety of distributed technology that enable them […]
The Tactical Throwable Robot The main technical characteristics of the machine are given below in the table offered by Czupryniak Rafal and Trojnazki Maziej in their article “Throwable tactical robot description of construction and performed tests”.
Wireless Robotic Car: Servo Motors and DC Motors This section focuses on the review of literature on servo motors and DC motors, in general as well as in the context of the current research project.
Using Robots in the Medical Industry Third, the robot surgery further has been observed to increase comfort on the part of the patient as the surgery proceeds, and this results from ergonomic position that the robot assumes as the operation proceeds.
Autonomous Mobile Robot: GPS and Compass The other realization is that in most instances the challenges presented in the motion of the appendages of a particular robot are not only limited to the number of joints but can significantly exceed the […]
Robotics in Construction: Automated and Semi-Automated Devices The robot is fitted with ultrasonic sensors that aid in positioning of the water jet in inclined areas and also the sensors determine the distance of concrete removal.
Whats Mean Robotics Welding Epping and Zhang define robotic welding as the utilization of programmable systems and tools that mechanize and automate the way welding is done.
Are Robots About to Enter the Healthcare Workforce? Many new technologies must first overcome several obstacles in order to become a part of the service environment, and robots are no exception.
The Influence of Robots and AI on Work Relationships In the early 20th century, Taylor’s work focused on production management and labor efficiency, which led to the attention of managers to the problems of selection, the motivation of employees, and their training.
Robots in Today’s Society: Artificial Intelligence The most important is the automation of the repeating process, to liberate human power, and avoid mistakes and delays in the processes.
Intelligent Transportation Systems: A Robot Project The construction of the robot involved the use of sensors and microchips, accessories also used in ITS technology. The role of the sensors in the robot was to detect obstacles and red light on the […]
I, Robot and the Effects of Technology The judgment call is generally made on the quality of life of the humans, with little to no regard for the lifestyle and options available to the robots who have achieved a higher level of […]
The Use of Robotics in the Operating Room The da Vinci surgical system is the first and one of the famous Robotics surgical systems used in the operating room.
The Connection Between Science and Technology: The Robotic Fish by Professor HU Furthermore, we discuss the other effects of science in technology and some of the recent technological developments in the rest of the world.
Knowledge of Saudi Nurse Managers Towards Robots The main objective of this study is to investigate the attitudes and knowledge of Saudi nurse managers towards the adoption of robotics for remote monitoring and management of elderly patient with chronic illness in an […]
3D Robotics Disrupts the Aviation Industry 3D Robotics describe their business model as perceiving open hardware, drones, and the future of robotics as the part of the community and the company.
Robotics. “Humans Need Not Apply” Video Mechanical muscles are more strong and reliable than humans, and the replacement of people by mechanisms in physical work allows society to specialize in intellectual work, develop economics and raise the standards of living.
Questionable Future of Robotics In this case, the lecture, which was focusing on the flow of robotics’ development, influenced my perception about the future, robotics’ impact on our lives, and the ability of robots to destroy the humanity.
Baxter Robots and Company Performance This technology will impact the performance of companies by reducing the time spent on repetitive duties such as packing. In case my employers buy this robot, I will not be affected personally, but the performance […]
Technology: Will Robots Ever Replace Humans? According to the author, one’s intelligence is not being solely concerned with the processing of data in the algorithmic manner, as it happened to be the case with AI it reflects the varying ability of […]
Double Robotics Website’s Tracking Strategy The goals of the Doublerobotics.com website are to familiarize audiences with the telepresence industry and to convince both corporate and individual potential customers to purchase a robot.
Robot-Assisted Rehabilitation: Article Critique The information about the groups of participants was available to clinicians and study personnel since the only post-stroke individual in the sample needed special procedures to participate.
Robotic-Assisted Intervention Effectiveness Modern robots for upper limb training differ in terms of the degrees of freedom, the type of feedback, and the available modes of training.
Robotics in Construction Management: Impacts and Barriers The assessment of the economic feasibility of the robotization of individual construction processes is based on cost analysis and the calculation of payback.
Rights of ‘Feeling’ Robots and Humans Many futurists believe strongly that new laws will be needed to tame the behaviors and actions of robots. That being the case, autonomous robots might take advantage of their rights to control human beings.
Australian Robotics Inc.’s Project Management As such, the measure of success will focus on ascertaining whether or not the project develops a new family of highly flexible, “intelligent” robots that can be used in handling heavy industry tasks.
Electronic or Robotic Companions: Business Model The device the usage of which will help to destroy the language bar. The speech of any speaker will be translated and presented to the owner of the device in his/her native language.
Robotic Satellites: Implementation Plan and Budget One of the most effective methods of reaching the maximum level of security, not to feel restricted, and reduce spending is the usage of electronic or robotic companions.
Robotics’ Sociopolitical and Economic Implications The foremost benefits of Robotics for individuals can be formulated as follows: The continual development/implementation of the Robotics-related technologies will increase the chances of self-actualization, on the part of the potentially affected individuals.
Stihl Company and Its Robotics Automation involves the use of robots in the production process. The company’s productivity has come as a result of the automation production practices and its presence across the globe.
Will Robots Ever Replace Humans? It is quite peculiar that Bolonkin uses negation in order to stir the audience’s delight; more impressively, the specified approach works the pathos is concealed not in the description of the possibilities, but the compliment […]
Welcome Robotic for Abu Dhabi Women College In the year 2009, the college opened a second banch in the city of khalifa to cater for the students who encounter problems relocating to the capital city.
Fiat Company: Deployment of Robotics in Manufacturing The technology also enhanced the reduction of production costs by reducing the number of working days without effecting the production and the performance of the company at its peak.
Projects “Cyborg” and “New Electrical Apparatus” in Robotics In fact, although Project Cyborg included some medical expertise, the purpose is significantly similar to the project by Nicholson and Carlisle largely because a medical achievement is not one of their aims.
Meteorite or Puck Hunt: Autonomous Mobile Robot The Development of the Design Being the first time that we are taking part in this type of competition, we decide to work out a plan that would help us develop the autonomous mobile robot […]
Marketing the Wireless Robotic Car By sending the robotic car to a chemical hazard, it is possible to determine the extent of spillage of a liquid or a solid pollutant.
The Use of Robots in Warfare The military advancement in the use of robots in warfare will at long last essentially drastically reduce the role of human beings in war. The increased use of robots in the battlefield needs countries to […]
A Mobile Robotic Project in the Ohio State University Medical Center In order for the project to be successful there must be a one-to-one contact between those implementing the project and the staff at the hospital.
How Will Autonomous Robots Change Military Tactics?
Will Romantic Relationships Be Formed With Robots?
What Were the First Industrial Robots in America Used?
Will Robots and Humanoids Take Over the World?
Are Robots Beneficial for the Society?
Will Robots Automate Your Job Away?
Why Not Use Robots to Stabilize Stock Markets?
Will Robots Change Our Lives in the Future?
How Can Robots Effect Children’s Development?
Will Robots Create Economic Utopia?
Why Robots Are Start Over the World With Breakthrough Technology?
Will Robots Live With Humans in Harmony?
Can Humanoid Service Robots Perform Better Than Service Employees?
How Can Robots Be Used to Help Students?
Will Robots One Day Rule the World?
Why Should Robots Not Be Pursued?
How Do Robots Impact Careers in the Medical Field?
Why Will Robots Always Need Us?
Are Robots Taking Control of Human Tasks?
How Can Robots Have Human-Like Intelligence?
Can Service Robots Hamper Customer Anger and Aggression After a Service Failure?
Are Robots the Solution to Equality in the Job Interview Process?
How Can Robots Replace 60% of Jobs?
Are Sex Robots the Next Big Sexual Revolution?
How Can Robots Solve the Problem of Aging Population?
Are Surgical Robots the Future of Medicine?
How Can Robots Work More Efficient Than Humans?
Should Robots Intelligence Becoming Smarter Than Us and Make?
What Are Robots and How Are They Being Used Nowadays?
Are Robots and Animals More or Less Similar to One Another Than Robots and Humans?
LEGO Paper Topics
Aerospace Research Topics
Blade Runner Paper Topics
Artificial Intelligence Questions
Electric Vehicle Paper Topics
NASA Topics
Research and Development Essay Topics
Scientist Paper Topics
Chicago (A-D)
Chicago (N-B)

IvyPanda. (2024, February 29). 111 Robots Essay Topic Ideas & Examples. https://ivypanda.com/essays/topic/robots-essay-topics/

"111 Robots Essay Topic Ideas & Examples." IvyPanda , 29 Feb. 2024, ivypanda.com/essays/topic/robots-essay-topics/.

IvyPanda . (2024) '111 Robots Essay Topic Ideas & Examples'. 29 February.

IvyPanda . 2024. "111 Robots Essay Topic Ideas & Examples." February 29, 2024. https://ivypanda.com/essays/topic/robots-essay-topics/.

1. IvyPanda . "111 Robots Essay Topic Ideas & Examples." February 29, 2024. https://ivypanda.com/essays/topic/robots-essay-topics/.

Bibliography

IvyPanda . "111 Robots Essay Topic Ideas & Examples." February 29, 2024. https://ivypanda.com/essays/topic/robots-essay-topics/.

May 1, 2023

The Impact of Robots on Society

As robots become more prevalent in various industries, they are likely to have a significant impact on society. This impact will be felt across different sectors and will bring about both benefits and challenges. In this article, we will explore the issues surrounding the impact of robots on society, including job displacement, changes in social norms and relationships, and the distribution of wealth and power.

Job Displacement One of the most significant impacts of robots on society is job displacement. With advances in artificial intelligence and robotics, machines are becoming increasingly capable of performing tasks that were once done by humans. As a result, many jobs are at risk of being automated, particularly those that involve repetitive tasks or manual labor. According to a study by McKinsey Global Institute, up to 800 million jobs worldwide could be displaced by automation by 2030. (1) While automation can lead to increased productivity and lower costs for companies, it can also result in significant job loss. This has the potential to create economic and social instability, particularly in regions where certain industries are heavily dependent on human labor. However, it's important to note that not all jobs will be affected equally. Jobs that require creativity, critical thinking, and human interaction are less likely to be automated than those that involve repetitive tasks. This means that workers who possess these skills will likely remain in high demand in the future.

Changes in Social Norms and Relationships The rise of robots and automation is also likely to bring about changes in social norms and relationships. For example, as robots become more prevalent in the workplace, human workers may need to adjust to new ways of working and interacting with machines. Moreover, the increased use of robots in daily life may lead to changes in how humans relate to each other. For example, a study by the University of Duisburg-Essen in Germany found that people who interacted with a robot were less likely to help another person in need, compared to those who did not interact with a robot. (2) This suggests that the presence of robots in society may lead to changes in how humans perceive and respond to others. Furthermore, the use of social robots in elderly care settings is increasing, which has implications for social norms and relationships. In Japan, where the population is aging rapidly, there is a shortage of caregivers, and social robots are being developed to provide care to the elderly. However, the use of robots in care settings raises concerns about the impact on the quality of care and the loss of human interaction. (4)

The distribution of Wealth and Power The impact of robots on society is also likely to have implications for the distribution of wealth and power. As machines become more capable of performing tasks that were once done by humans, there is a risk that the benefits of automation will accrue to a small group of people who own the machines. According to a report by Oxfam, the world's 26 richest people own as much wealth as the poorest 50% of the global population. (3) This level of wealth concentration is likely to increase as automation leads to further job displacement and income inequality. Moreover, there is a risk that robots and automation could lead to the concentration of power in the hands of a small group of people. For example, companies that control the most advanced robots and artificial intelligence systems may have an unfair advantage over their competitors. This could lead to a situation where a small group of companies have significant power over the economy and society as a whole.

Mitigating the Impact of Robots on Society While there are certainly challenges associated with the rise of robots and automation, there are also ways to mitigate their impact on society. For example, governments can invest in education and training programs to help workers develop the skills they need to remain competitive in a changing job market. Additionally, governments can provide social protections, such as income support and retraining programs, to workers who are displaced by automation. Moreover, companies can take steps to ensure that the benefits of automation are shared more widely. For example, companies can work to create new job opportunities that leverage the unique skills and abilities of human workers. They can also invest in programs to help workers transition to new roles as automation takes over certain tasks. One example of a company that is taking steps to mitigate the impact of robots on society is Amazon. The company has invested heavily in robotics and automation, but it has also created thousands of new jobs in areas such as research and development, data analysis, and customer service. (5) In addition, the company has launched a program called Amazon Future Engineer, which provides support and resources to help students from underprivileged backgrounds develop the skills they need to pursue careers in computer science and technology. (6) Another example of a company that is working to mitigate the impact of robots on society is Siemens. The company has developed a program called "The Restart Project," which aims to help workers who have been displaced by automation transition to new jobs. The program provides training, mentoring, and job placement assistance to workers who are looking to develop new skills and find new employment opportunities. (7)

In conclusion, the rise of robots and automation is likely to have a significant impact on society. Job displacement, changes in social norms and relationships, and the distribution of wealth and power are all issues that must be taken into account as we move forward into a future that is increasingly shaped by machines. However, there are also ways to mitigate the impact of robots on society, including investing in education and training programs, providing social protections to workers, and creating new job opportunities that leverage the unique skills and abilities of human workers. By working together to address these challenges, we can create a future where robots and humans coexist in a way that benefits everyone.

McKinsey Global Institute. (2017). Jobs lost, jobs gained: What the future of work will mean for jobs, skills, and wages. https://www.mckinsey.com/featured-insights/future-of-work/jobs-lost-jobs-gained-what-the-future-of-work-will-mean-for-jobs-skills-and-wages

Straub, J., Stürmer, S., & Cress, U. (2015). The effect of social robots on people's helping behavior. International Journal of Social Robotics, 7(5), 775-788. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12369-015-0298-5

Oxfam. (2020). Time to care: Unpaid and underpaid care work and the global inequality crisis. https://www.oxfam.org/en/research/time-care

Sharkey, A., & Sharkey, N. (2012). Granny and the robots: Ethical issues in robot care for the elderly. Ethics and Information Technology, 14(1), 27-40. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10676-010-9224-9

Amazon. (n.d.). Creating jobs and opportunities. https://www.aboutamazon.com/job-creation-and-investment

Amazon Future Engineer. (n.d.). https://www.amazonfutureengineer.com/

Siemens. (2021). Siemens’ “Restart” project: Supporting employees who are transitioning to new careers. https://www.siemens.com/global/en/home/company/jobs/working-at-siemens/restart-project.html

Introduction

Robots are no longer the stuff of science fiction; they are a reality, actively involved in various sectors, including healthcare, manufacturing, agriculture, and service industries. Their myriad benefits stem from their unique features and capabilities, which we will explore in this blog post.

