The World of Androids
Presented by:
Shipra Gupta
CSC 650
Overview
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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 Androids
Basis 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 factors
These 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.
First Android: WABOT-1 by Waseda University (1973)
• 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
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’s
space 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 positive
assumptions 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