Robot

Let me make it clear at the outset , this post is not a review of the latest blockbuster movie 'Robot' .But I have to confess, this post is written on the influence of the movie.The movie might be a science fiction.But fifty percent of what is shown in the movie is  already a reality today. Robotics is the growing branch of science with lot of potentials.Robots have started making inroads in day to day life in many advanced nations. In India also  industrial robots are used for many repetetive precision jobs. As early as 1986 or so I had an opportunity to watch an Industrial Robot in Tiruchi BHEL doing a repetetive drilling job at regular intervals on a very long shaft mounted on a lathe.Factory robots  can perform jobs such as cutting, welding, gluing,  pick-and-place an object in an assembly line(eg printed circuit boards.)What is shown in the movie is called Android or Humanoid or a Andro humanoid.Robots assisting doctors in surgeries and the military in the war front are no more tales.I understand some hospitals in Mumbai and Delhi are equipped to do robotic heart sugeries.The country's first robot assisted urological surgery was done in April this year at AIIMS,New Delhi.The doctor would sit beore a surgical console and monitor the robot with four arms and manipulate the robot to perform the operation.As on date the robots have to be controlled and manipulated by a deft surgeon. No autonomous robot has been invented so far to do the surgery on its own.The advantage is minimal invasive surgery with very negligible blood loss and easy recuperation for the patient.Robots are used by military in unmanned aerial vehicles for survillance and other purposes.Some nations use robots to diffuse landmines and explosives.Some developed countries use robots to counter terrorist activities.But the possibility of terrorists also using these robots for destructive activities can not be ruled out.Indian army uses animals (mules ) to carry logostic supplies to its mountain divisions.It is believed in the years to come the army could use a robot to replace the mules.I believe to counter a military robot a defending robot could be developed by the enemy nation in the future.Fire fighting robots are used by some nations.Robots like Aiko doing household chores are common and popular in Japan.(I have written a post on Aiko and transhumanism on 12/12/2008 )It is estimated there are around 4 million robots in homes around the world.An artificial brain might surpass the human brain soon .That day is not far off.It is interesting to note South Korea developed worlds first 'Robot moral code'.This was done to prevent humans from abusing robots and in turn to prevent robots from harming humans.The European Commission has set up an agency to discuss Codes for robot develoment.Latest humanoids are human like with silicone bodies and flexible actuators using fuzzy logic and neural networks.There are social robots that  clean, walk with people, help out in restaurants and hospitals, guard buildings, or play with children.American Robotic reserch is mostly military oriented. On the other hand Japanese robots are made to provide services to ageing population and the society .Robots stores selling robotic kits and robotics parts are increasing all over the world. Used robots are also being sold in second hand market world over.Open source robotic softwares are available for free downloads now. Any one from any part of the world can use them and build robots.

It  would be interesting to note a Bangalore based Microsoft Techy Ramprasad has developed a robot some time back using indigenous technology and parts to do household works.He named it Buddyhome Buddyhome would wake him up with an alarm.If he doesn't get up it would pour water over his head.He just puts noodles in to the stove pan and the rest is done by buddy home.Buddy home stirs the noodles and makes it ready in 2 minutes and informs Ramprasad through a message noodles is ready.He scans news papers and gives important news that interests Ramprasad by displaying it on the screen.Buddy home uses three webcams,a screen ,a gesture recogonising software and hardware- all locally procured at Bangalore. Now he is trying to make buddyhome do floor mopping and cooking.Ramprasad is a computer Engineer from Anna university chennai.One really does not know what other human jobs would be taken up by robots in the years ahead .In future Robots could control traffic,could work in fast food restaraunts.Professor Peter Stone of the university of Texas is working on a humanoid robot team that would defeat the best human world cup Soccer team.He expects the project to be completed by 2050.It is believed once this is perfected by Professor Stone, that would solve reamining issues of Artificial Intelligence of robotics.Because to win a human world cup team the robot team should be agile,plan,must have team work,and high level of cognitive functioning.One hopes household robot does not get to know your confidential bank information and withdraw money from your ATM or take money from your wallet and leave you in lurch in 2050.

Aiko,cyborg,transhumanism and the future

Vietnam born and canadian inventor Le Tung has created a female robot called Aiko at a cost of $25000.Aiko has unbelievable housekeeping skills,a page 3 pin up face,an enviable 32,23,33 contour,shiny hair,can talk English and Japanese,can do mathematics and manage accounts.Aiko is touch sensitive and reacts the natural way when showered with affection or hurt,recogonises faces says hello.she knows what drink Le tung likes and what he eats.Helps Tung with directions when they go out.Aiko can move her hands,nod head.She is patient,intelligent and never complains and above all she is just 20 ,5 foot tall,has silicone breasts says Le tung.Aiko undoubtedly is a perfect wife.Aiko means'Love child' in Japanese.Aiko can talk 13000 sentences in Japanese and English.She can tell about weather in all international cities through internet links.Le tung goes out for public outing with Aiko.Aiko is the first human robot to mimic pain and react to it.It took Le Tung 1.5 months to build Aiko.But it took years for him to program.BRAINS is the software used in Aiko to control artificail Intelligence (AI),speech,reading,doing maths,vision,colours,hearing,automation,sensors,temperature,face and object recogonition.Aiko can react to surroundings and environment also.Le Tung says future abilities of Aiko would include the following

"Facial expressions

Make Tea and Coffee

Feed Sushi to Tung

Making breakfast : Egg and bacon

Lying on Aiko's lap she would clean Tung's ears with Q tips

Ability to massage Tungs shoulders and neck

Able to print and write

Clean the windows

Dust the shelves

Clean the toilet and much more " says Le Tung

What more could be there except delivering a baby ?

I agree lot of positives from this technology can be utilised in various other fields like using mechanised limbs for those with amputated limbs,face recogonition can be utilised in investigations,intelligence services.But I strongly feel there should be some limits imposed on such future inventions.Integration of humans,computers and bioelectronics beyond a limit could have far reaching social consequences.The inventors of these technologies might try to implant these bio gadgets into human beings to augment capabilities or performance.That could prove fatal.It must be borne in mind human beings are not biological machines.There is much more and human beings are unique.It is foolhardy to stretch human capabilities and build organic humans with robotic capabilities.

Mind reading

A Japanese research team has developed a technology that would display on a screen what is in your mind.This may help in investigation.But I consider it as a blatant violation of one's privacy.Here the electrical signals of the brain are reconstructed in to images.Stretch your imagination and see how all this could be misused and the resultant chaos in every field you can imagine,be it official,familial or political.

Where do we draw a line and decide what is ethically right for the human race?Who will do it?I am not against technology or inventions.But there should be a right balance.Earlier robots were mere machines.But current robots are cyborgs containing mesh of flesh,wires,neurons,steel,blood and circuits.Or one may call it androids.There are organic components.In otherwords a human transformed in to a machine.Yet there is something called humanity,I mean the humane emotions.That gives me some hope, all that is human can not be duplicated.But the transhumanists will continue their attempts to radically change the human life.Future and posterity can only asess the psossible ill effects of transhumanism.