Understanding Robots

Before delving into why robots are good, let’s define what a robot is. A robot is a machine—often humanoid—designed to carry out tasks, either automatically or under the control of a computer. They range from simple machines that can do repetitive and tedious tasks repeatedly to complex systems capable of making decisions based on real-time data.

Robots can improve efficiency in manufacturing , direct and overhead costs leading to up to a 40% increase in productivity in some industries.

Reason 1: Efficiency

Robots are incredibly fast and efficient service now. They can operate without breaks, allowing them to perform tasks much quicker than their human counterparts. This efficiency results in increased productivity, making businesses more competitive and helping economies thrive.

Reason 2: Precision

Robots can perform tasks with pinpoint accuracy, reducing errors significantly. From assembling tiny electronic components to performing intricate surgeries, robots’ precision far surpasses human capability, ensuring high-quality outcomes in various fields.

Reason 3: Safety

Robots can perform tasks that are hazardous to humans. Whether it’s dealing with toxic chemicals, working in extreme conditions, or defusing bombs, robots help to reduce the amount of workplace accidents and protect human lives.

Reason 4: Availability

Unlike humans, robots are available around the clock. They don’t need breaks, vacations, or sick days. This continuous availability ensures uninterrupted service, which is especially beneficial in industries that require 24/7 operations like healthcare and manufacturing.

Reason 5: Cost-Effective

Although the initial investment for a robot can be high, over time, they prove to be cost-effective. Robots require less maintenance than human employees, do not require benefits or salaries, and their efficiency and productivity can lead to substantial savings.

Robots are capable of achieving incredible precision , with some industrial robots boasting an accuracy of over 90%.

Reason 6: Consistency

Robots perform tasks consistently; they won’t have off days. This consistency ensures the uniform quality and advantages of robots’ work, vital for industries where standardization is critical, such as food processing and automobile manufacturing.

Reason 7: Speed

Robots can perform tasks much faster than humans due to their ability to multitask and operate at high speeds without fatigue. This speed leads to increased production rates and faster service delivery.

Reason 8: Productivity

With their speed, efficiency, and availability, robots significantly boost productivity. They can handle more tasks in less time, leading to more efficient production lines and higher output and profitability for businesses.

Reason 9: Quality Control

Robots can detect defects and quality issues that might elude the human eye. This precise quality control ensures that products meet or exceed standards, leading to customer satisfaction and brand reputation enhancement.

Unlike human workers, robots can operate around the clock , ensuring 24/7 productivity in industries that require continuous operation.

Reason 10: Handling Dangerous Tasks

Robots can undertake tasks deemed too dangerous for humans. From deep-sea exploration to space missions, robots are our proxies, reducing the risk to human life and expanding our understanding of the universe.

Reason 11: Labor Shortage Solution

In industries facing labor shortages, robots can fill the gap of human error. They can take on roles that are hard to fill, ensuring that industries can continue to operate and grow despite workforce challenges.

Reason 12: Exploration

Robots enable us to explore environments that are inaccessible or hazardous for humans. From the depths of the oceans to the far reaches of space, robots help us uncover secrets of our world and beyond.

Automation with robots can lead to robotic automation presents a significant reduction in labor costs, often by as much as 50% .

Reason 13: Reduced Training Time

Once programmed, robots can perform tasks without the need for extensive training. This reduction in training time can save resources and boost productivity.

Reason 14: Environmental Impact

Robots can contribute to reducing environmental impact by optimizing resource use, reducing waste, and performing tasks that help preserve the environment, like cleanup operations and sustainable farming practices.

Reason 15: Innovation Drive

Robots and robots need to drive innovation. Their development requires advancements in various fields, including artificial intelligence, machine learning, and materials science—pushing the boundaries of what is technologically possible.

Reason 16: Personal Assistance

Robots can play a significant role in personal assistance, from helping the elderly maintain their independence to assisting individuals with disabilities. They can provide companionship, help with daily tasks, and even offer therapeutic benefits.

Robots can work at a much faster pace than humans, sometimes achieving speeds up to three times that of manual labor.

Reason 17: Medical Applications

From performing surgeries with precision to speeding up lab tests and patient care, robots are revolutionizing the healthcare industry, improving outcomes, and saving lives.

Reason 18: Handling Repetitive Tasks

Robots are excellent at handling repetitive tasks, freeing humans to focus on more complex and creative tasks. This not only increases productivity but also improves job satisfaction among workers.

The use of robots in manufacturing and production processes can result in a 25% improvement in product quality and consistency.

Reason 19: Space Saving

Robots, particularly those used in manufacturing, can operate in smaller spaces than humans, reducing the need for large production areas for repetitive or intensive processes. This space efficiency can lead to cost savings and more efficient use of resources.

Reason 20: Multi-Tasking Ability

Robots can perform multiple tasks simultaneously. Whether it’s a robot arm assembling parts while monitoring quality or an AI system processing vast amounts of data while making real-time decisions, robots’ multi-tasking abilities are truly remarkable.

The robotics industry has created over 1 million jobs worldwide , ranging from robot manufacturing to maintenance and programming. By using robots, you can decrease the likelihood of accidents caused by contact with machine tools or other potentially hazardous production machinery or processes.

Robots are transforming our world, delivering numerous benefits across various sectors. Their ability to work tirelessly, accurately, and safely makes them a valuable asset in today’s fast-paced, technology-driven world. However, as we continue to embrace and develop robotics, it is essential to consider the ethical implications and strive to create a future where humans and robots can coexist beneficially.

Last Updated on October 12, 2023 by Parina

Parina Parmar is a full-time dog mom with a knack for content, editing & advertising. She has years of experience in the communication industry, and her dedication to maintaining the integrity of the author's voice while ensuring clarity and coherence in the text sets her apart in her field. She is dedicated to immersing her love for culture, music, and the advertising industry in her works.

Bachelors in Journalism and Mass Communication
Specialization in SEO, Editing, Digital Strategy, Content Writing & Video Strategy

Certifications/Qualifications

Diploma in Fashion Desgining
Performance Marketing by Young Urban Project

View all posts

latest articles

Exploring the unknown of ai in scientific discovery, the path of ai robots: from toys to advanced companions, discover the latest trends and strategies in forum and community management, decoding ancient wisdom: ai’s insights on religious prophecies and predictions, get inspired and expand your knowledge at the cutting-edge ai conferences of 2024, delving into the profound questions of ai and humanity in spielberg’s “a.i.: artificial intelligence”, explore more, leave a reply cancel reply.

Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment.

Our partners have decades of experience implementing RPA solutions. And working with leading systems like MRI Software and Yardi. Opt in to know more.

No thanks, I’m not interested!

Competitions

Importance of Robotics in Education

Education is evolving rapidly, and innovative approaches are being integrated into classrooms to prepare students for the future. One such approach that has gained prominence is robotics education. By combining technology, engineering, and creativity, robotics education offers numerous benefits to students. In this article, we will explore the importance of robotics in education, its benefits, integration into the curriculum, and the various ways it promotes critical thinking, problem-solving skills, collaboration, and STEM education.

Introduction to Robotics for Education

Robotic technology has advanced significantly in recent years, and it has become an integral part of various industries. Recognizing the potential of robotics, educators have embraced its integration into the education system. Robotics for education involves the use of robots, programmable devices, and related technologies to enhance learning experiences and engage students in interactive and hands-on activities.

Robotics education holds immense importance in preparing students for the future. With rapid advancements in automation and artificial intelligence, robotics education equips students with essential skills that are in high demand in today’s job market. By engaging students in robotics, we nurture their problem-solving abilities, critical thinking skills, creativity, and innovation.

Benefits of Robotics Education

The benefits of robotics education are manifold. Let’s explore some key advantages:

1. Integration of the Curriculum: Robotics can be integrated into various subjects, including science, mathematics, engineering, and technology. By incorporating robotics into the curriculum, educators can provide interdisciplinary learning opportunities, making education more engaging and relevant.

2. Hands-on Learning: Robotics education promotes hands-on learning, allowing students to experiment, build, and program robots. This experiential approach enhances their understanding of abstract concepts and encourages them to apply theoretical knowledge to practical situations.

3. Developing Critical Thinking and Problem-Solving Skills: Robotics activities require students to analyze problems, break them down into smaller components, and develop solutions. Through trial and error, students learn to think critically, identify patterns, and troubleshoot issues, fostering valuable problem-solving skills.

4. Fostering Creativity and Innovation: Robotics education nurtures creativity and innovation by encouraging students to design and build their robots. It provides them with a platform to explore their imaginations, think outside the box, and come up with unique solutions to challenges.

5. Building Collaboration and Teamwork: Robotics projects often involve teamwork, requiring students to collaborate, communicate, and delegate tasks. By working together, students develop essential collaboration and teamwork skills that are vital in real-world scenarios.

6. Promoting STEM Education: Robotics is an excellent tool for promoting STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) education. It integrates these disciplines seamlessly, giving students a holistic understanding of how they work together in practical applications.

Integration of Robotics in the Curriculum

The integration of robotics in the curriculum can be tailored to different educational levels and subjects. Here are some approaches:

1. STEM-focused Robotics Courses: Schools can offer dedicated robotics courses that provide in-depth knowledge and hands-on experience in robotics and related technologies. These courses can cover topics such as programming, mechanical design, and sensor integration.

2. Robotics as a Teaching Tool: Robotics can be used as a teaching tool to enhance the learning experience in various subjects. For example, in mathematics, robots can be programmed to solve complex equations, making the subject more tangible and engaging.

3. Cross-disciplinary Projects: Schools can encourage cross-disciplinary projects that incorporate robotics into multiple subjects. For instance, students can design and program robots to simulate environmental scenarios, integrating concepts from science, mathematics, and technology.

By integrating robotics into the curriculum, educators can create an environment that fosters innovation, critical thinking, and practical application of knowledge.

Hands-on Learning with Robotics

One of the key aspects of robotics education is hands-on learning. Unlike traditional teaching methods that rely on textbooks and lectures, robotics allows students to actively engage with technology and apply theoretical concepts in practical ways. This hands-on approach promotes a deeper understanding of abstract ideas and encourages students to explore their creativity.

When students work with robots, they become active participants in the learning process. They learn by doing, experimenting, and making mistakes. Through trial and error, they gain a profound understanding of concepts such as programming, circuitry, mechanics, and problem-solving.

Hands-on learning with robotics also instills a sense of ownership and pride in students. As they design, build, and program robots, they see their creations come to life. This tangible outcome boosts their confidence and motivates them to explore further.

Developing Critical Thinking and Problem-Solving Skills

Critical thinking and problem-solving skills are essential in today’s complex world. Robotics education provides an ideal platform for developing these skills. When students engage with robots, they encounter challenges that require analytical thinking, logical reasoning, and creative problem-solving.

Robotic projects involve breaking down complex problems into smaller, manageable parts. Students learn to identify patterns, analyze data, and develop step-by-step solutions. They experiment with different approaches, evaluate their effectiveness, and iterate on their designs.

Through these experiences, students develop critical thinking skills that extend beyond robotics. They learn to approach problems with a systematic mindset, consider multiple perspectives, and evaluate the pros and cons of different solutions. These skills are transferable to various areas of their lives, from academics to future careers.

Fostering Creativity and Innovation

Robotics education provides an excellent platform for fostering creativity and innovation. By designing, building, and programming robots, students have the freedom to explore their imaginations and bring their ideas to life. They are encouraged to think outside the box, experiment with different approaches, and push the boundaries of what is possible.

Robotic projects often involve open-ended challenges, where there are multiple solutions. This encourages students to think creatively, consider alternative perspectives, and come up with unique solutions to problems. They learn that there is no single “right” answer and that innovation lies in exploring different possibilities.

In addition to fostering creativity, robotics education also nurtures innovation. Students are encouraged to identify real-world problems and develop robots that address these challenges. By applying their technical skills, critical thinking, and creativity, they develop innovative solutions that have the potential to make a positive impact in society.

Building Collaboration and Teamwork

Collaboration and teamwork are essential skills in today’s interconnected world. Robotics education provides an ideal platform for students to develop these skills. Many robotics projects are designed to be completed in teams, where students work together to achieve a common goal.

When working in teams, students learn to communicate effectively, listen to others’ ideas, and delegate tasks based on each team member’s strengths. They learn the importance of coordination, cooperation, and compromise. They also learn to value diverse perspectives and leverage the strengths of each team member.

Collaborative robotics projects teach students the significance of collective problem-solving. They understand that combining different ideas and skills can lead to more robust and innovative solutions. These collaborative experiences prepare students for future careers, where teamwork and collaboration are often essential for success.

Promoting STEM Education

One of the significant advantages of robotics education is its ability to promote STEM education. STEM subjects play a crucial role in preparing students for the jobs of the future, and robotics provides a practical and engaging way to integrate these disciplines.

By working with robots, students develop an understanding of science, as they explore concepts such as motion, sensors, and energy. They apply mathematical concepts in programming and data analysis. They engage in engineering by designing and building robots, considering factors such as structure, stability, and efficiency. Lastly, they develop technological literacy by using software, sensors, and programming languages.

Robotics education exposes students to the interconnectedness of STEM fields and highlights the relevance of these subjects in real-world applications. It helps them see the practical applications of their theoretical knowledge and fosters a passion for STEM subjects.

Overcoming Challenges in Implementing Robotics Education

While robotics education offers numerous benefits, there are challenges that educators may face in its implementation. It is important to address these challenges to ensure the effective integration of robotics in education. Some common challenges and potential solutions include:

1. Cost and Resources: Robotics kits and equipment can be expensive, making it difficult for some schools to afford them. One solution is to seek partnerships with local businesses, universities, and community organizations that may provide funding or equipment. Grants and sponsorships can also be explored. Additionally, open-source and low-cost robotics platforms can be utilized.

2. Teacher Training and Support: Many educators may have limited experience with robotics and may require training and support. Professional development opportunities, workshops, and online resources can help teachers build the necessary skills and confidence to incorporate robotics into their classrooms. Collaboration among teachers and sharing best practices can also be beneficial.

