THE IMPACT OF ROBOTIC TECHNOLOGY TO OUR FUTURE

"Think about the Machines for a while, Stephen. They are robots, and they follow the
First Law. But the Machines work not for any single human being, but for all humanity,
so that the First Law becomes: 'No Machine may harm humanity; or, through inaction,
allow humanity to come to harm." ‒ Isaac Asimov, 'I, Robot'.

WHAT IS ROBOT?
The definition of "robot" has been confusing from the very beginning.
"A reprogrammable, multifunctional manipulator designed to move material, parts, tools, or
specialized devices through various programmed motions for the performance of a variety of
task." -(Robot Institute of America, 1979)
"An automatic device that performs functions normally ascribed to humans or a machine in the
form of a human." -(Webster's Dictionary)
"a reprogrammable manipulator device" -(British Department of Industry)
"Robotics is that field concerned with the intelligent connection of perception to action."
-(Mike Brady)

BACKGROUND OF ROBOT
A robot is an intelligent, physically embodied machine. A robot can perform tasks
autonomously to some degree. And a robot can sense and manipulate its environment. The
concept of artificial humans predates recorded history (see automaton), but the modern term
robot derives from the Czech word robota (“forced labour” or “serf”), used in Karel Čapek’s play
R.U.R. (1920). This play entitled 'RUR (Rossum's Universal Robots)' was premiered in 1921 and
was a great success all over the world, leaving without knowing it, a word that would last
Forever.

The Origin of the Robot

To talk about the origin of robotics, we must mention Aristotle and his ideas about 'automated
tools', Henry Ford, Leonardo Da Vinci and his mechanical knight or Isaac Asimov. Here we name
the milestones that have brought real advances towards automation and autonomous mobile
robotics, already in the middle of the 20th century.
Autonomous mobile robotics is considered to be that which is capable of making decisions in
changing environments with about the need for supervision by an operator. Some relevant
historical data would be the following:

50s, England. ELSIE (Electro-Light-Sensitive Internal-External):

60s, Standford Research Institute. SHAKEY:

70s, MARS-ROVER:

80's, SRI's CART:

WHAT IS ROBOTICS?
Robotics is a collaborative study of Computer science, mechanical engineering, electrical
engineering. Robotics deals with the design, operation, application and construction of Robots
and their association with computers and human. Robotics journals is newly emerging field
which has gained the attentions of many Researchers.

Joseph Frederick Engelberger (July 26, 1925 – December 1, 2015) also known as “The father of
robotics” was an American physicist, engineer and entrepreneur. Licensing the original patent
awarded to inventor George Devol, Engelberger developed the first industrial robot in the
United States, the Unimate, in the 1950s. Later, he worked as entrepreneur and vocal advocate
of robotic technology beyond the manufacturing plant in a variety of fields, including service
industries, health care, and space exploration.

George Charles Devol Jr. (February 20, 1912 – August 11, 2011) “Grandfather of Robotics” was
an American inventor, best known for creating Unimate, the first industrial robot. Devol's
invention earned him the title "Grandfather of Robotics". As recognized by the National
Inventors Hall of Fame, "Devol's patent for the first digitally operated programmable robotic
arm represents the foundation of the modern robotics industry."

The word robotics first appeared in Isaac Asimov’s science-fiction story Runaround (1942).
Along with Asimov’s later robot stories, it set a new standard of plausibility about the likely
difficulty of developing intelligent robots and the technical and social problems that might
result. Runaround also contained Asimov’s famous Three Laws of Robotics:
1. A robot may not injure a human being, or, through inaction, allow a human being to come to
harm.
2. A robot must obey the orders given it by human beings except where such orders would
conflict with the First Law.
3. A robot must protect its own existence as long as such protection does not conflict with the
First or Second Law.

TYPES OF ROBOTS:

Aerospace: This is a broad category. It includes all sorts of flying robots—the SmartBird robotic
seagull and the Raven surveillance drone, for example—but also robots that can operate in
space, such as Mars rovers and NASA's Robonaut, the humanoid that flew to the International
Space Station and is now back on Earth.
Consumer: Consumer robots are robots you can buy and use just for fun or to help you with
tasks and chores. Examples are the robot dog Aibo, the Roomba vacuum, AI-powered robot
assistants, and a growing variety of robotic toys and kits.
Disaster Response: These robots perform dangerous jobs like searching for survivors in the
aftermath of an emergency. For example, after an earthquake and tsunami struck Japan in
2011, Packbots were used to inspect damage at the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power station.
Drones: Also called unmanned aerial vehicles, drones come in different sizes and have different
levels of autonomy. Examples include DJI’s popular Phantom series and Parrot’s Anafi, as well
as military systems like Global Hawk, used for long-duration surveillance.
Education: This broad category is aimed at the next generation of roboticists, for use at home
or in classrooms. It includes hands-on programmable sets from Lego, 3D printers with lesson
plans, and even teacher robots like EMYS.
Entertainment: These robots are designed to evoke an emotional response and make us laugh
or feel surprise or in awe. Among them are robot comedian RoboThespian, Disney’s theme park
robots like Navi Shaman, and musically inclined bots like Partner.
Exoskeletons: Robotic exoskeletons can be used for physical rehabilitation and for enabling a
paralyzed patient walk again. Some have industrial or military applications, by giving the wearer
added mobility, endurance, or capacity to carry heavy loads.
Humanoids: This is probably the type of robot that most people think of when they think of a
robot. Examples of humanoid robots include Honda’s Asimo, which has a mechanical
appearance, and also androids like the Geminoid series, which are designed to look like people.
Industrial: The traditional industrial robot consists of a manipulator arm designed to perform
repetitive tasks. An example is the Unimate, the grandfather of all factory robots. This category
includes also systems like Amazon's warehouse robots and collaborative factory robots that can
operate alongside human workers.
Medical: Medical and health-care robots include systems such as the da Vinci surgical robot and
bionic prostheses, as well as robotic exoskeletons. A system that may fit in this category but is
not a robot is Watson, the IBM question-answering supercomputer, which has been used in
healthcare applications.
Military & Security: Military robots include ground systems like Endeavor Robotics' PackBot,
used in Iraq and Afghanistan to scout for improvised explosive devices, and BigDog, designed to
assist troops in carrying heavy gear. Security robots include autonomous mobile systems such
as Cobalt.
Research: The vast majority of today’s robots are born in universities and corporate research
labs. Though these robots may be able to do useful things, they’re primarily intended to help
researchers do, well, research. So although some robots may fit other categories described
here, they can also be called research robots.
Self-Driving Cars: Many robots can drive themselves around, and an increasing number of them
can now drive you around. Early autonomous vehicles include the ones built for DARPA’s
autonomous-vehicle competitions and also Google’s pioneering self-driving Toyota Prius, later
spun out to form Waymo.
Telepresence: Telepresence robots allow you to be present at a place without actually going
there. You log on to a robot avatar via the internet and drive it around, seeing what it sees, and
talking with people. Workers can use it to collaborate with colleagues at a distant office, and
doctors can use it to check on patients.

Underwater: The favorite place for these robots is in the water. They consist of deep-sea
submersibles like Aquanaut, diving humanoids like Ocean One, and bio-inspired systems like
the ACM-R5H snakebot.
FILIPINO-INVENTED HEALTHCARE ROBOT 'ROVIDOC' NOW ON DUTY AT BULACAN QUARANTINE
FACILITY

CITY OF MALOLOS, Bulacan-The physical exposure to the coronavirus of medical frontliners

caring for COVID-19 patients is expected to be reduced after the Bulacan Medical Center
acquired a Robot Roving Doctor (Rovidoc) to help treat COVID-19 patients at its Bulacan
Provincial Quarantine Facility.
The robot was invented by the Institute for Innovation in Business and Emerging Technologies
(IIBET) of Bulacan State University (BulSU) External Campuses.
Bulacan Governor Daniel R. Fernando said the robot will be tested if it has the capacity to
directly give care to the patients without the need for doctors and nurses to approach them. He
said that according to the inventors, it can dispense medication at the right time and monitor
the patients' condition through the attached Rovidoc apps.
The Rovidoc has servo arms that can enable it to adjust the thermal scanner and the main
camera depending on the position of the patient's body, and has also a liquid tank and a nozzle
spray feature.
If the use of the robot proves successful, the Bulacan government will have another Rovidoc
installed at the Bulacan Infection Control Center.
HOW DOES ROBOTS HELP BUSINESSES?
Robots are used in multiple areas, especially where they can alleviate strenuous tasks or
complete missions that are dangerous for a human to undertake. Recent advances in robotics
and Al are revolutionizing business, society and our personal lives.
Apart from being precise and consistent, robots can work in any environment, adding to their
flexibility. Robots eliminate dangerous jobs for humans because they are capable of working in
hazardous environments. They can handle lifting heavy loads, toxic substances and repetitive
tasks. This has helped companies to prevent many accidents, also saving time and money. In
the medical field robots are used for intricate surgeries such as prostate cancer surgery. Robots
are able to reach and fit where human hands cannot, allowing greater accuracy. Robotic
benefits in the medical field can be less invasive procedures and reduce pain for the patient
when recovering.
This Kick-Start activity aims to stimulate the development of robotic applications underpinned
by space technologies into a wide variety of sectors such as extreme environments, agriculture,
infrastructure monitoring, transport, social care and soft robotics. Also, due to the current
pandemic outbreak, robotic technology may provide additional creative solutions to tackle this
unprecedented situation.

WHAT ARE THE EFFECTS TO STUDENTS IF HUMAN TEACHERS WILL BE REPLACED BY ROBOT
TEACHERS?

