From Vegas to Mars,
Robots Have the Right Stuff
In the "Matrix" movies, robots rule. Everyday life isn't real but a "virtual reality" that robots, with their superior artificial intelligence, have created to enslave humans.
Today's bots aren't that smart, of course. Still you might be surprised by their skills. Here's a quick test: Which of the following tasks can't robots do?
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The Mars Exploration Rover
(Photo courtesy: NASA)
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a) Mow the grass
b) Tell jokes
c) Perform surgery
d) Figure out if you're angry
e) Explore pyramids
f) Roll around Mars and pick up rocks
g) Get themselves to Las Vegas in a hurry
If you picked any answers except "g," you'd be wrong. Robots can do each of those jobs and more. Many robot inventors, by the way, have been students.
What is a robot, anyway? The word was coined by a Czech writer for a 1921 play about machines who revolt against humans and take over the world. Even back then, people worried about machines getting out of hand.
In fact, for as long as scientists have been working on artificial intelligence—a way of describing "smart" machines programmed to do work—people have worried about the darker side of robot technology. For every lovable R2-D2 and C-3PO portrayed in science fiction movies, there are evil bots like the "Terminator" cyborgs.
But let's get back to what robots are—devices designed to automatically perform tasks, often in reaction to their surroundings. With their sophisticated computers, high-tech sensors and other tools, today's robots are a far cry from the early days of robot technology when robotic arms were a staple of the automobile assembly line.
Better at some jobs than people—
And, they give out hugs
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SafetyBot, the AOL/Childhelp USA robot that teaches about Internet safety
(Photo courtesy: AOL/Childhelp)
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Robots are still used in heavy industries—they can do many tasks more efficiently and profitably than human workers—but scientists have found new ways for robots to help people. Robots find sunken ships, travel into space, process mail, assemble medicine packets, fly unmanned military missions, cut the lawn and vacuum the house.
And if you haven't yet seen them in the classroom, you may soon. Interactive robots can be good teachers, especially when they're fitted with video screens or other multimedia devices.
"They are the most powerful education tool I've ever seen," said Mark Moody, a robotics consultant for America Online. "They capture kids' attention. The robot being the education connection works so well because the technology is what they're going to see in their lives."
AOL, in a partnership with Childhelp USA, teamed with Moody to design a 4-foot-tall robot named SafetyBot who visits schools to make presentations on Internet safety. SafetyBot has talked with thousands of students and "really does get the kids to open up to him," Moody said.
Some of the robot's audio is pre-recorded, but Moody also uses a wireless remote microphone so that SafetyBot engages in live banter and jokes—much like "Frances," the Disney World robot that amuses visitors, often at the expense of her human handler.
Moody, of Viva Robotics, also developed a robot who talks with children at Inova Fairfax Hospital for Children in Fairfax, VA. Besides conversation and laughter, the robot offers a hug if the child initiates it.
Pyramids, brain surgery, planets—
Bots go where people can't
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The Rock Abrasion Tool (RAT) on the robotic arm of the Mars Rover grinds away at the rocks on the surface of Mars, allowing scientific instruments to analyze the rocks interior.
(Photo courtesy: NASA)
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What else can robots do? NASA has been working on Robonaut, a humanoid robot the size of an astronaut with two arms, two five-fingered hands, a head and torso. Since much of the hardware involved in space flight is designed to be serviced by humans, a human-scale, dexterous robot could work side by side with astronauts or go on missions where risks are too great for people.
Already, robots are proving their usefulness in space. Two robot "geologists" on Mars are collecting rocks that will provide clues about the planet's ancient history. Traveling on Mars isn't easy—the robots had to withstand a bouncing landing, right themselves and roll over Mars' tough terrain while making adjustments for obstacles like rocks. Engineers developed robots with those skills after testing them in harsh environments like the desert and Antarctica.
Robots are making other contributions to science. Working with National Geographic and Egyptian authorities, iRobotics of Burlington, MA designed a camera-equipped robot that in 2002 explored narrow shafts in the Great Pyramid at Giza, giving scientists a look at areas of the pyramid that hadn't been seen since its construction 4,500 years ago.
In medicine, robots provide surgeons with 3D images during brain surgery. A robot courier system is designed to transport pharmaceuticals, lab specimens, equipment and supplies, meals and records among hospital departments.