3. Curriculum Integration: Integrating robotics into the curriculum can be a challenge due to time constraints and standardized testing requirements. By identifying areas where robotics can enhance existing curriculum objectives, educators can find ways to integrate robotics seamlessly. Cross-curricular projects and interdisciplinary collaboration can also facilitate integration.

4. Inclusion and Diversity: It is crucial to ensure that robotics education is accessible to all students, regardless of gender, race, or socioeconomic background. Efforts should be made to create an inclusive and welcoming environment. Providing diverse role models and incorporating culturally relevant content can help foster a sense of belonging and promote diversity in robotics.

Professional Development for Educators

To successfully integrate robotics education into classrooms, it is essential to provide educators with the necessary training and professional development opportunities. Robotics is a rapidly evolving field, and teachers need to stay updated with the latest technologies and pedagogical approaches.

Professional development programs can offer training in areas such as robotics programming, hardware setup, troubleshooting, and curriculum integration. These programs can be conducted through workshops, online courses, conferences, and collaboration with experts in the field.

Collaboration among educators is also valuable. Creating communities of practice where teachers can share resources, lesson plans, and best practices fosters a supportive network that can enhance the effectiveness of robotics education.

By investing in the professional development of educators, schools can ensure that they are well-equipped to deliver quality robotics education and inspire their students.

Robotics Competitions and Challenges

Robotics competitions and challenges provide opportunities for students to apply their robotics skills, test their problem-solving abilities, and showcase their creativity. These events foster a sense of excitement and motivate students to excel in robotics.

There are various robotics competitions at different levels, ranging from local and regional events to international competitions. Some popular competitions include World Robot Olympiad, FIRST LEGO League, FIRST Robotics Competition, etc. These competitions often require teams to design, build, and program robots to complete specific tasks or solve complex problems.

Participating in robotics competitions not only allows students to showcase their skills but also exposes them to a broader community of like-minded individuals. They can interact with other teams, learn from their approaches, and build lasting connections.

Robotics Kits and Platforms for Education

A wide range of robotics kits and platforms are available for educational purposes. These kits typically include components such as microcontrollers, sensors, motors, and programming software. They provide a hands-on learning experience and allow students to build and program their robots.

Popular robotics kits include LEGO Mindstorms, Arduino, Raspberry Pi, and VEX Robotics. Each kit has its unique features, capabilities, and programming languages, providing educators with options to choose from based on their specific needs and goals.

When selecting robotics kits, it is essential to consider factors such as ease of use, compatibility with existing technology, availability of educational resources, and scalability for different grade levels. Kits that support open-source programming languages and offer a diverse range of projects and activities are often preferred for educational settings.

Robotics in Special Education

Robotics education can be particularly beneficial for students with special educational needs. The hands-on nature of robotics engages students with different learning styles and provides them with a unique platform to explore and express their ideas.

For students with physical disabilities, robotics can offer opportunities for mobility and independence. Robotic prosthetics and exoskeletons can assist students with mobility impairments, allowing them to participate fully in activities.

For students with autism spectrum disorders, robotics can provide a structured and predictable learning environment. Robots can be programmed to deliver social cues, facilitate communication, and support social interaction and emotional regulation.

Robotics also promotes inclusive learning environments, where students with diverse abilities work collaboratively. By fostering teamwork and collaboration, robotics education helps break down barriers and encourages empathy and understanding among students.

Robotics education plays a crucial role in preparing students for the future. By integrating robotics into the curriculum, educators can create engaging and dynamic learning experiences that promote critical thinking, problem-solving skills, collaboration, and innovation. Robotics education fosters creativity, builds essential STEM skills, and prepares students for the challenges of a rapidly evolving technological landscape. With the right support, resources, and professional development, robotics education has the potential to revolutionize the way we educate and inspire the next generation of innovators and problem solvers.

India STEM Foundation

It looks like you're visiting from the United Arab Emirates. Atlab is our local partner, so you'll be able to make purchases through their partner page.

Redirecting to Atlab's Robolink partner page...

Stay on this page ( 5 )

How Robotics Makes a Positive Impact on Students and Education

Originally posted Oct 20, 2020

What robotics programs try to implement in schools is a vibrant, engaging, and fun environment in classrooms. Robots can evoke and nurture curiosity in students and bring them closer to hands-on experiential learning.

It is essential that we recognize the future requirements of the tech world and teach students to be competent to handle those requirements. That’s one of the missions that robotics can achieve.

Robotics in the classroom has a plethora of benefits for students and education , and here are some of the ways in which those benefits are showcased.

Robotics Helps with Developing Critical-Thinking and Problem-Solving Skills

Developing the right skills will prepare students for the competitive educational and professional society. Robotics boosts skills that are the foundation of success, such as critical-thinking and problem-solving skills .

When working on a robot, students are encouraged to use logic, engineering intuition, and critical thinking. Moreover, they are thought to be led by a strategic problem-solving mindset.

Some robot kits like Rokit Smart are perfect for teaching students to think like engineers. Robolink’s Rokit Smart has a full set of tools for building robots that challenges students to create different robotic creations. With a variety of options, they’ll have to use their critical-thinking and problem-solving skills to build them all.

The mistakes they make in robotics creates room for learning and exploring different possibilities until they come to a solution. Aside from problem-solving and critical-thinking, robotics also stimulates logical and analytical reasoning, higher-order thinking, and computational thinking.

Overall, robotics urges students to develop abilities that are crucial for many professional areas.

Robotics Can Encourage Students to Discover Their Passions

How can students know if robotics interest them if they never gave it a try? Many teachers and parents encourage students to pursue programming and robotics without giving them a chance to decide whether they like it or not.

Introducing robotics in education can help students find their passion early on. Who knows how many children would be natural in robotics, but they never had an opportunity to express their talent.

For example, Robolink’s CoDrone or CoDrone Mini can give students a chance to see their code come to life. By observing the results of their efforts, they can realize that they wish to turn that satisfying feeling of bringing objects to life into a career.

Robotics is a complex field that relies on many different capabilities. Through experimenting with robotics, students can discover their strengths, whether they lie in engineering, programming, math, or interest in innovative technologies such as 3D printing or drones.

Robotics Makes Learning How to Program Fun

Programming is the job of the future. However, students can find it boring and overwhelming if you teach it in a traditional method that relies on theory and abstract notions.

Allowing students to experiment with physical robots and observe the results of their programming effort can change their perception of programming, machine learning, and AI (artificial intelligence).

Take Zumi as an example. Zumi is a self-driving car kit that allows both younger and older children to learn about basic robotics, Python coding, machine learning, and more. It can make learning fun and help with an immediate understanding of students’ mistakes.

With robotics, students can interact with electrical as well as mechanical procedures. Intertwining theoretical learning with a practical application can give them a sense of how fascinating programming can be.

Robotics Provides a Solution for Students Who Can’t Attend School

Students who can’t attend lessons due to physical or health problems won’t be denied of “real school” experience. Educational robotics can ensure that each and every student gets the same educational experience regardless of potential obstacles or student’s inability to attend school.

The solution lies in personal robots. This device can substitute the student in the classroom and provide the student with direct transmission of the classes via a dedicated internal video conferencing system. In addition to using common online tools like Subjecto to help them with writing and homework assignments, students can actually be present for the lessons.

Whether students have a permanent condition that doesn’t allow them to go to school, or they temporarily have to stay at home to recover from surgery, they won’t miss a single lesson.

If students want to learn robotics but can’t attend classes, there is a solution. That’s why options such as Robolink’s Virtual Learning exist. Robolink specifically works with certified coding and engineering instructors that can give any child a chance to learn robotics from their homes.

Robotics Can Improve Learning Experience of Students with Special Needs

Students with special needs can be provided with new levels of learning, thanks to robotics. Their learning path can be customized based on their personal needs. By creating educational content that meets the individual’s requirements, students with special needs will have better opportunities for advancement.

For example, children with autism can interact with special technological devices that will form their responses based on students’ actions and reactions. Consequently, students’ social and communication skills will enhance.

Robot-assisted therapy for autism has already been put in motion, and the Nao robot is proof. This two-foot-tall robot can talk, walk, dance, and engage kids in many activities that improve their ability to maintain appropriate eye contact and read facial expressions.

Jonah Colson, a robotics and ROS developer, contributor writer at SupremeDissertations and BestEssaysEducation , and special needs assistant, explained how robotics can also help students with attention disorders. “ Specially designed robots can act as constant companions for students with attention disorders. Through this experience, children can learn how to stay focused as the robot will ensure to keep their attention ,” said Jonah.

Robotics Can Teach Teamwork

When properly conducted, robotics promotes a culture of teamwork. Working in groups to put their robot projects in motion will give students valuable lessons in teamwork.

Robolink encourages group work even through their previously-mentioned Virtual Learning possibility. They offer virtual group classes as they recognize the value of teamwork.

Robotics can help students realize the importance of relying on others, respecting their ideas, and valuing everyone’s contribution. Moreover, they will learn how to listen to others and communicate their ideas.

All of these skills can help them further in life, whether they are interested in robotics or not. Learning how to show respect for their team and recognize the power of collaboration can be an immeasurable life lesson.

Final Thoughts

Robotics has the power to make education more meaningful and relevant to the future needs of society. It embraces bringing high-quality and interactive learning to schools. Additionally, it boosts students’ skills and knowledge that are necessary for their personal and educational development.

With robotics, students can identify their areas of interest, build informed career paths, and work on reaching their full potential. Robotics in education can help with shaping technology leaders for tomorrow.

Marques Coleman is a professional writer who specializes in technology and education. Marques is cooperating with some of the top essay writing websites, including EssayAssistant , TopEssayWriting , ClassyEssay , TrustMyPaper , where he uses his practical industry skills to help students write research papers. When he is not working, Marques dedicates his free time to educate himself on innovative technological changes in education by attending conferences and interviewing leading experts in the industry of technology and education.

Share on Facebook
Share on Twitter

Please note: comments must be approved before they are published.

Essay on Robotics

Students are often asked to write an essay on Robotics in their schools and colleges. And if you’re also looking for the same, we have created 100-word, 250-word, and 500-word essays on the topic.

Let’s take a look…

100 Words Essay on Robotics

What is robotics.

Robotics is the science of creating robots. Robots are machines that can do tasks without human help. They can be as small as a toy or as big as a car. Some robots look like humans, but most just have parts to do jobs. They can be used in many places, like factories, hospitals, and homes.

History of Robotics

Types of robots.

There are many types of robots. Some robots are used in factories to build things. These are called industrial robots. There are also robots that help doctors in hospitals. They can do surgeries. Then there are robots that can explore space. They can go to places where humans can’t.

Benefits of Robotics

Robots can do tasks faster and more accurately than humans. They can also do dangerous jobs, keeping people safe. Robots can work 24/7 without getting tired. They can help in many fields, like medicine, manufacturing, and space exploration.

Future of Robotics

250 words essay on robotics.

Robotics is a field in technology that deals with making, working, and using robots. Robots are machines that can follow instructions to do tasks. Some robots can do tasks on their own, while others need human help.

There are many types of robots. Some robots look like humans, these are called humanoid robots. Then, there are industrial robots which are used in factories to make things like cars. There are also robots used in medicine, space exploration, and even in our homes to help with cleaning.

How Robots Work

Robots are run by computers. They follow a set of instructions called a program. This program tells the robot what to do and how to do it. Robots have sensors that allow them to gather information about their surroundings. This information is used to make decisions and carry out tasks.

Benefits of Robots

Robots can do many things that humans cannot do or find hard to do. They can work in dangerous places like space, deep sea, or inside a volcano. They can also do tasks quickly and without getting tired. This is why they are very useful in many areas like science, industry, and medicine.

The future of robotics is very exciting. Scientists are working on making robots that can learn and think like humans. These robots will be able to solve problems and make decisions on their own. They will be even more helpful and can change the way we live and work.

500 Words Essay on Robotics

Robotics is a branch of technology that deals with robots. Robots are machines that can perform tasks automatically or with guidance. They can do things that are hard, dangerous, or boring for humans. This field combines different branches of science and engineering like computer science, electrical engineering, and mechanical engineering.

The idea of robots has been around for a long time. Ancient Greek myths talk about mechanical servants. The term “robot” itself comes from a Czech word “robota,” meaning forced labor. It was first used in a play in 1920. The first real industrial robot, Unimate, started work in 1961 at a General Motors plant. Since then, robotics has grown a lot.

Robots come in many shapes and sizes to suit different jobs. Some robots look like humans and can do things like talk or walk. These are called humanoid robots. Industrial robots work in factories and can do things like welding, painting, or assembling. Mobile robots can move around. They can be used for things like exploring space or the bottom of the ocean. Then there are medical robots which help doctors in surgeries and patient care.

Importance of Robotics

Robots are very important in today’s world. They can do jobs that are dangerous for humans, like defusing bombs or working in nuclear power plants. They can also do jobs that need to be very exact, like in surgery or making computer chips. Robots can also do jobs that are boring or repetitive, like assembling cars in a factory. This helps humans to focus on more interesting and creative tasks.

In conclusion, robotics is a fascinating field that combines many different areas of science and engineering. It has a rich history and an exciting future. Robots are already doing many tasks that help humans, and they are likely to do even more in the future. As we continue to develop and use robots, we must also think about how to do this in a way that benefits everyone.

That’s it! I hope the essay helped you.

If you’re looking for more, here are essays on other interesting topics:

Happy studying!

The use of robots in everyday life

May 17, 2021 | STEAM | 0 comments

The word “robot” was first used 100 years ago during a science fiction theater play premiered in 1921. A century later, robotics has long ceased to be a futuristic idea and it’s already part of our present. From domestic robotics to industrial robotics, the use of robots in our daily lives makes our tasks easier both at home and at work. Thus, many people appreciate it when their roomba vacuums the entire house or when the kitchen robot helps them making dinner, but the truth is that the use of robots goes much further and has meant huge progress in important fields such as medicine, education, physics or chemistry. Let’s take a look at some of them:

Domestic use

More and more people are relying on domestic robots to perform household chores. Some of the most popular are robot vacuum cleaners and kitchen robots, but nowadays we also have robots which are used to cut the lawn in the garden or clean the bottom of the pool, robots which clean our windows or which can even iron our clothes, although the latter are still very expensive and take up a lot of space. In addition, robotics has also allowed home automation (heating, lights, blinds or security systems).

