The World of Androids

Presented by:

Shipra Gupta

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Overview

Brief introduction of robots & their history Advent of androids Issues and challenges Dealing with challenges Approach of their working Detailed examples Some in-process android projects Popular androids and main industries using them Advantages of androids Future and fears of androids

What is a Robot?Common Definition: A programmable machine that imitates the

actions or appearance of an intelligent creature – usually a human.

Should be able to do two things:

• Get information from its surroundings

• Do something physical

Modern industrial robots have been around for less than 50 years.• First programmable Robot was developed in 1954 by George Devol

- Coined the name of the first Robot Company, “Unimation”.

• Since then they are:

- Painting cars at Ford plants

- Assembling Milano cookies for Pepperidge Farms

- Driving trains in Paris

- Defusing bombs in Northern Ireland

The RUR Robot

• Robot comes from the Czech word “robota”

• Described fabricated workers in a fictional 1920s play called Rossum’s Universal Robots

During early studies of literature and fiction, Asimov stated 3 laws:• A robot may not injure a human being, or, through inaction, allow a human being to come to harm• A robot must obey the orders given it by human beings except where such orders would conflict with the First Law• A robot must protect its own existence as long as such protection does not conflict with the First or Second Law (A zeroth law was added later as an extension of Law 1)

The World of AndroidsBasis of Androids

• High demand to do tedious and dangerous tasks• Advent of faster and cheaper processors• Make robots move and "think" to look more like humans • Psycological factorsThese facts have gave birth to ANDROIDS.

Definition: An android is an anthropomorphic robot

- Looks like a human

- Known as "humanoids"

The World of Androids - contd.

• Had a limb control system, a vision system, and a conversation system.

• Could communicate in Japanese.

• Measured distances and directions

• Walked with his lower limbs

• Gripped and transported objects

First Android: WABOT-1 by Waseda University (1973)

Development Issues• Design challenges

• The need to coordinate sensors and artificial muscle

• Intelligent programming

• Efficient use of power

Operational Challenges• Need to create complex robot step-by-step

- Develop separate technologies and integrate them together• Not foolproof to operate• Difficult to program a robot to walk• To rely upon built-in operating systems to run• To be designed for a novice user• Lack of sufficient funds

Dealing with the Challenges

Severe shortcomings of contemporary approach leads to:

• Inventions of newer concepts of development

• Used to “fight the establishment”

• Solve many serious problems

• Gains followers

General ideas followed to deal with the challenges are:

• More software innovations required

• Move to cell manufacturing systems • Develop new programming language • Design new operating system if required

Approach towards their Working

• Use of rule-based logic in robotic "brains” (eg. Aibo, the pet dog)

- Program vast amounts of information

• Neural networks is another approach to artificial intelligence (eg. Kismet)

- Work more like human brain

- Can handle ambiguity better than rule-based systems.

- Feature of "learning" - a helpful tool to add more human-like behaviors.

• Stimulus-response mechanism (also known as subsumption architecture, eg. Cog)

- No memory or logical decision making

- Hard-wired responses to stimulation

Example of an Android Design

Taking the example of KISMET, an android with facial expressions

and emotions built at MIT, by Dr Cynthia Brenzeal.

• Had head with jaws• Eyes had color CCD camera • Small motors to move facial features • A network of 3 integrated circuits:

- Control

- Perception

- Attention

• Required special software. 3 drives are:

- Social drive

- Stimulation drive

- Fatigue drive

Kismet’s Expressions

Calm Interest Angry

Happy Sad Surprise

Another example of an Android being built by a company

“Asimo” is built by Honda (2 years old). Stands for Advanced Step in Innovative Mobility• Small and light weight • Walks naturally• Arms move dynamically• Fingers are delicate• Walk up & down the stairs• Flexible body parts• Make registered gestures• High-tech control processor

- Developed on its own

- 3 times better than current PCs

processors

“Asimo” and friend

Another example of an Android being built by a company – contd.

Latest version of “Asimo” can:• Turn its head to follow moves • Recognizes preprogrammed faces • Respond with vocal welcome • Respond to couple of gestures

Some In-Process Android Projects

“Johnie”- Institute for Applied “Coco”, a baby gorilla project Mechanics at the Technical at MIT University of Munich (TUM)

“Robonaut” - NASA’sspace android (2.5 years old)

Popular Androids & their Developers• Cog, built at MIT, can learn to recognize and grasp objects

• Working as tour guides

• Toy companies have started selling pet animals like robots

• Dante, a spider-like robot serves geologists

Industries using Androids• Defense

• Underwater and Geological Explorations

• Space Projects of NASA

• Nuclear and Chemical Laboratories

• Hospitals

• Tourism and Entertainment

• Toys

Advantages of Androids

In general:

• Perform automated tasks to save on labor

• One of the factors contributing to higher levels of productivity

Personalization and Ease of Use:

• Not only an appliance/machine

• Better acceptance by humans

• Provides personal touch

• Can be used for domestic mundane tasks

• Self explanatory repair mechanism

Future of Androids & Fears• Can build itself - cost effectiveness• Can rapidly become super intelligent• Can become a rival to automobile industry• Estimation: - 10% US homes will have android within 12 years - 50% will within 20 years

Will androids be dangerous as portrayed in Hollywood Movies?Though nothing can be sure unless we work with them. But positiveassumptions state that:

- Androids will have built in (software) protection (Asimov's first law) - Androids don't need money or food or possessions or clothes which can drive them to hurt - They are designed to serve humans & not hurt them

References

• www.androidworld.com

• www.thetech.org

• www.ai.mit.edu/projects/humanoid-robotics-group/ kismet/kismet.html

• Journals on “Artificial Intelligence: Androids” in Reinert Library Database