Robots also help the military. The United States used unmanned drone airplanes for surveillance in Afghanistan to reduce the risk to military personnel, and the government now wants robot ground vehicles. In March 2004, the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency, which does research and development for the Pentagon, sponsored a race of robot ground vehicles. The course ran from near Los Angeles to Las Vegas. Although none of the 15 robotic ground vehicles actually completed the 142-mile rugged desert course, a tremendous amount was learned about autonomous ground vehicle technology, according to Dr. Anthony Tether, DARPA Director. The goal of the project was to spark enthusiasm and innovation and to continue advancing the technology.
Robo guard dogs—
Is that a camera in your nose?
It's not unusual for robots to move, by the way. Robots can walk, hop and climb stairs. A combination of sensors and programming tells the robot where the stairs are and how to drive up their center.
Mobile robots for the home are already on the market. Friendly Robotics, a Dallas-based company, produces the battery-powered RoboMower, which sells for about $700 and cuts lawns by itself. iRobot produces a $200 vacuum cleaner known as the Roomba Intelligent Floor Vac, which also works unattended. The human operator places the Roomba in the middle of the room, selects the room size and walks away. The little robot, which is less than four inches tall, travels around the room, scooping up dirt. Infrared sensors enable it to avoid stairs and other obstacles.
For home security, Sanyo Electric—the Japanese consumer electronics maker—has developed prototype robot guard dogs that can challenge burglars and take pictures of them with a camera fitted in the dog's nose. The four-legged robot can roam through buildings and make security checks. It can detect odors, including smoke, which would alert homeowners to a possible fire.
Researchers from the University of Pittsburgh and Carnegie Mellon University have explored development of mobile service robots to help the elderly and the ill with tasks like remembering to take medicine or see the doctor. Such robots may eventually help arthritic patients use appliances, summon help in health emergencies and even provide companionship.
That last idea is not as far-fetched as it might sound. Researchers at the Artificial Intelligence Lab at the Massachusetts Institute for Technology developed an expressive robot known as "Kismet" and programmed it to recognize basic emotions in a human voice and respond to those social cues with a variety of expressions.
Kismet can perk its ears in an interested fashion or fold them back like an angry animal. Each eyebrow can lower and furrow in frustration, elevate upwards for surprise, or slant the inner corner of the brow upwards for sadness. Kismet can also wink, smile and frown.
Living with robots—
Just one of the family
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This 3-D image combines computer-generated models of the Mars Exploration Rover Spirit and its lander with real surface data from the rover's panoramic camera. It shows Spirit's position just after it rolled off the lander on Jan. 15, 2004.
(Photo courtesy: NASA)
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Japan's Mitsubishi Heavy Industries takes robots a bit farther with Wakamura, an experimental humanoid robot the company describes as "friendly and useful for your life at home." The robot has voice- and face-recognition capabilities that allow it to search for and follow voices, faces and movements.
Wakamura recognizes 10,000 words and will be able to "speak spontaneously in response to family members" as well as look after the home when the family is absent, according to the company's online presentation, "Living with a Robot." Sensors that detect electromagnetic and supersonic waves help Wakamura move freely around the home and, in effect, become one of the family.
"Wakamura lives beside you from wakeup time to bedtime, in harmony with your life," says Mitsubishi's presentation. "If it finds you in the same room, it comes closer to you and speaks to you. At night, it stands by at its charging station and responds if requested."
A bit intrusive? Perhaps. But it's also an example of today's exciting developments in robot technology.
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Xtra Real People
Name: Dr. Ayanna Howard
Age: 31
Title: Electrical engineer, robotics research
Company: National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), Jet Propulsion Laboratory
Her real job: Figures out how to make robots "smarter" for Mars exploration. "I think of the idea, I proof it out, I build a little prototype to test it. I come up with ways to make these things intelligent and act and think and behave like humans so they can be an extension of ourselves when we send them to Mars."
Why she chose this career: "My first dream of being an engineer was in the 6th or 7th grade. I was motivated by TV, a show called 'The Bionic Woman.' I didn't want to be the Bionic Woman, I just wanted to build her."
School: B.S. Electrical and Computer Engineering, Brown University; Ph.D., Robotics and Artificial Intelligence, University of Southern California
What she does for fun: "The biggest thing is being a new mother. When I look at my son (move), I wonder if I can get a robot to do that!" Loves video games, action-adventure and science fiction movies.
Advice: "Don't give up and don't let others influence you in terms of doing what you want to do. If it's in your heart and your dreams, just keep going."
