Thanks to Science Fiction writers, the image of robots has not always been so well received. For many it means sentient computers coming to take over the world. There have been countless stories written about robots and their nefarious plots to do in humanity.
The likelihood of that happening is pretty small. Especially when you consider how intelligent modern robots actually are. But it is easy to get lost in the hype and not realize how robots have been of great use to humanity for many years.
The robot is not just a man-like device, though there are some that are, that serve out the wishes of its owner. In this article we will cover the basics of robots and what purpose they serve in our world today.
How have robots evolved from their initial concepts?
The robot you see today is a far cry from the robots in the past. Robotics in first century A.D. was more akin to toys. This continued until the 1950's when the first commercial robot was created by the Unimation Company. Since then robots have begun to fulfill more practical work rather than remain toys. Yes, there is still a huge market for robotic toys but robots now are performing real jobs and services.
It is interesting to note that the first design for a humanoid robot was created by Leonardo da Vinci. Even then there was a thought that one day a thinking machine would eventually resemble a human.
Is there a danger associated with using robots?
As with any machine there are some dangers. In the case of robotics the danger usually comes from the large robots such as those used in the automobile industry. The swinging arms moved by actuators have a set motion.
If something happens and the data is corrupted, it can move out of its set motion and inadvertently harm a passing human. For those individuals who do not work around an industrial robot, it can be dangerous because they are not aware of how it operates.
There have been fatalities associated with robots. The very first was Robert Williams in 1979. He was struck by a heavy robotic arm.
Is there a sentient robot in existence?
Whether or not there is an actual "sentient" robot in existence is all depending on how you view sentience. There are robots that look very human and can perform many functions. At this point it is more about the robots being intelligent machines. Many can actually have the ability to sense its environment and can move without direct human intervention.
One of the requirements of being labeled as "robots" is that it has to have the ability to make some choices on its own. Mechanized devices that cannot meet some of these criteria set forth are simply referred to as machines.
It is important to note that robots do not have to be humanoid in appearance though. If the measure of sentience is by making logical choices and the ability to think independently...there are certainly sentient robots in existence.
Why is there fear of robots performing jobs for society?
Many people view the process of automation as a way for industries and companies to replace human workers. This means lay-offs and a loss of income. Most people do not realize that in many cases a robot is used to aid manufacturing or a process that would typically be too dangerous for a human.
For those robots that appear humanoid, and even act humanoid, it can be very disturbing for some people. They immediately associate these mechanized beings with literature and films in which robots conquer the world.
There is no reason to fear the utilization of robots in jobs at this time. Yes, there may come a time when computer driven, mechanized machines do begin to replace workers. But that time is not quite here yet.
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