Another common use of robotics is that of industrial processes, especially in the automotive industry and other assemblies by parts. In this case, industrial robots can move large boxes and pieces. They can also modify these pieces through actions such as assembling and disassembling them, welding or melting them, among others. Industrial robots can place batteries and connect them, package products and label them, carry out recycling processes, etc. Robotics can do all this in a faster and more precise way than humans, but above all in a safer way , since the weight of some parts can cause falls and serious work accidents. Thus, robots keep the physical part of the processes, while humans take care of their supervision.

Robots are a great complement for health professionals, both in diagnostic tasks and in treatment, rehabilitation or helping people. There are robots which are very fast when making diagnoses , since they are indeed very good when it comes to identifying patterns, collecting data and relate all information. There are also robots which can perform where a doctor’s hand might not be able to do so in such a precise way, which is why they are very useful during surgical interventions . And there are robots which help the elderly, people with reduced mobility or with special needs, as well as there are robotic arms or legs for those who have lost a limb. In short, the combination of robotics and medicine offers more and more possibilities chasing the same goal: to improve people’s lives and health.

Physics and Chemistry

In the field of Physics, robots have been essential to perform tasks which would have been not possible for a human being. We are mainly referring to space robots , which can live in space and transport objects used in space missions, monitor space stations or walk on the terrain and allow humans to explore these territories from a distance. In terms of Chemistry, the precision of robots has been key to the manufacture and packaging of chemicals requiring a high level of accuracy, which is complicated for humans. As an example, one of the tasks performed by robots in this field is the dissolution of samples, although it is a type of collaborative robot that requires a lot of supervision by specialized personnel, so these processes would not be possible either without human work.

Finally, the use of robotics at school is increasingly widespread, since it is a resource that allows working in many areas (mathematics, natural science, social science, technology, arts…) in a fun and game-based way. Also, as the use of robots in class is related to project learning , children can also improve social skills such as teamwork. These projects also foster their imagination and creativity, force them to constantly strive and think, and improve the students’ confidence and self-esteem as they overcome new challenges.

Robots continue to evolve constantly and every day they are more prepared. Therefore, in addition to the most widespread uses that we have seen,there are many other fields which are already introducing robotics in small tasks or which have prototypes that still need development time, but in a few years will be used daily. One example is the agricultural sector , which already uses aerial robots that are capable of collecting useful information about the terrain and crops, but will soon also be able to use ground robots in the form of tractors to help increase the production level.

The common feature of all the uses of robotics is the simplification of tasks for human beings and the improvement of our daily life thanks to this technology. However, like any technological progress, the extended use of robots has both positive and negative aspects. For this reason, it is very important to learn to make a conscious and responsible use of robots, to think about their uses and understand their functioning, in addition to training from an ethical point of view allowing the positive coexistence of humans and robots.

What Impactful Role Can Robots Play in Our Life?

Download PDF Copy

Image Credits: maxuser /shutterstock.com

By Angela Betsaida B. Laguipo, BSN, RN

A robot is a machine which has the ability to carry out complex actions and movements automatically. Robots play important roles in society, with the aim of making the lives of humans easier.

What is Robotics?

Robotics is a branch of science and technology that deals with the conception, design, construction, manufacture, and operation of robots. This field goes hand in hand with other fields, such as computer science, mechatronics, electronics, artificial intelligence, bioengineering, and nanotechnology.

The word robot comes from the term, “ robota ”, which means “forced labor or work”. Typically, robots are machines that perform actions that are normally performed by humans, either through the remote control or automatically.

Importance of Robots in Life

Currently, the role of robots is to take over hard and dangerous jobs. Jobs that are repetitive and need great precision are the ones robots are good at. There’s no room for human error in these jobs. Since robots are machines and computer-controlled, all the calculations of each movement are accurate.

For instance, a job requires tightening one screw on an appliance over and over, day after day, for weeks, and years. Routine work like this is better off performed by robots than by humans. Most robots perform repetitive actions that need precision. Robots are used in factories to build equipment and devices, such as cars and electronics. Today, robots aren’t just used for dangerous jobs, but also in various applications that help mankind.

Roles Robots Play in Human Lives

Rehabilitation

Rehabilitation robotics and prosthetics are increasingly becoming popular. Today, these robots can now think and able to interact directly with humans, through sensing neural and environmental signals, triggering movements in response. Rehabilitative robots help humans who lost limbs to move as if they still have their arms or legs. Hence, these robots help people live normal lives, despite disabilities.

Artificial Intelligence

Artificial intelligence (AI) is a term that involves the use of a computer to model or replicate intelligent behavior. Robotics today utilizes artificial intelligence, so they can perform tasks with minimal human intervention. This means they perform tasks automatically, without human control.

AI is the recreation or replication of the human thought process. This man-made machine contains human intellectual abilities, including the ability to learn just about anything, the ability to use language, formulate original ideas, and the ability to reason.

Agriculture

The use of robots in agriculture has gained popularity over the years. Robotics help overcome challenges and problems in farmlands. Precision agriculture, dubbed as precision farming, is a type of farm management based on the use of various technologies, including robots.

In farming, farmers no longer need to apply fertilizers, pesticides, and water across the fields. Machines and robotics can do this for the farmers at accurate levels, which can produce higher crop productivity, less runoff of chemicals into groundwater and rivers, and increased farmer safety.

Marine robotics has improved from navigation and control algorithms for surface and underwater vehicles. Now, robots are used to explore the oceans at an unprecedented scale, keeping scientists and engineers safe. These robots can also measure water pollution and the extent of coral damage in the world’s oceans.

Robots play important roles in society. Aside from that, they make the lives of humans easier and faster

National Institute of Food and Agriculture. (2019). https://www.nifa.usda.gov/
Roldan, J.J., del Cerro, J., Garzon-Ramos, D., Garcia-Aunon, P., Garzon, M., de Leon, J., and Barrientos, A. ( 2017 ). Robots in Agriculture: State of Art and Practical Experiences. IntechOpen . https://www.intechopen.com/books/service-robots/robots-in-agriculture-state-of-art-and-practical-experiences

Disclaimer: The views expressed here are those of the author expressed in their private capacity and do not necessarily represent the views of AZoM.com Limited T/A AZoNetwork the owner and operator of this website. This disclaimer forms part of the Terms and conditions of use of this website.

Angela Betsaida B. Laguipo

Angela is a nurse by profession and a writer by heart. She graduated with honors (Cum Laude) for her Bachelor of Nursing degree at the University of Baguio, Philippines. She is currently completing her Master's Degree where she specialized in Maternal and Child Nursing and worked as a clinical instructor and educator in the School of Nursing at the University of Baguio.

Please use one of the following formats to cite this article in your essay, paper or report:

Laguipo, Angela. (2022, September 02). What Impactful Role Can Robots Play in Our Life?. AZoRobotics. Retrieved on July 02, 2024 from https://www.azorobotics.com/Article.aspx?ArticleID=304.

Laguipo, Angela. "What Impactful Role Can Robots Play in Our Life?". AZoRobotics . 02 July 2024. <https://www.azorobotics.com/Article.aspx?ArticleID=304>.

Laguipo, Angela. "What Impactful Role Can Robots Play in Our Life?". AZoRobotics. https://www.azorobotics.com/Article.aspx?ArticleID=304. (accessed July 02, 2024).

Laguipo, Angela. 2022. What Impactful Role Can Robots Play in Our Life? . AZoRobotics, viewed 02 July 2024, https://www.azorobotics.com/Article.aspx?ArticleID=304.

Tell Us What You Think

Do you have a review, update or anything you would like to add to this article?

Cancel reply to comment

Trending Stories
Editorial Highlight
Featured Equipment

Robotic vs. Conventional Laparoscopy for Treating Deep Endometriosis

Analyzing Accident Risks in Autonomous Vehicles

Artificial Intelligence Enhances Breast Cancer Screening Accuracy

AI Unveils New Layer of Risk in Endometrial Cancer

AI Masters Complex Forestry Machine in Groundbreaking Trial

Robots and Renewable Energy: Hydropower Inspections

As part of an Editorial short series, AZoRobotics takes a look at how the renewable energy sector is harnessing the power of robotic technologies. Here, we take a look at robots in hydropower stations.

Robots and Renewable Energy: Wind Farm Monitoring

Amid the rapid global expansion of the wind energy sector, the integration of robotics is becoming pivotal for wind farm operators.

Robots and Renewable Energy: Solar Plant Security

Like any renewable energy infrastructure, solar plants must be protected and secured. It is here where robots and autonomous systems can come into play.

Cavitar’s Welding Cameras Offer Efficient Visualization

Discover Cavitar’s welding cameras that can be used in a variety of situations to offer high-quality visualization of the welding processes.

Testing and Calibrating Signal Conditioning Systems with the Portable Signal Generator

MTI’s 1510A portable signal generator and calibrator is ideal for testing the integrity of sensor signal conditioning electronics.

Full Body Inspection System(FBIS) from OLYMPUS CORPORATION

Using the advantages of the phased array technology, Olympus has designed a powerful inspection system for seamless pipe inspections well-adapted to the stringent requirements of the oil and gas markets. This phased array system is flexible and can be used to match inspection performances and the product requirements of customers.

Thought Leaders

Robot chef: the future of automated meal preparation, tiny robotic crab: the smallest-ever remote-controlled walking robot, resurrecting ancient cephalopods with robots, newsletters you may be interested in.

Your AI Powered Scientific Assistant

Hi, I'm Azthena, you can trust me to find commercial scientific answers from AZoNetwork.com.

A few things you need to know before we start. Please read and accept to continue.

Use of “Azthena” is subject to the terms and conditions of use as set out by OpenAI .
Content provided on any AZoNetwork sites are subject to the site Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy .
Large Language Models can make mistakes. Consider checking important information.

Great. Ask your question.

Azthena may occasionally provide inaccurate responses. Read the full terms .

While we only use edited and approved content for Azthena answers, it may on occasions provide incorrect responses. Please confirm any data provided with the related suppliers or authors. We do not provide medical advice, if you search for medical information you must always consult a medical professional before acting on any information provided.

Your questions, but not your email details will be shared with OpenAI and retained for 30 days in accordance with their privacy principles.

Please do not ask questions that use sensitive or confidential information.

Read the full Terms & Conditions .

Provide Feedback

Skip to main content
Skip to secondary menu
Skip to primary sidebar
Skip to footer

A Plus Topper

Improve your Grades

Robotics Essay | Essay on Robotics for Students and Children in English

February 14, 2024 by sastry

Robotics Essay: What do you think of when you think about ‘robots’? If you think they are only the stuff of space movies and science fiction novels, then think again. Robots are the largest growing technological device in the world. They perform many functions ranging from space exploration to entertainment. Robotics technology is increasing at a fast rate, providing us with new technology that can assist with home chores, automobile assembly and many other tasks. Robotic technology has changed the world around us and is continuing to impact the way we do things. Robotic technology transformation from the past to present surrounds almost everyone in today’s society and it affects both our work and leisure activities.

You can read more Essay Writing about articles, events, people, sports, technology many more.

Long and Short Essays on Robotics for Kids and Students in English

Given below are two essays in English for students and children about the topic of ‘Robotics’ in both long and short form. The first essay is a long essay on Robotics of 400-500 words. This long essay about Robotics is suitable for students of class 7, 8, 9 and 10, and also for competitive exam aspirants. The second essay is a short essay on Robotics of 150-200 words. These are suitable for students and children in class 6 and below.

Long Essay on Robotics 500 Words in English

Below we have given a long essay on Robotics of 500 words is helpful for classes 7, 8, 9 and 10 and Competitive Exam Aspirants. This long essay on the topic is suitable for students of class 7 to class 10, and also for competitive exam aspirants.

Robotics is the branch of mechanical engineering, electrical engineering and computer science that deals with the design, construction, operation, and application of robots, as well as computer systems for, their coptrol and processing. These technologies deal with automated machines that can take’the place of a human in various kinds of work, activities, environments and processes.

The definition of the word robot has a different meaning to many people. According to the Robot Institute of America, 1979, a robot is a re-programmable, multi-functional manipulator designed to move material, parts, tools, or specialised devices through various programmed motions for the performance of a variety of tasks. The use of robots continues to change numerous aspect of our everyday life, such as health care, education and job satisfaction. Robots are going to be a major part of the world economy, they help ways to make our daily life easier and assist in producing more products.

Robotic technology is becoming one of the leading technologies in the world. They can perform many functions. They are used in many different ways in today’s society. The use of robotic technology has made an immediate impact on the world in several ways. As technological advances continue, research design and building new robots serve various practical purposes, whether domestic, commercial or military. Many robots even do the jobs that are hazardous to people such as defusing bombs, mining and exploring shipwrecks.

There are numerous uses of robots which not only give better results but also help in saving money as well as time. The robots can provide high quality components and finished products, and do so reliably and repeatedly even in hazardous or unpleasant environments. There are various industry segments which are making use of robotics to improve their production capabilities.

Much of the research in robotics focuses not on specific industrial tasks, but on investigations into new types of robots, alternative ways to think about or design robots, and new ways to manufacture them.

Recently, Apollo Hospital group installed the world’s most advanced CyberKnife robotic radio surgery system at the cancer speciality centre in Chennai, India. Although it meant substantial price for the hospital, Apollo decided to go ahead with the project due to the new-found enthusiasm for robotics in India.

From the Chandrayaan I project for sending robots to moon, to biomedical engineering and the auto industry, India has been using robotics on a wide scale. In an increasingly technology-driven country, robotics has fast assumed significance not only for industrial applications, but also in various day-to-day human activities.

Presently, robotics is the pinnacle of technical development. Though robotics in India is at a nascent stage, but industrial automation in India has opened up huge potential for robotics. Innovation coupled with consolidated research and development has catapulted India’s scientific position in robotic technology.

The country is soon to become a major hub for the production of robots. The global market for robots is projected to rise by an average of about 4%, while in India, the industry is expected to grow at a rate 2.5 times that of the global average.

In medical field, the importance of robotics has been growing. Robotics is increasingly being used in a variety of clinical and surgical settings for increasing surgical accuracy and decreasing operating time and often to create better healthcare outcomes than standard current approaches. These medical robots are used to train surgeons, assist in difficult and precise surgical procedures, and to assist patients in recovery. The automobile industry is equally dominated by robots.

