Writer Wilson answers our robot questions
Daniel H. WilsonDaniel H. Wilson, the author of How to Survive a Robot Uprising and How to Build a Robot Army, took some time to answer the many questions the Good Times journalists had about robots.
In what year will robots be able to talk and look like humans?
That’s a tough one to predict. Robots that look just like people are called “androids.” There are androids right now that can imitate human beings very closely, but it’s almost impossible to get everything right. In fact, scientists have discovered that robots who look almost but not quite human fall into something called “The Uncanny Valley.” It turns out, people are very good at spotting little details about each other. So, if there is a robot that looks perfectly human-like, except it doesn’t breathe, or it doesn’t blink often enough, or its skin temperature is a little bit cool— well, then humans will notice and get really, really freaked out. Because of the Uncanny Valley, some scientists argue that we shouldn’t even try to make androids. With that kind of a challenge, it will be a long time before androids are indistinguishable from human beings.
Why don’t we have robots do chores?
Machines already do our chores! Dishwashers and washing machines and dryers speed up a lot of household chores. But the main reason that we don’t have servant robots that can take out the trash and clean our rooms and walk the dog is that the environments we live in, our houses, are really complicated! There’s stuff everywhere that makes doing the chores really difficult. For example, the Roomba robot can vacuum your room, but only if you make sure there are no shoelaces for it to run over and get choked on. It can vacuum, but it can’t spot shoelaces and avoid them. This is why there are lots of machines that depend on us to make the problem simpler. This is called creating a structured environment.
When will we have robots that can cook?
Just like doing chores, cooking is a complicated task. The robot has to have arms and hands so that it can grip knives, pick up pots and pans, and turn knobs on the stove. Then, the robot has to have eyes so that it can see where things are at. The robot has to be very smart so that it can identify objects like carrots and spoons, figure out how to pick them up, and be sure of where they’re at. These three steps are sensing (with cameras), thinking (with a computer), and then acting (by using hands). Sense-think-act. Oh, and maybe the hardest problem—because it might be very strong, the robot has to be careful not to accidentally knock anybody out of a window!
When will we have robots that can do our homework?
Do you really want a robot to do your homework? People (kids and adults, too!) have to do homework in order to learn new things. We have to study and solve problems in order to make ourselves smarter and to cram information into our brains. Unlike us, robots can just scan new information and store it in a database. If a robot has information in a database, it doesn’t help you become smarter. Instead, scientists are working on robotic “helpers” that can make people smarter. For example, a prototype device called prosthetic memory works by recording everything that happens to you during the day, and then helping to memorize the names of people, when and where things happened, and all kinds of other stuff so that you can remember it later!
Why do we make robots?
Usually, we build robots to do jobs that are dull, dirty or dangerous. First, jobs that are dull make human beings bored, and then we get so bored that we mess up the job. That’s why robots work in factories to do repetitive tasks putting together toasters. Second, it’s hard to get people to do jobs that are dirty because nobody wants to go to filthy places. That’s why sewer-cleaning robots are in demand! And third, jobs that are dangerous could hurt or kill people, and so we need to send in tough robots that could end up damaged or destroyed. That’s why when we need to clean up toxic waste or get rid of land mines, robots are the ones to call.
How long can robots live?
With proper maintenance, a robot could live forever. As each piece wears out, you just replace it with a new piece. That’s one advantage that robots have over human beings.
What does a robot run on?
Most robots run on electrical power that is stored in a battery. However, many military robots run on engines just like in a motorcycle or even a car. Those robots can’t go inside a house because of all the exhaust. Creating new power sources is a big area of study. There is one prototype robot that even runs on biological matter—it gets its power from eating living organisms! Better keep an eye on that one…
Tags: 826LA, interview, journalism, robots