Robotic revolution

Foxconn is the world's largest maker of computer components.Foxconn assembles products for Apple,Sony and Nokia . Foxconn the Taiwan based IT giant was hit not long ago by a spate of suicide by its work force .Now Foxconn is planning to replace its workforce with a million robots in a phased manner in the next three years. Foxconn has more than 10,000 robots doing jobs like painting,welding and assembly line jobs currently.So it won't be a surprise if Foxconn executes its plans by 2014 as planned .it is believed by 2030 humanoid robots will be widely used by the western world and many jobs currently done by human beings would be replaced by robots leading to widespread unemployment .The most disturbing news is that robots would be employed to make robots and repair robots by 2050.It is also said by 2040 desktop computers with CPU that matches human brains would be available.I don't think these predictions can be taken lightly or ignored.When robots excel human beings,what would the poor human beings do ? There is no question of human beings competing with the robots,since they would not be in a level playing field at that time.The most populous nations like China and India will have new challenges to find employment opportunities for its citizens.I don't think it would take longer time for the robotic revolution to hit the Asian countries.Of course there may be a maximum time lag of one decade ,before such robotic revolution hits Asian countries also.Marshal Brain predicts an unemployment rate of 40 % in US by 2040 due to robotic revolution .It is believed robots will interact with humans in the days to come and human beings will have robotic assistants to do domestic chores and take care of elderly people.All this can never be dismissed as wishful thinking by a select few.I have some far fetched imaginations .When robots invade every conceivable field ,should there be a need for an ethical code for interaction between a robot and human being ?Should the governments enact special laws to this effect ? will the robots have voting rights ?Will robots become part of a human family ?What will happen to family values when the robot outlives the family members ?On technological advances of robots,will there be a junk yard for robots ?with robots doing everything will the human brain degenerate over the years?Will the robots kill human beings ?.No one knows what is in store for our posterity ! I don't want to extend my figment of imagination any further as I shudder to think about the possibilities.

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.

Astounding Androids

Android is a robot designed to appear and act like a human being.Years ago Androids figured mostly in Science fictions.The first robot was buiilt in 1927.Android robots were later used in surgery and military. But of late many Androids are life like with astounding capabilities showing expressions and emotions. Japan and South Korea are the two countries that have succeeded in making it a reality.There are quite a few commercially successful Androids.Japan has developed programmable Androids.When these androids are programmed,they can chroeograph their motions,make gestures with voice.As early as 2002 Tokyo university developed an Android called 'Saya'.Now Saya is working as a guide in the science University of Tokyo.Waseda another Japan university has developed an Android named WD-2.This android can make changes to its face.It is said there are 17 facial points and these can be actuated to change the facial movements of the android.Korea has developed an android called EveR-2.It is obviously named after the Biblical character Eve.She can make realistic facial expressions,sing and dance simultaneously.The korean government is planning to make one robot available in every household by 2020.They also have plans for several robot cities.US has developed an Android called 'Einstein' This was the first full body walking Android.Around the world lot of Android projects are being carried out.China has introduced a singing android called Dion.Dion is very life like.There is another European consortium working on cub androids.The consortium members include elven institutions from Italy,Switzerland,UK,and portugal. Their goal is to study cognition through an human robot cub of 3.5 years old called iCub.Aiko is a humanoid developed by Le tung of canda.Acyut is the first Indian humanoid developed by a team from BITS Pilani.They are collaborating with some south korean robotic company to develop Acyut-2 to attain some athletic skills.Toyota has developed a robot that can play violin.There is a dental training robot called Simroid.Simroid is a robotic dental patient with a realistc human appearance.It is a training tool for dentists.It can follow spoken words and would react like a human being.She has senseitive teeth.She can understand the mistakes made by the trainee dentist and would express her pains by frowns, moves her eyes and hands and also speaks when it hurts her.Adam is a robot-computer combination about the size of a large pickup truck. It can carriy out genetic experiments on yeast and reach original conclusions without human help. A soccer player robot is expected by 2050 .Humans engaging in team work with robots is foreseen.The EU Joint-Action Science and Technology project (JAST) is working on this project.

Today we have many semi-autonomous robots like surgery robots, service robots, and military robots.Robots are also used in automotive, electronic, petrochemical and military operations. Android robots are the future.However, there are many apprehensions over its misuse also. Criminals in US now use robot submarines and aircraft to smuggle drugs. There is a continous increase in Annual sales of Robotics world over.The cost of robots are also coming down due to reduction in cost of electronic components.But there should be a code of ethics to regulate robotics .An ethical code to prevent humans abusing robots and vice versa is being drawn up by South Korea. Already there are many mechatronics Labs in Japan and South Korea. A korean government report forecasts that robots would routinely carry out surgery by 2018. BBC says robots could demand same citizen rights as humans in the future.Fifty years from now robots would have voting rights,pay taxes and serve a compulsory military service.Society will also in turn have a duty to take care of their digital fellow citizens.It is believed by 2050 robots identical to humans will become a regular part of our day to day life.They will be inetelligent than us and will become indispensable.All said and done I don't think one can read the mind of a robot.But one can study an human being by his or her non verbal reactions to a given situation .Will the scientists be able to programme these reactions also?

Some engineering colleges in India also offer courses on mechatronics The response for this course is poor because of poor employment potential in India and there are few takers for this course.It is unfortunate this course has not become popular in India,though it has wide application in many other fields also.