There are multiple number of industrial robots functioning on fully automated production lines especially the high and efficient luxury and sports cars. The use of industrial robots has helped to increase productivity rate, efficiency and quality of distribution. Another major area where the use of robots is extensive is the packaging section. The packaging done using real robots is of very high quality as there is almost no chances of any human error. Another example where robotics is used is the electronic field. These are mainly in the mass-production with full accuracy and reliability. With these varied usages of robots Bill Gates has said

“Robots will be the Next World-Changing Technology”

Robotic has spread like an infection to an extent that so many movies and serials are also based on its theme. Some popular movies include Star Wars, Robocop, Ra one, Transformers etc. With such acclaimed popularity India too has come up with the Robotics Society of India (RSI). It is an academic society founded on 10th July, 2011, which aims at promoting Indian robotics and automation activities. The society hopes to serve as a bridge between researchers in institutes, government research centres and industry.

Short Essay on Robotics 200 Words in English

Below we have given a short essay on Robotics is for Classes 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6. This short essay on the topic is suitable for students of class 6 and below.

India has also come up with specialised programmes in robotics field in IITs and other universities. Also, it has moved beyond the traditional areas and entered newer domains of education, rehabilitation, entertainment etc. Robotics has helped handicapped people by replacing their (damaged) limbs with artificial parts that can duplicate the natural movements.

Like a coin has two sides, robotics too has a flip side to it. The biggest barrier in the development of robots has been the high costs of its hardware such as sensors, motors etc. The customisation and updation is also an added problem.

With new advancements taking place each passing day, new product introduction is a problem for the existing users. Robots cut down labour, thereby reducing the opportunities of employment for many. In many developed countries, scientists are making robotic military force that can prove dangerous to others. As the power and capacity of computers continues to expand, revolution is being created in the field of robotics. Imagination is coupled with technology. It would not be wrong to say that in near future there will be a time when robots will become smarter than the human race.

Robotics Essay Word Meanings for Simple Understanding

Shipwreck – the destruction or loss of a ship, the remains of a ruined ship.
Defuse – the act of deactivating, terminating or making ineffective
Substantial- of ample or considerable amount, significant
Pinnacle – the highest or culminating point, as of success, power, etc
Nascent – developing, beginning, budding
Consolidated – united, combined
Catapulted – to move quickly, suddenly or forcibly
Reliability – dependability
Domain – field, area, sphere
Flip side – opposite side, reverse side
Customisation – modification, alteration
Picture Dictionary
English Speech
English Slogans
English Letter Writing
English Essay Writing
English Textbook Answers
Types of Certificates
ICSE Solutions
Selina ICSE Solutions
ML Aggarwal Solutions
HSSLive Plus One
HSSLive Plus Two
Kerala SSLC
Distance Education

Advantages and Disadvantages of Robots: Band nine IELTS Essay

Robots are a big topic these days. From self-driving cars to operations, more and more tasks seem to be being taken over by robots. This band nine sample essay looks at this topic. Keep scrolling for information about why this essay is band nine including structure, grammar and a vocabulary list.

Some people think that robots are very important to future human development. Others think that they are dangerous and have negative effects on society. Discuss both sides and give your point of view.

Increasing automation has become a controversial topic in recent years. In this essay, I will compare the advantage that robots can perform tasks that are dangerous or difficult with the disadvantage that robots could take over jobs. I will conclude that, despite the drawbacks, this type of development is positive.

One of the main advantages of robots is that they are able to perform tasks that would be dangerous or difficult for a person. For example, robots are already used for bomb disposal , which keeps people out of harm’s way . Similarly, robots are capable of performing delicate and precise tasks in manufacturing and medical tasks settings with a high degree of accuracy. If we allow people to continue to do these jobs, it will lead to lives being lost and inferior products being made.

However, one of the main issues with this is that robots taking over other jobs that are currently done by humans. In the past, we have seen auto manufacturing turn from a source of jobs to something that is mostly automated. If we see this happen in other industries, it could lead to widespread unemployment and economic insecurity . Although this would be good for factory owners, this type of unemployment has wider negative societal impacts .

In conclusion, while robots have the potential to greatly improve our lives by performing risky and difficult tasks, they also have the potential to take people’s jobs. Ultimately, I believe that this type of technological progress can lead to the creation of new jobs.

This is an example of a ‘both sides and an opinion’ type essay. For this type of essay, you need to present both sides of the argument before giving your point of view. I prefer to dedicate one body paragraph to each side before writing my opinion briefly in the conclusion. You can see that structure here. Each of the body paragraphs is also about one specific thing and goes into plenty of detail.

Beyond there being no grammar mistakes in this essay, you can see that there are a wide range of grammar types here. One that I have used several times is an if sentence. Check out our new guide to this highly flexible grammar type .

Below, you can find a list of the complex and interesting grammar in the essay. All of the words below are underlined in the essay and appear in the same order as they do above.

The process of replacing human jobs with machines.

Development

The process of making new things or improving things that already exist.

Bomb disposal

The practice of safely and carefully handling, disarming and removing bombs or other explosive devices.

Out of harm’s way

Another way of saying ‘away from risk’.

Lower in quality compared to other things.

Unemployment

The amount of unemployment is the number of people without a job.

Economic insecurity

This refers to the extent to which people worry about being able to pay for things.

Societal impacts

How something affects society as a whole.

Technological progress

The advancement of things like tools and machines.

Making something operate automatically.

If something is risky it involves a chance of failure or harm.

Some people think that for robots are very important to you human future development. other think that they are dangerous and have negative effect on society discuss both view and give your opinion.

Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this site’s author and/or owner is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to Writing9 with appropriate and specific direction to the original content.

Fully explain your ideas

To get an excellent score in the IELTS Task 2 writing section, one of the easiest and most effective tips is structuring your writing in the most solid format. A great argument essay structure may be divided to four paragraphs, in which comprises of four sentences (excluding the conclusion paragraph, which comprises of three sentences).

For we to consider an essay structure a great one, it should be looking like this:

Paragraph 1 - Introduction
Sentence 1 - Background statement
Sentence 2 - Detailed background statement
Sentence 3 - Thesis
Sentence 4 - Outline sentence
Paragraph 2 - First supporting paragraph
Sentence 1 - Topic sentence
Sentence 2 - Example
Sentence 3 - Discussion
Sentence 4 - Conclusion
Paragraph 3 - Second supporting paragraph
Paragraph 4 - Conclusion
Sentence 1 - Summary
Sentence 2 - Restatement of thesis
Sentence 3 - Prediction or recommendation

Our recommended essay structure above comprises of fifteen (15) sentences, which will make your essay approximately 250 to 275 words.

Discover more tips in The Ultimate Guide to Get a Target Band Score of 7+ » — a book that's free for 🚀 Premium users.

Autonomous robots
Technological advancement
Economic inequality
Job displacement
Ethical considerations
Labor shortages
Precision and efficiency
Hazardous job roles
Economic opportunities
Security threats
Social skills erosion
Regulation and governance
Integration
Human-to-human interaction
Check your IELTS essay »
Find essays with the same topic
View collections of IELTS Writing Samples
Show IELTS Writing Task 2 Topics

Doctors recommend that older people exercise regularly. However, many of them do not exercise enough. What are the causes? What can be done to encourage them to exercise?

You have recently moved to a different house. write a letter to an english-speaking friend. in your letter -explain why you have moved -describe the new apartment -invite him or her to pay a visit, topic: when asked to choose between a life without work and working most of the time, people would always choose not to work. do you agree or disagree with this statement, some parents give their children everything that their children ask for and accept what their children want to do. is this good for children what could be the consequences for these children when they grow up, homelessness is increasing in many major cities around the world. what do you think are the main causes of this problem and what measures could be taken to solve it.

Robot-assisted indoor air quality monitoring and assessment: a systematic review

Published: 01 July 2024

Cite this article

J. Saini ORCID: orcid.org/0000-0001-6903-3722 1 ,
M. Dutta ORCID: orcid.org/0000-0002-2608-6821 2 &
G. Marques ORCID: orcid.org/0000-0001-5834-6571 3

The degraded air quality has become an international issue with rising cases of respiratory health issues across the globe while contributing to the symptoms of chronic health problems such as cardiovascular disease, lung cancer, and nervous system disorders. Therefore, it is important to leverage the potential of the latest technologies to address the concerns related to degrading air quality. This systematic review is focused on robot-assisted indoor air quality (IAQ) monitoring and assessment. This review is conducted based on the 14 most relevant papers included from 5 different databases, and the available information is synthesized with PRISMA guidelines to find answers to 6 potential research questions. The main contribution is to provide highlights to different types of ground robotic systems used by existing researchers for IAQ assessment. The synthesis shows that commercial robotic units are widely preferred for IAQ monitoring applications in comparison to the self-designed robot systems. The authors in this paper also put emphasis on energy consumption, power requirements, functionality details, and communication technologies used by existing researchers. This paper highlights potential challenges, gaps, and findings of the existing studies while creating a roadmap for future researchers, public health experts, and government agencies working in this domain application.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Subscribe and save.

Get 10 units per month
Download Article/Chapter or Ebook
1 Unit = 1 Article or 1 Chapter
Cancel anytime

Price includes VAT (Russian Federation)

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Rent this article via DeepDyve

Institutional subscriptions

Data availability

All data generated or analysed during this study are included in this published article.

Abbreviations

Indoor air pollution

Environmental Protection Agency

Indoor air quality

Wireless sensor networks

Sulphur dioxide

Internet of Things

Artificial intelligence

Research questions

Exclusion criteria

Simultaneous localization and mapping

Decentralized partially observable Markov decision process

Carbon dioxide

Nitrogen dioxide

Carbon monoxide

Particulate matter

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons

Volatile organic compounds

Distributed deep Q-learning

Inclusion criteria

Light detection and ranging

Global positioning system

Preferred reporting items for systematic review and meta-analysis

Abdallah L, Nasr A, Abdallah L, Nasr A (2021) Using robots to improve indoor air quality and reduce COVID-19 exposure. J Appl Res Technol 19:227–237. https://doi.org/10.22201/icat.24486736e.2021.19.3.1694

Article Google Scholar

Aditya, Sharma M, Gupta SC (2018) An Internet of Things based smart surveillance and monitoring system using arduino. In: 2018 international conference on advances in computing and communication engineering (ICACCE), pp 428–433

Al-Fuqaha A, Guizani M, Mohammadi M et al (2015) Internet of Things: a survey on enabling technologies, protocols, and applications. IEEE Commun Surv Tutor 17:2347–2376. https://doi.org/10.1109/COMST.2015.2444095

Ali O, Shrestha A, Soar J, Wamba SF (2018) Cloud computing-enabled healthcare opportunities, issues, and applications: a systematic review. Int J Inf Manag 43:146–158. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijinfomgt.2018.07.009

Al-Okby MFR, Neubert S, Roddelkopf T et al (2022) Evaluating of IAQ-Index and TVOC parameter-based sensors for hazardous gases detection and alarming systems. Sensors 22:1473. https://doi.org/10.3390/s22041473

Article CAS Google Scholar

Armstrong JR, Campbell H (1991) Indoor air pollution exposure and lower respiratory infections in young Gambian children. Int J Epidemiol 20:424–429

Benammar M, Abdaoui A, Ahmad SHM et al (2018) A modular IoT platform for real-time indoor air quality monitoring. Sensors (basel, Switzerland). https://doi.org/10.3390/s18020581

Bourdin D, Mocho P, Desauziers V, Plaisance H (2014) Formaldehyde emission behavior of building materials: on-site measurements and modeling approach to predict indoor air pollution. J Hazard Mater 280:164–173. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhazmat.2014.07.065

Briffa J, Sinagra E, Blundell R (2020) Heavy metal pollution in the environment and their toxicological effects on humans. Heliyon 6:e04691. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.heliyon.2020.e04691

Bruce N, Perez-Padilla R, Albalak R (2000) Indoor air pollution in developing countries: a major environmental and public health challenge. Bull World Health Org 15:1078–1092

Google Scholar

Cashikar A, Li J, Biswas P (2019) Particulate matter sensors mounted on a robot for environmental aerosol measurements. J Environ Eng 145:04019057. https://doi.org/10.1061/(ASCE)EE.1943-7870.0001569

Chen J, Li C, Ristovski Z et al (2017) A review of biomass burning: emissions and impacts on air quality, health and climate in China. Sci Total Environ 579:1000–1034. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2016.11.025

Cooke TF (1991) Indoor air pollutants: a literature review. Rev Environ Health. https://doi.org/10.1515/REVEH.1991.9.3.137

Cretescu I, Isopescu DN, Lutic D, Soreanu G (2019) Indoor air pollutants and the future perspectives for living space design. Indoor Environ Health. https://doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.87309

da Rosa Tavares JE, Victória Barbosa JL (2020) Ubiquitous healthcare on smart environments: a systematic mapping study. J Ambient Intell Smart Environ 12:513–529. https://doi.org/10.3233/AIS-200581

Fullerton DG, Bruce N, Gordon SB (2008) Indoor air pollution from biomass fuel smoke is a major health concern in the developing world. Trans R Soc Trop Med Hyg 102:843–851. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.trstmh.2008.05.028

Gao J, Yang Y, Lin P, Park DS (2018) Computer vision in healthcare applications. J Healthc Eng 2018:e5157020. https://doi.org/10.1155/2018/5157020

Grau A, Indri M, Bello LL, Sauter T (2017) Industrial robotics in factory automation: from the early stage to the Internet of Things. In: IECON 2017—43rd annual conference of the IEEE industrial electronics society, pp 6159–6164

Gugliermetti L, Sabatini M, Palmerini GB, Carpentiero M (2016) Air quality monitoring by means of a miniaturized sensor onboard an autonomous wheeled rover. In: 2016 IEEE International smart cities conference (ISC2). IEEE, Trento, Italy, pp 1–4

Hu Z, Cong S, Song T et al (2020) AirScope: mobile robots-assisted cooperative indoor air quality sensing by distributed deep reinforcement learning. IEEE Internet Things J 7:9189–9200. https://doi.org/10.1109/JIOT.2020.3004339

Huang Y, Ho SSH, Ho KF et al (2011) Characteristics and health impacts of VOCs and carbonyls associated with residential cooking activities in Hong Kong. J Hazard Mater 186:344–351. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhazmat.2010.11.003