Robots in education is an idea that has not fully been implemented in the education sector but
is still under the experimental stages in most parts of the world. The type of robot that is
commonly used in classrooms to represent teachers is the humanoid robot. Humanoid robots
mimic humans and are built in a way that their physical features resemble that of human
beings.
The humanoid teachers are programmed and intended as an aid in the classrooms or be a
complete replacement for teachers. However, the use of robots in education is yet to be
implemented in most parts of the world. To understand this concept better, we can investigate
the advantages plus disadvantages of robot teachers.
ADVANTAGES:

*Robots possess a wide knowledge base compared to human teachers

*Non-Irrelevant Conversations
*Robots have a lot of patience
*Robots Cost-Effectiveness

DISADVANTAGES:

*Robot being mechanically designed can break down at any time

*Lack of Respect for Teachers
*High-quality Infrastructure in the Classrooms

EFFECTS OF HIRING MORE ROBOTS THAN HUMANS BOTH IN BUSINESSES AND IN THE
INSTITUTIONS?

Machines replacing humans in the workplace has been a perpetual concern since the Industrial
Revolution, and an increasing topic of discussion with the rise of automation in the last few
decades. But so far hype has outweighed information about how automation particularly
robots, which do not need humans to operate - actually affects employment and wages.
The recently published paper, "Robots and Jobs: Evidence from U.S. Labor Markets," by MIT
professor Daron Acemoglu and Boston University professor Pascual Restrepo, PhD '16, finds
that industrial robots do have a negative impact on workers.
The researchers found that for every robot added per 1,000 workers in the U.S., wages decline
by 0.42% and the employment-to-population ratio goes down by 0.2 percentage points to date,
this means the loss of about 400,000 jobs. The impact is more sizable within the areas where
robots are deployed: adding one more robot in a commuting zone (geographic areas used for
economic analysis) reduces employment by six workers in that area.
To conduct their research, the economists created a model in which robots and workers
compete for the production of certain tasks.
PROS
1. The first and the foremost advantage of having robots in workplaces is their cost. Robots are
much cheaper than humans and their cost is now decreasing.
2. It's a fact that we cannot compare human abilities with robots but robotic capabilities are
now growing quickly. For example, if you run an essay writing service, you can use robots to
perform every kind of research related to any subject.
3. Because robots are more active and don't get tired like humans, the collaboration between
humans and robots is reducing absenteeism. The pace of human cannot increase hence robots
are helping humans.
4. Robots are more precise than humans; they don't tremble or shake as human hands. Robots
have smaller and versatile moving parts which help them in performing tasks with more
accuracy than humans.
5. There is no doubt that robots are significantly stronger and faster than humans.
6. Robots come in any shape and size, depending upon the need of the task.
7. Robots can work anywhere in any environmental condition whether it is space, underwater,
in extreme heat or wind etc. Robots can be used everywhere where human safety is a huge
concern.
8. Robots are programmed by a human; they cannot say no to anything and can be used for any
dangerous and unwanted work where humans may deny to offer their services. For example,
many robotic probes have been sent into space but have never returned.
9. Robots in warfare are saving more lives and have now proven to be very successful.
10. Robots are now being used in the chemical industry and can, for example deal with
chemical spills in a nuclear plant, which would otherwise pose a major health concern.
11. The best thing about robots is that they never get tired and can literally work on certain
tasks 24 x 7. The human brain gets tired if it's working continuously but robots never get tired
of what they are programmed to do and they can work on certain tasks error free.

CONS
1. Where robots are increasing the efficiency in many businesses, they are also increasing the
unemployment rate. Because of robots, human labor is no longer required in many factories
and manufacturing plants.
2. Robots can certainly handle their prescribed tasks, but they typically cannot handle
unexpected situations.
3. The ROI of your business may suffer if your operation relies on too many robots. They have
higher expenses than humans, so at the end of the day you may not always achieve the desired
ROI.
4. Robots may have Al but they are certainly not as intelligent as humans. They can never
improve their jobs outside the pre-defined programming because they simply cannot think for
themselves.
5. Robots installed in workplaces still require manual labor attached to them. Training those
employees on how to work with the robots definitely has a cost attached to it.
6. Robots have no sense of emotions or conscience. They lack empathy and this is one major
disadvantage of having an emotionless workplace.
7. Robots operate on the basis of information fed to them through a chip. If one thing goes
wrong the entire company bears the loss.

Where a robot saves times, on the other hand it can also result in a lag. It is, after all, a machine
so you cannot expect too much from them. If a robot malfunctions, you need extra time to fix
it, which would require reprogramming.
If ultimately robots would do all the work, and the humans will just sit and monitor them,
health hazards will increase rapidly. Obesity will be on top of the list.
Till the time the robots are unable to reach the level of human intelligence or to rationalize the
situation, humans will still have a vital role in every workplace! Besides, you cannot rule out the
significant role of humans in a business. After all, no machine can replace the human factor 'real
employees' bring into a workplace.