Jafari MJ, Khajevandi AA, Mousavi Najarkola SA et al (2015) Association of sick building syndrome with indoor air parameters. Tanaffos 14:55–62

Jin M, Liu S, Schiavon S, Spanos C (2018) Automated mobile sensing: towards high-granularity agile indoor environmental quality monitoring. Build Environ 127:268–276. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.buildenv.2017.11.003

Licina D, Nazaroff WW (2018) Clothing as a transport vector for airborne particles: chamber study. Indoor Air 28:404–414. https://doi.org/10.1111/ina.12452

Marques G, Pires IM, Miranda N, Pitarma R (2019) Air quality monitoring using assistive robots for ambient assisted living and enhanced living environments through Internet of Things. Electronics 8:1375. https://doi.org/10.3390/electronics8121375

Marques G, Pitarma R (2019) Air quality through automated mobile sensing and wireless sensor networks for enhanced living environments. In: 2019 14th Iberian conference on information systems and technologies (CISTI). IEEE, Coimbra, Portugal, pp 1–7

Meena MJ, Prabha SS, Pandian S (2014) A cloud-based mobile robotic system for environmental monitoring. In: 2014 Asia-Pacific conference on computer aided system engineering (APCASE), pp 122–126

Moher D, Liberati A, Tetzlaff J, Altman DG (2009) Preferred reporting items for systematic reviews and meta-analyses: the PRISMA statement. Ann Intern Med 151:264–269

Munsif R, Zubair M, Aziz A, Zafar MN (2021) Industrial air emission pollution: potential sources and sustainable mitigation. IntechOpen

Muxfeldt A, Kubus D, Wahl FM (2015) Developing new application fields for industrial robots—four examples for academia-industry collaboration. In: 2015 IEEE 20th conference on emerging technologies factory automation (ETFA). pp 1–7

Qian K, Ma X, Dai X et al (2016) Gaussian process based IAQ distribution mapping using an interactive service robot. J Ambient Intell Smart Environ 8:359–373. https://doi.org/10.3233/AIS-160376

Ribino P, Bonomolo M, Lodato C, Vitale G (2021) A humanoid social robot based approach for indoor environment quality monitoring and well-being improvement. Int J Soc Robot 13:277–296. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12369-020-00638-9

Romeo L, Petitti A, Marani R, Milella A (2020) Internet of robotic things in smart domains: applications and challenges. Sensors 20:3355. https://doi.org/10.3390/s20123355

Rong G, Mendez A, Bou Assi E et al (2020) Artificial intelligence in healthcare: review and prediction case studies. Engineering 6:291–301. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.eng.2019.08.015

Russo A, Lind PG, Raischel F et al (2015) Neural network forecast of daily pollution concentration using optimal meteorological data at synoptic and local scales. Atmos Pollut Res 6:540–549. https://doi.org/10.5094/APR.2015.060

Sagona JA, Shalat SL, Wang Z et al (2017) Comparison of particulate matter exposure estimates in young children from personal sampling equipment and a robotic sampler. J Expo Sci Environ Epidemiol 27:299–305. https://doi.org/10.1038/jes.2016.24

Saini J, Dutta M, Marques G (2021) Sensors for indoor air quality monitoring and assessment through Internet of Things: a systematic review. Environ Monit Assess 193:66. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10661-020-08781-6

Salman N, Kemp A, Khan A, Noakes C (2019) Real time wireless sensor network (WSN) based indoor air quality monitoring system. IFAC-PapersOnLine 52:324–327

Santos NB, Bavaresco RS, Tavares JER et al (2021) A systematic mapping study of robotics in human care. Robot Auton Syst 144:103833. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.robot.2021.103833

Shah L, Mainelis G, Ramagopal M et al (2016) Use of a robotic sampler (PIPER) for evaluation of particulate matter exposure and eczema in preschoolers. IJERPH 13:242. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph13020242

Shalat SL, Lioy PJ, Schmeelck K, Mainelis G (2007) Improving estimation of indoor exposure to inhalable particles for children in the first year of life. J Air Waste Manag Assoc 57:934–939. https://doi.org/10.3155/1047-3289.57.8.934

Shishehgar M, Kerr D, Blake J (2018) A systematic review of research into how robotic technology can help older people. Smart Health 7–8:1–18. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.smhl.2018.03.002

Slezakova K, Morais S, Carmo Pereir M do (2012) indoor air pollutants: relevant aspects and health impacts. In: Oosthuizen J (ed) Environmental health—emerging issues and practice. InTech

Tricco AC, Lillie E, Zarin W et al (2018) PRISMA extension for scoping reviews (PRISMA-ScR): checklist and explanation. Ann Intern Med 169:467. https://doi.org/10.7326/M18-0850

US EPA O (2017) Indoor Air Quality. In: US EPA. https://www.epa.gov/report-environment/indoor-air-quality . Accessed 17 May 2020

World Health Organization (2020) World health statistics 2020: monitoring health for the SDGs, sustainable development goals. World Health Organization

Wu X, Fan Z, Zhu X et al (1994) Exposures to volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and associated health risks of socio-economically disadvantaged population in a “hot spot” in Camden New Jersey. Atmos Environ 57:72–79. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.atmosenv.2012.04.029

Wu Y, Liu T, Ling SH et al (2019) Air quality monitoring for vulnerable groups in residential environments using a multiple hazard gas detector. Sensors 19:362. https://doi.org/10.3390/s19020362

Yang Y, Liu J, Wang W et al (2021) Incorporating SLAM and mobile sensing for indoor CO 2 monitoring and source position estimation. J Clean Prod 291:125780. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2020.125780

Yasuda YDV, Martins LEG, Cappabianco FAM (2020) Autonomous visual navigation for mobile robots: a systematic literature review. ACM Comput Surv 53(13):1–34. https://doi.org/10.1145/3368961

Download references

This research received no external funding.

Author information

Authors and affiliations.

Eternal RESTEM, Mandi, Himachal Pradesh, 175031, India

National Institute of Technical Teacher’s Training and Research, Chandigarh, 160019, India

Polytechnic Institute of Coimbra, Technology and Management School of Oliveira do Hospital, Rua General Santos Costa, 3400-124, Oliveira do Hospital, Portugal

You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Contributions

Jagriti Saini: Conceptualization, Methodology, Validation, Formal Analysis, Data Curation, Original Draft Preparation, Review and Editing, Visualization. Maitreyee Dutta: Conceptualization, Validation, Data Curation, Resources, Investigation, Supervision. Gonçalo Marques: Conceptualization, Validation, Formal Analysis, Data Curation, Original Draft Preparation, Review and Editing, Visualization, Supervision.

Corresponding author

Correspondence to J. Saini .

Ethics declarations

Conflict of interest.

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Additional information

Editorial responsibility: M. F. Yassin.

Supplementary Information

Below is the link to the electronic supplementary material.

Supplementary file1 (DOCX 823 kb)

Rights and permissions.

Springer Nature or its licensor (e.g. a society or other partner) holds exclusive rights to this article under a publishing agreement with the author(s) or other rightsholder(s); author self-archiving of the accepted manuscript version of this article is solely governed by the terms of such publishing agreement and applicable law.

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Saini, J., Dutta, M. & Marques, G. Robot-assisted indoor air quality monitoring and assessment: a systematic review. Int. J. Environ. Sci. Technol. (2024). https://doi.org/10.1007/s13762-024-05845-9

Download citation

Received : 21 December 2023

Revised : 07 June 2024

Accepted : 19 June 2024

Published : 01 July 2024

DOI : https://doi.org/10.1007/s13762-024-05845-9

Share this article

Anyone you share the following link with will be able to read this content:

Sorry, a shareable link is not currently available for this article.

Provided by the Springer Nature SharedIt content-sharing initiative

Public health
Find a journal
Publish with us
Track your research

share this!

July 1, 2024

This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility:

fact-checked

trusted source

Researchers' robotic system aims to improve autonomy for people with mobility issues

by Shaun Chornobroff, University of Maryland

As an undergraduate engineering student in Delhi, India, Amisha Bhaskar took a field trip to a facility for disabled war veterans and met a man who had lost both hands. When she asked him what technologies could improve his life, his reply left an indelible impression: He wanted something so he could take care of himself and not be forced to rely upon others.

Now a second-year doctoral student at the University of Maryland studying computer science, Bhaskar has focused on the wounded veteran's broad request as her area of study. Working with others in the Robotics Algorithms & Autonomous Systems Lab, she is developing an innovative robotic tool to help people with mobility impairments feed themselves.

The team's work was recognized last month at the IEEE International Conference on Robotics and Automation ( ICRA 2024 ) in Yokohama, Japan, where a paper Bhaskar presented as lead co-author received top honors in a specialized workshop on cooking and robotics. It is available on the arXiv preprint server.

Existing robotic-assisted feeding technology is very limited, the UMD researchers said. Commercial robotic arms have a fixed, pre-programmed motion that allows them to pick up food only in a specific spot on a plate, and they lack the ability to detect whether they've accomplished that task.

"They are not learning on the go, so it will just keep doing this motion no matter if you want to eat it or not, or if the food is picked up or not," said Bhaskar.

Robotic-assisted feeding can be divided into two steps, she explained: the "acquisition" step involves a utensil picking up the food, while the transfer step is the process of the food reaching a person's mouth without being dropped or succumbing to some other mishap.

Bhaskar and the UMD team are currently working on the acquisition step, with a lofty goal. While other research groups sometimes count picking up food on a utensil just once as a success, the UMD team's target is to clear the plate.

The system must be able to recognize and transport a variety of foods served in assisted-care settings—from liquid foods to semi-solid ones like yogurt and tofu to cereals.

One of the most significant challenges for a robot is handling foods with varied textures and consistencies within a single dish, the researchers said. Ramen, for example, presents a complex scenario that includes a liquid broth, squishy tofu, solid vegetables and irregularly shaped noodles that remain the biggest challenge, Bhaskar said. "Every single element requires different strategies, some of which have to be combined," she said

An interdisciplinary approach has played a key role in the project's success, said Pratap Tokekar, an associate professor of computer science with an appointment in the University of Maryland Institute for Advanced Computer Studies.

"The technology we're working on involves computer vision , artificial intelligence , deep neural networks , mechanical engineering and more—it all needs to come together seamlessly so that the robotic system is both safe for users and efficient in accomplishing the task at hand," he said.

Tokekar is academic adviser to Bhaskar and another graduate student working on the project, Rui Liu, a third-year doctoral student in computer science.

Robotic-assisted feeding is a relatively new area of research for Liu, who had previously focused on computer vision and human-robot interaction. But like Bhaskar, Liu sees the potential here to greatly improve people's lives, particularly older adults or those with mobility issues that make feeding themselves difficult.

Additional team members include Vishnu D. Sharma, Ph.D. '24 and Guangyao Shi, Ph.D. '23, now a postdoctoral researcher at the University of Southern California.

While the project is probably several years away from real-world application, Tokekar is confident in the team's progress, and particularly in Bhasker's and Liu's eagerness and intense focus.

"The best part of this project is that every time we meet, they have 10 new ideas since the last time that we met," Tokekar said. "Instead of me telling them what to do, they already know what to do. I'm just helping shape their ideas."

Explore further

Feedback to editors

Survey shows most people think LLMs such as ChatGPT can experience feelings and memories

41 minutes ago

New ink-based method offers best recipe yet for thermoelectric devices

New recycling process can recover up to 99.97% of materials in perovskite solar cells

2 hours ago

AI is learning from what you said on Reddit, Stack Overflow or Facebook. Are you OK with that?

New design approach identifies routes to stronger titanium alloys

Scientists develop new electrolytes for low-temperature lithium metal batteries

3 hours ago

Viologen redox flow batteries offer an alternative to vanadium

4 hours ago

Study employs image-recognition AI to determine battery composition and conditions

Evidently efficient: Self-organization of informal bus lines in the Global South

5 hours ago

Statistical physics and network science reveal factors behind 2021–2022 energy crisis in Europe

Robotic system feeds people with severe mobility limitations

May 9, 2024

Building a precise assistive-feeding robot that can handle any meal

Apr 12, 2023

Q&A: How an assistive-feeding robot went from picking up fruit salads to whole meals

Nov 16, 2023

Robotic hand with tactile fingertips achieves new dexterity feat

Jun 27, 2024

A framework to optimize the efficiency and comfort of robot-assisted feeding systems

Jan 17, 2022

New technique combines data from different sources for more effective multipurpose robots

Jun 3, 2024

Recommended for you

Starfish skeleton inspires new 4D morphing structure

7 hours ago

Computer scientists develop new and improved camera inspired by the human eye

Jul 1, 2024

Thermal energy storage and phase change materials could enhance home occupant safety during extreme weather

Let us know if there is a problem with our content.

Use this form if you have come across a typo, inaccuracy or would like to send an edit request for the content on this page. For general inquiries, please use our contact form . For general feedback, use the public comments section below (please adhere to guidelines ).

Please select the most appropriate category to facilitate processing of your request

Thank you for taking time to provide your feedback to the editors.

Your feedback is important to us. However, we do not guarantee individual replies due to the high volume of messages.

E-mail the story

Your email address is used only to let the recipient know who sent the email. Neither your address nor the recipient's address will be used for any other purpose. The information you enter will appear in your e-mail message and is not retained by Tech Xplore in any form.

Your Privacy

This site uses cookies to assist with navigation, analyse your use of our services, collect data for ads personalisation and provide content from third parties. By using our site, you acknowledge that you have read and understand our Privacy Policy and Terms of Use .

E-mail newsletter

Scientific breakthroughs: 2024 emerging trends to watch

December 28, 2023

Across disciplines and industries, scientific discoveries happen every day, so how can you stay ahead of emerging trends in a thriving landscape? At CAS, we have a unique view of recent scientific breakthroughs, the historical discoveries they were built upon, and the expertise to navigate the opportunities ahead. In 2023, we identified the top scientific breakthroughs , and 2024 has even more to offer. New trends to watch include the accelerated expansion of green chemistry, the clinical validation of CRISPR, the rise of biomaterials, and the renewed progress in treating the undruggable, from cancer to neurodegenerative diseases. To hear what the experts from Lawrence Liverpool National Lab and Oak Ridge National Lab are saying on this topic, join us for a free webinar on January 25 from 10:00 to 11:30 a.m. EDT for a panel discussion on the trends to watch in 2024.

The ascension of AI in R&D

While the future of AI has always been forward-looking, the AI revolution in chemistry and drug discovery has yet to be fully realized. While there have been some high-profile set-backs , several breakthroughs should be watched closely as the field continues to evolve. Generative AI is making an impact in drug discovery , machine learning is being used more in environmental research , and large language models like ChatGPT are being tested in healthcare applications and clinical settings.

Many scientists are keeping an eye on AlphaFold, DeepMind’s protein structure prediction software that revolutionized how proteins are understood. DeepMind and Isomorphic Labs have recently announced how their latest model shows improved accuracy, can generate predictions for almost all molecules in the Protein Data Bank, and expand coverage to ligands, nucleic acids, and posttranslational modifications . Therapeutic antibody discovery driven by AI is also gaining popularity , and platforms such as the RubrYc Therapeutics antibody discovery engine will help advance research in this area.

Though many look at AI development with excitement, concerns over accurate and accessible training data , fairness and bias , lack of regulatory oversight , impact on academia, scholarly research and publishing , hallucinations in large language models , and even concerns over infodemic threats to public health are being discussed. However, continuous improvement is inevitable with AI, so expect to see many new developments and innovations throughout 2024.

‘Greener’ green chemistry

Green chemistry is a rapidly evolving field that is constantly seeking innovative ways to minimize the environmental impact of chemical processes. Here are several emerging trends that are seeing significant breakthroughs:

Improving green chemistry predictions/outcomes : One of the biggest challenges in green chemistry is predicting the environmental impact of new chemicals and processes. Researchers are developing new computational tools and models that can help predict these impacts with greater accuracy. This will allow chemists to design safer and more environmentally friendly chemicals.
Reducing plastics: More than 350 million tons of plastic waste is generated every year. Across the landscape of manufacturers, suppliers, and retailers, reducing the use of single-use plastics and microplastics is critical. New value-driven approaches by innovators like MiTerro that reuse industrial by-products and biomass waste for eco-friendly and cheaper plastic replacements will soon be industry expectations. Lowering costs and plastic footprints will be important throughout the entire supply chain.
Alternative battery chemistry: In the battery and energy storage space, finding alternatives to scarce " endangered elements" like lithium and cobalt will be critical. While essential components of many batteries, they are becoming scarce and expensive. New investments in lithium iron phosphate (LFP) batteries that do not use nickel and cobalt have expanded , with 45% of the EV market share being projected for LFP in 2029. Continued research is projected for more development in alternative materials like sodium, iron, and magnesium, which are more abundant, less expensive, and more sustainable.
More sustainable catalysts : Catalysts speed up a chemical reaction or decrease the energy required without getting consumed. Noble metals are excellent catalysts; however, they are expensive and their mining causes environmental damage. Even non-noble metal catalysts can also be toxic due to contamination and challenges with their disposal. Sustainable catalysts are made of earth-abundant elements that are also non-toxic in nature. In recent years, there has been a growing focus on developing sustainable catalysts that are more environmentally friendly and less reliant on precious metals. New developments with catalysts, their roles, and environmental impact will drive meaningful progress in reducing carbon footprints.
Recycling lithium-ion batteries: Lithium-ion recycling has seen increased investments with more than 800 patents already published in 2023. The use of solid electrolytes or liquid nonflammable electrolytes may improve the safety and durability of LIBs and reduce their material use. Finally, a method to manufacture electrodes without solvent s could reduce the use of deprecated solvents such as N-methylpyrrolidinone, which require recycling and careful handling to prevent emissions.

Rise of biomaterials

New materials for biomedical applications could revolutionize many healthcare segments in 2024. One example is bioelectronic materials, which form interfaces between electronic devices and the human body, such as the brain-computer interface system being developed by Neuralink. This system, which uses a network of biocompatible electrodes implanted directly in the brain, was given FDA approval to begin human trials in 2023.

Bioelectronic materials: are often hybrids or composites, incorporating nanoscale materials, highly engineered conductive polymers, and bioresorbable substances. Recently developed devices can be implanted, used temporarily, and then safely reabsorbed by the body without the need for removal. This has been demonstrated by a fully bioresorbable, combined sensor-wireless power receiver made from zinc and the biodegradable polymer, poly(lactic acid).
Natural biomaterials: that are biocompatible and naturally derived (such as chitosan, cellulose nanomaterials, and silk) are used to make advanced multifunctional biomaterials in 2023. For example, they designed an injectable hydrogel brain implant for treating Parkinson’s disease, which is based on reversible crosslinks formed between chitosan, tannic acid, and gold nanoparticles.
Bioinks : are used for 3D printing of organs and transplant development which could revolutionize patient care. Currently, these models are used for studying organ architecture like 3D-printed heart models for cardiac disorders and 3D-printed lung models to test the efficacy of drugs. Specialized bioinks enhance the quality, efficacy, and versatility of 3D-printed organs, structures, and outcomes. Finally, new approaches like volumetric additive manufacturing (VAM) of pristine silk- based bioinks are unlocking new frontiers of innovation for 3D printing.

To the moon and beyond

The global Artemis program is a NASA-led international space exploration program that aims to land the first woman and the first person of color on the Moon by 2025 as part of the long-term goal of establishing a sustainable human presence on the Moon. Additionally, the NASA mission called Europa Clipper, scheduled for a 2024 launch, will orbit around Jupiter and fly by Europa , one of Jupiter’s moons, to study the presence of water and its habitability. China’s mission, Chang’e 6 , plans to bring samples from the moon back to Earth for further studies. The Martian Moons Exploration (MMX) mission by Japan’s JAXA plans to bring back samples from Phobos, one of the Mars moons. Boeing is also expected to do a test flight of its reusable space capsule Starliner , which can take people to low-earth orbit.

The R&D impact of Artemis extends to more fields than just aerospace engineering, though:

Robotics: Robots will play a critical role in the Artemis program, performing many tasks, such as collecting samples, building infrastructure, and conducting scientific research. This will drive the development of new robotic technologies, including autonomous systems and dexterous manipulators.
Space medicine: The Artemis program will require the development of new technologies to protect astronauts from the hazards of space travel, such as radiation exposure and microgravity. This will include scientific discoveries in medical diagnostics, therapeutics, and countermeasures.
Earth science: The Artemis program will provide a unique opportunity to study the Moon and its environment. This will lead to new insights into the Earth's history, geology, and climate.
Materials science: The extreme space environment will require new materials that are lightweight, durable, and radiation resistant. This will have applications in many industries, including aerospace, construction, and energy.
Information technology: The Artemis program will generate a massive amount of data, which will need to be processed, analyzed, and shared in real time. This will drive the development of new IT technologies, such as cloud computing, artificial intelligence, and machine learning.

The CRISPR pay-off

After years of research, setbacks, and minimal progress, the first formal evidence of CRISPR as a therapeutic platform technology in the clinic was realized. Intellia Therapeutics received FDA clearance to initiate a pivotal phase 3 trial of a new drug for the treatment of hATTR, and using the same Cas9 mRNA, got a new medicine treating a different disease, angioedema. This was achieved by only changing 20 nucleotides of the guide RNA, suggesting that CRISPR can be used as a therapeutic platform technology in the clinic.

The second great moment for CRISPR drug development technology came when Vertex and CRISPR Therapeutics announced the authorization of the first CRISPR/Cas9 gene-edited therapy, CASGEVY™, by the United Kingdom MHRA, for the treatment of sickle cell disease and transfusion-dependent beta-thalassemia. This was the first approval of a CRISPR-based therapy for human use and is a landmark moment in realizing the potential of CRISPR to improve human health.

In addition to its remarkable genome editing capability, the CRISPR-Cas system has proven to be effective in many applications, including early cancer diagnosis . CRISPR-based genome and transcriptome engineering and CRISPR-Cas12a and CRISPR-Cas13a appear to have the necessary characteristics to be robust detection tools for cancer therapy and diagnostics. CRISPR-Cas-based biosensing system gives rise to a new era for precise diagnoses of early-stage cancers.

MIT engineers have also designed a new nanoparticle DNA-encoded nanosensor for urinary biomarkers that could enable early cancer diagnoses with a simple urine test. The sensors, which can detect cancerous proteins, could also distinguish the type of tumor or how it responds to treatment.

Ending cancer

The immuno-oncology field has seen tremendous growth in the last few years. Approved products such as cytokines, vaccines, tumor-directed monoclonal antibodies, and immune checkpoint blockers continue to grow in market size. Novel therapies like TAC01-HER2 are currently undergoing clinical trials. This unique therapy uses autologous T cells, which have been genetically engineered to incorporate T cell Antigen Coupler (TAC) receptors that recognize human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2) presence on tumor cells to remove them. This could be a promising therapy for metastatic, HER2-positive solid tumors.

Another promising strategy aims to use the CAR-T cells against solid tumors in conjunction with a vaccine that boosts immune response. Immune boosting helps the body create more host T cells that can target other tumor antigens that CAR-T cells cannot kill.

Another notable trend is the development of improved and effective personalized therapies. For instance, a recently developed personalized RNA neoantigen vaccine, based on uridine mRNA–lipoplex nanoparticles, was found effective against pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC). Major challenges in immuno-oncology are therapy resistance, lack of predictable biomarkers, and tumor heterogenicity. As a result, devising novel treatment strategies could be a future research focus.

Decarbonizing energy

Multiple well-funded efforts are underway to decarbonize energy production by replacing fossil fuel-based energy sources with sources that generate no (or much less) CO2 in 2024.

One of these efforts is to incorporate large-scale energy storage devices into the existing power grid. These are an important part of enabling the use of renewable sources since they provide additional supply and demand for electricity to complement renewable sources. Several types of grid-scale storage that vary in the amount of energy they can store and how quickly they can discharge it into the grid are under development. Some are physical (flywheels, pumped hydro, and compressed air) and some are chemical (traditional batteries, flow batteries , supercapacitors, and hydrogen ), but all are the subject of active chemistry and materials development research. The U.S. government is encouraging development in this area through tax credits as part of the Inflation Reduction Act and a $7 billion program to establish regional hydrogen hubs.

Meanwhile, nuclear power will continue to be an active R&D area in 2024. In nuclear fission, multiple companies are developing small modular reactors (SMRs) for use in electricity production and chemical manufacturing, including hydrogen. The development of nuclear fusion reactors involves fundamental research in physics and materials science. One major challenge is finding a material that can be used for the wall of the reactor facing the fusion plasma; so far, candidate materials have included high-entropy alloys and even molten metals .

Neurodegenerative diseases

Neurodegenerative diseases are a major public health concern, being a leading cause of death and disability worldwide. While there is currently no cure for any neurodegenerative disease, new scientific discoveries and understandings of these pathways may be the key to helping patient outcomes.

Alzheimer’s disease: Two immunotherapeutics have received FDA approval to reduce both cognitive and functional decline in individuals living with early Alzheimer's disease. Aducannumab (Aduhelm®) received accelerated approval in 2021 and is the first new treatment approved for Alzheimer’s since 2003 and the first therapy targeting the disease pathophysiology, reducing beta-amyloid plaques in the brains of early Alzheimer’s disease patients. Lecanemab (Leqembi®) received traditional approval in 2023 and is the first drug targeting Alzheimer’s disease pathophysiology to show clinical benefits, reducing the rate of disease progression and slowing cognitive and functional decline in adults with early stages of the disease.
Parkinson’s disease: New treatment modalities outside of pharmaceuticals and deep brain stimulation are being researched and approved by the FDA for the treatment of Parkinson’s disease symptoms. The non-invasive medical device, Exablate Neuro (approved by the FDA in 2021), uses focused ultrasound on one side of the brain to provide relief from severe symptoms such as tremors, limb rigidity, and dyskinesia. 2023 brought major news for Parkinson’s disease research with the validation of the biomarker alpha-synuclein. Researchers have developed a tool called the α-synuclein seeding amplification assay which detects the biomarker in the spinal fluid of people diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease and individuals who have not shown clinical symptoms.
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS): Two pharmaceuticals have seen FDA approval in the past two years to slow disease progression in individuals with ALS. Relyvrio ® was approved in 2022 and acts by preventing or slowing more neuron cell death in patients with ALS. Tofersen (Qalsody®), an antisense oligonucleotide, was approved in 2023 under the accelerated approval pathway. Tofersen targets RNA produced from mutated superoxide dismutase 1 (SOD1) genes to eliminate toxic SOD1 protein production. Recently published genetic research on how mutations contribute to ALS is ongoing with researchers recently discovering how NEK1 gene mutations lead to ALS. This discovery suggests a possible rational therapeutic approach to stabilizing microtubules in ALS patients.

Gain new perspectives for faster progress directly to your inbox.

Drive industry-leading advancements and accelerate breakthroughs by unlocking your data’s full potential. Contact our CAS Custom Services SM experts to find the digital solution to your information challenges.

You are using an outdated browser. Please upgrade your browser to improve your experience.

UPDATED 19:36 EDT / JULY 01 2024

Chinese researchers create ‘human-on-chip’ system using brain matter to create ‘organoid’ robot

by Duncan Riley

Researchers at Tianjin University and the Southern University of Science and Technology in China have created a “human-on-chip” system that combines human brain matter with a neural interface chip and have used the technology to create a hybrid “organoid” robot.

The technology is reported to be an emerging branch of brain-computer interfaces, which aims to combine the brain’s electrical signals with external computing power. The idea behind the technology is to develop brain-like computing.

According to the Global Times, the system uses an artificial brain cultivated in vitro – such as a “brain-like organ” — that can interact with external information through encoding, decoding and stimulus feedback when coupled with electrode chips. In vitro, in this case, means that they’re growing the brain-like organ in a controlled laboratory environment using stem cell technology.

According to the researchers, the brain-like organ-growing process allows them to create simplified versions of brain tissue that mimic certain aspects of human brain development and function.

The idea behind brain-computer interfaces is not new and the best-known company exploring the technology is Elon Musk’s Neuralink Corp. Neuralink became the first company in history to implant a brain chip in January , but unlike the Chinese researchers, Musk isn’t growing brain tissue and merging it with chips.

So far, the Chinese brain-on-chip interface systems can instruct a robot to avoid obstacles, track and grasp through what is being described as “mind control.” And to demonstrate the technology, they’ve put the brain-on-chip interface into a humanoid robot (pictured).

In an interview, Li Xiaohong, a professor at Tianjin University, reportedly told Science and Technology Daily that brain organoids were regarded as the most promising model of basic intelligence. However, the process has challenges. For example, the technology has “bottlenecks such as a low developmental maturity and insufficient nutrient supply.”

The disturbing aspects of the technology aside — and comparisons to Frankenstein’s monster have been made in the press — the technology, even with the demonstrative robots, isn’t entirely as creepy as it seems.

Though the technology can be used to create thinking robots, it could also lead to new treatments to treat neurodevelopmental disorders and repair brain damage. “Brain organoid transplants are considered a promising strategy for restoring brain function by replacing lost neurons and reconstructing neural circuits,” the researchers wrote in a paper.

Photo: Tainjin University

A message from john furrier, co-founder of siliconangle:, your vote of support is important to us and it helps us keep the content free., one click below supports our mission to provide free, deep, and relevant content. , join our community on youtube, join the community that includes more than 15,000 #cubealumni experts, including amazon.com ceo andy jassy, dell technologies founder and ceo michael dell, intel ceo pat gelsinger, and many more luminaries and experts..

Like Free Content? Subscribe to follow.

LATEST STORIES

Chinese researchers create 'human-on-chip' system using brain matter to create 'organoid' robot

Qualys warns of OpenSSH vulnerability researchers are calling 'extremely dangerous'

Supreme Court returns Texas and Florida social media laws to lower courts

Vaire raises $4M to develop ‘reversible computing’ chips

EU probe tentatively finds that Meta breached DMA with ad-free subscription

Blockchain security startup Mamori raises $5M to use machine learning to detect exploits

EMERGING TECH - BY DUNCAN RILEY . 17 MINS AGO

SECURITY - BY DUNCAN RILEY . 56 MINS AGO

POLICY - BY MARIA DEUTSCHER . 59 MINS AGO

EMERGING TECH - BY MARIA DEUTSCHER . 3 HOURS AGO

POLICY - BY MARIA DEUTSCHER . 5 HOURS AGO

BLOCKCHAIN - BY KYT DOTSON . 7 HOURS AGO

Main Navigation

Contact NeurIPS
Code of Ethics
Code of Conduct
Create Profile
Journal To Conference Track
Diversity & Inclusion
Proceedings
Future Meetings
Exhibitor Information
Privacy Policy

NeurIPS Creative AI Track: Ambiguity

Fencing Hallucination (2023), by Weihao Qiu

Following last year’s incredible success, we are thrilled to announce the NeurIPS 2024 Creative AI track. We invite research papers and artworks that showcase innovative approaches of artificial intelligence and machine learning in art, design, and creativity.

Focused on the theme of Ambiguity, this year’s track seeks to highlight the multifaceted and complex challenges brought forth by application of AI to both promote and challenge human creativity. We welcome submissions that: question the use of private and public data; consider new forms of authorship and ownership; challenge notions of ‘real’ and ‘non-real’, as well as human and machine agency; and provide a path forward for redefining and nurturing human creativity in this new age of generative computing.

We particularly encourage works that cross traditional disciplinary boundaries to propose new forms of creativity and human experience. Submissions must present original work that has not been published or is not currently being reviewed elsewhere.

Important Dates:

August 2: Submission Deadline
September 26: Decision
October 30: Final Camera-Ready Submission

Call for Papers and Artworks

Papers (posters).

We invite submissions for research papers that propose original ideas or novel uses of AI and ML for creativity. The topics of research papers are not restricted to the theme of ambiguity. Please note that this track will not be part of the NeurIPS conference proceedings. If you wish to publish in the NeurIPS proceedings please submit your paper directly to the main track.

To submit: We invite authors to submit their papers. We expect papers to be 2-6 pages without including references . The formatting instructions and templates will become available soon. The submission portal will open sometime in July.

We invite the submission of creative work that showcases innovative use of AI and ML. We highly encourage the authors to focus on the theme of Ambiguity. We invite submissions in all areas of creativity including visual art, music, performing art, film, design, architecture, and more in the format of video recording .

NeurIPS is a prestigious AI/ML conference that tens of thousands researchers from academia and industry attend every year. Selected works at the Creative AI track will be presented on large display screens at the conference and the authors will have the opportunity to interact with the NeurIPS research community to germinate more collaborative ideas.

To submit: We invite authors to submit their original work. An artwork submission requires the following:

Description of the work and the roles of AI and ML
Description on how the theme of Ambiguity is addressed
Biography of all authors including relevant prior works
Thumbnail image of the work (<100MB)
3-min video preview of the work (<100MB)

Single-blind review policy

The names of the authors should be included in the submission.

Conference policy

If a work is accepted at least one author must purchase a Conference & Tutorials registration and attend in person . For pricing visit the pricing page . For registration information visit the registration page . The location of the conference is Vancouver and the authors are responsible for their travel arrangements and expenses. The conference does not provide travel funding.

For updates, please check this website regularly.

To stay up-to-date with all future announcements, please join our mailing list [email protected] .

For other inquiries, please contact [email protected] .

Jean Oh roBot Intelligence Group Carnegie Melon University

Marcelo Coelho Design Intelligence Lab MIT

NeurIPS uses cookies to remember that you are logged in. By using our websites, you agree to the placement of cookies.

IMAGES

10 lines essay on Importance of Robots /write an essay on Importance of Robots
A Robot Essay In English
Robotics Essay
The Advancement of Robot Technology
Essay on Robots in the Future
THE IMPORTANCE OF ROBOTICS by myrobostation

VIDEO

Write a short Essay on Robot🤖 in English|10lines on Robot|
"Why the F*** did they add Robots?"
A.I.- David's Breakdown
Satisfactory is Insanely Fun
Eilik team dance traffic beat #robot #energizelab #eilik
Singularity in Robot Films

COMMENTS

Impact of Robotics: What It Is And How It Benefits The World
Robotics is the study of robots. And robots are technologically-advanced machines that carry out complex tasks by command. With the combination of computer designs and technology, they usually come in different shapes, sizes and functionalities. While some robots carry out tasks without supervision, others function with command.
The Complete History And Future of Robots
The History of Robots. The definition of "robot" has been confusing from the very beginning. The word first appeared in 1921, in Karel Capek's play R.U.R., or Rossum's Universal Robots ...
Robots and your job: how automation is changing the workplace
Robots can improve efficiency and quality, reduce costs, and even help create more jobs for their human counterparts. But more robots can also reduce the need for managers. The study is titled "The Robot Revolution: Managerial and Employment Consequences for Firms.". The co-authors are Lynn Wu, professor of operations, information and ...
A new study measures the actual impact of robots on jobs. It's
The researchers found that for every robot added per 1,000 workers in the U.S., wages decline by 0.42% and the employment-to-population ratio goes down by 0.2 percentage points — to date, this means the loss of about 400,000 jobs. The impact is more sizable within the areas where robots are deployed: adding one more robot in a commuting zone ...
What Is Robotics? Why Do We Need It and How Can We Get It?
Robotics is an emerging synthetic science concerned with programming work. Robot technologies are quickly advancing beyond the insights of the existing science. More secure intellectual foundations will be required to achieve better, more reliable, and safer capabilities as their penetration into society deepens. Presently missing foundations include the identification of fundamental physical ...
UC Berkeley's Pieter Abbeel on how robots will change the world
Pieter Abbeel is the director of the Berkeley Robot Learning Lab and a co-founder of Covariant, an AI robotics firm. Subscribe to his podcast wherever you like to listen. Robots are already poised ...
The future of robotics: How will robots change the world?
However, recent developments in machine learning and artificial intelligence mean that we may see an increase in human-to-robot interactions in the future. The robotics industry is expected to grow significantly over the coming years. Estimates suggest that the sector could be worth as much as $260 billion by 2030.
What's that robot thinking? This is why it's important to know
In 2010, a group of academics produced ethical guidelines for how we should build robots, much like science fiction writer Isaac Asimov's famous laws.Asimov stated that robots could not do anything to harm a human being; that a robot should always obey a human; and that a robot should defend itself so long as this didn't interfere with the first two rules.
What will robots think of us?
A robot requires mental models to communicate and work effectively with humans as well as foster human trust. A 2020 survey summarizes the roles that three different forms of robot mental models play ( 1 ). A first-order mental model is the robot's model of a human, for example, what the human's beliefs, desires, goals, and metrics for ...
Robotics in the 21st Century
We can see the benefits to humankind at each step, from prevention to response, and we wait for the day when robots become dreamers themselves. MIT's Department of Mechanical Engineering (MechE) offers a world-class education that combines thorough analysis with hands-on discovery. One of the original six courses offered when MIT was founded ...
Robotics and Social Impact: How Robots are Changing Society
Overall, robots present a unique opportunity for society, with the potential to increase efficiency, improve safety, and enhance the quality of life for many. But, at the same time, the use of robots must be done with an eye towards protecting the social and ethical interests of all people. As robotics becomes more ubiquitous in our lives and ...
111 Robots Topic Ideas to Write about & Essay Samples
Robots and Artificial Intelligence. One the one hand, with artificial intelligence and fully autonomous robots, organizations will be able to optimize their spending and increase the speed of development and production of their commodities. We will write. a custom essay specifically for you by our professional experts.
The Impact of Robots on Society
As robots become more prevalent in various industries, they are likely to have a significant impact on society. This impact will be felt across different sectors and will bring about both benefits and challenges. In this article, we will explore the issues surrounding the impact of robots on society, including job displacement, changes in social norms and relationships, and the distribution of ...
20 Reasons Why Robots Are Good
Reason 9: Quality Control. Robots can detect defects and quality issues that might elude the human eye. This precise quality control ensures that products meet or exceed standards, leading to customer satisfaction and brand reputation enhancement. Unlike human workers, robots can operate around the clock, ensuring 24/7 productivity in ...
Importance of Robotics in Education
By combining technology, engineering, and creativity, robotics education offers numerous benefits to students. In this article, we will explore the importance of robotics in education, its benefits, integration into the curriculum, and the various ways it promotes critical thinking, problem-solving skills, collaboration, and STEM education.
How Robotics Makes a Positive Impact on Students and Education
Developing the right skills will prepare students for the competitive educational and professional society. Robotics boosts skills that are the foundation of success, such as critical-thinking and problem-solving skills. When working on a robot, students are encouraged to use logic, engineering intuition, and critical thinking.
Essay on Robotics
Importance of Robotics. Robots are very important in today's world. They can do jobs that are dangerous for humans, like defusing bombs or working in nuclear power plants. They can also do jobs that need to be very exact, like in surgery or making computer chips. Robots can also do jobs that are boring or repetitive, like assembling cars in a ...
The use of robots in everyday life
The common feature of all the uses of robotics is the simplification of tasks for human beings and the improvement of our daily life thanks to this technology. However, like any technological progress, the extended use of robots has both positive and negative aspects. For this reason, it is very important to learn to make a conscious and ...
What Impactful Role Can Robots Play in Our Life?
Now, robots are used to explore the oceans at an unprecedented scale, keeping scientists and engineers safe. These robots can also measure water pollution and the extent of coral damage in the world's oceans. Robots play important roles in society. Aside from that, they make the lives of humans easier and faster.
Essay on Robotics for Students and Children in English
Given below are two essays in English for students and children about the topic of 'Robotics' in both long and short form. The first essay is a long essay on Robotics of 400-500 words. This long essay about Robotics is suitable for students of class 7, 8, 9 and 10, and also for competitive exam aspirants. The second essay is a short essay ...
Advantages and Disadvantages of Robots: Band nine IELTS Essay
In this essay, I will compare the advantage that robots can perform tasks that are dangerous or difficult with the disadvantage that robots could take over jobs. I will conclude that, despite the drawbacks, this type of development is positive. One of the main advantages of robots is that they are able to perform tasks that would be dangerous ...
The Importance Of Robots
The Importance Of Robots. The expansion of technology has caused robots to become a very significant part of the work place. Robots are continuing to show incredible efficiency rates; they have higher levels of lateral thinking and reflective intelligence, and they rather than humans, are continuing to develop their own brain power capabilities ...
Some people think that for robots are very important to you ...
The role of robots in shaping the future has ignited a debate, with some extolling their importance while others decry their negative impact. In this essay, I will explore both perspectives and offer my opinion | Band: 7 ... IELTS Writing Correction Service / Writing Samples / Band 7. Some people think that for robots are very important to you ...
Robot-assisted indoor air quality monitoring and assessment: a
The degraded air quality has become an international issue with rising cases of respiratory health issues across the globe while contributing to the symptoms of chronic health problems such as cardiovascular disease, lung cancer, and nervous system disorders. Therefore, it is important to leverage the potential of the latest technologies to address the concerns related to degrading air quality ...
Researchers' robotic system aims to improve autonomy for people with
Robotic-assisted feeding is a relatively new area of research for Liu, who had previously focused on computer vision and human-robot interaction. But like Bhaskar, Liu sees the potential here to greatly improve people's lives, particularly older adults or those with mobility issues that make feeding themselves difficult.
Scientific breakthroughs: 2024 emerging trends to watch
Robotics: Robots will play a critical role in the Artemis program, performing many tasks, such as collecting samples, building infrastructure, and conducting scientific research. This will drive the development of new robotic technologies, including autonomous systems and dexterous manipulators.
Chinese researchers create 'human-on-chip' system using brain matter to
Researchers at Tianjin University and the Southern University of Science and Technology in China have created a "human-on-chip" system that combines human brain matter with a neural interface chip and
Research on the design and control of an anthropomorphic waist
Busboy, Toyota's next-generation care robot, aims to provide advanced care and support services . TWENDY-ONE, by the Waseda University, is known for its flexibility and human-friendly interaction capabilities . In general, the anthropomorphic waist structure plays an important role in the coordinated movement of life-support robots.
Research on the design and control of an anthropomorphic waist
Search for more papers by this author. Lei Du, Lei Du. School of Mechanical Engineering, Chongqing Technology and Business University, Chongqing, China. ... In the humanoid robots, waist mechanism is an important structure to realize the whole body coordinated movement. This paper proposes a series-parallel mechanism of waist structure, and ...
Call For Creative AI 2024
Important Dates: August 2: Submission Deadline; September 26: Decision October 30: Final Camera-Ready Submission Call for Papers and Artworks Papers (posters) We invite submissions for research papers that propose original ideas or novel uses of AI and ML for creativity. The topics of research papers are not restricted to the theme of ambiguity.