Recommended academic path: "Hone your math and science skills—they are the basics. Communication is very important. Take the English classes, write the papers, know how to communicate your ideas. Dare to dream. Only your imagination is what limits you."
"Engineering is about experience. . . what a Ph.D. does for you is teach you how to learn, how to keep your skills up. The technology changes every day. When something comes along that's different, you'll know how to research it."
Driving Force: "I think of engineers as artists in the science and math world. You need imagination and creativity. You come up with new things that no one has ever come up with and make it real. You get a dream and have fun, make it a reality."
Predictions: "Robots getting smarter and being more of an asset to science and engineering, enabling us to do more intelligent science. I see a new field emerging, just as the Internet came in and created new careers like Web design. We'll need robotic programmers, builders, testers. It'll be a whole new era of careers kids can choose."
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Robotics Web Resources
http://robotics.nasa.gov
Learn about careers in robotics, help NASA design a robot for space station astronauts. (Be sure to check out NASA's "Cool Robot of the Week.") Get updates about special robotics events by subscribing to NASA's newsletter.
http://mars.jpl.nasa.gov and http://www.jpl.nasa.gov/solar_system
Guides to robot-based Mars and solar system exploration missions.
http://www.ri.cmu.edu
Carnegie Mellon University's Robotics Institute, which has conducted robotics research since 1979. (Check out the student projects in "Lab Groups.")
http://www.ai.mit.edu
Artificial Intelligence Lab (now called Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence Lab) at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Lots of interdisciplinary research projects.
http://www-robotics.cs.umass.edu/cgi-bin/robotics-university
Guide to colleges and universities with robotics programs. The site is maintained by the University of Massachusetts Laboratory for Perpetual Robotics.
http://www.robotics.org
Robotics industry trade group site. Buyer's guide, feature articles, daily news updates, case studies, technical papers, events calendar, job openings and an "Ask the Experts" forum geared toward robotics professionals.
http://trueforce.com
Exhaustive technical and industry information on robotics.
http://cache.ucr.edu/~currie/roboadam.htm
An older Web site with a few broken links but still a good source for robotics information and trivia.
http://www.androidworld.com
Good source of information on humanoid robots, also called androids. Visitors are greeted by the voice of "Valerie," described as a "domestic android." Note: many of these projects are still on the drawing board.
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A rover is protected from fiery temperatures by an aeroshell as it enters the Martian atmosphere in January 2004.
(Photo courtesy: NASA)
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Robotics Glossary
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Artificial intelligence: The science and technology of creating "smart" machines or systems, meaning the machines go through processes similar to those humans use when they make decisions or react to their environment. Typically, smart machines gather and analyze information, then make a programmed response to that analysis.
Controller: A device that monitors and controls a robot, usually by transmitting commands electronically to a receiver in the robot.
Humanoid robot: Robots designed to act, move, and look like humans. They may, for example, walk and climb stairs, recognize human faces and gestures, and react to those social cues.
Industrial arm: A robotic device used in heavy manufacturing, usually to perform repetitive tasks; early uses of industrial arms include automotive assembly lines.
Receiver: A device on the robot that
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receives and processes the electronic signal sent by the controller.
Robot: Machines and automated systems programmed to do tasks—often in reaction to their environment—that would otherwise be done by humans.
Sensor: Systems or devices that allow robots to perceive and process information about the environment. Mobile robots, for example, may use infrared or ultrasonic sensors to detect and avoid moving or stationary objects. (Infrared sensors emit invisible light waves and determine an object's distance by measuring its reflection of those waves. Ultrasonic sensors emit sound waves and measure distance by calculating the time it takes for the waves to strike the object and return to the sensor.)
Virtual reality: The interaction of humans and computers through programs that simulate a real-world or three-dimensional environment. (Think "Matrix" or just about any video game.)
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Watch for Part II of TechXtra's special feature
on Robotics in the May 2004 issue
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TechXtra®
Published by the National Science & Technology Education Partnership (NSTEP)
formerly Electronics Industries Foundation
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Suite 210
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President
Barbara L. Wortmann
Director, Educational Initiatives
Marie Wiggins
Executive Editor TechXtra
Debra D. Bass
Writer
Eileen Putman
Web Design
Chris Korin
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NSTEP is grateful for the support provided for this issue by:
Panasonic Consumer Electronics Company
Philips Electronics
Consumer Electronics Association
Active International
Cornell Dubilier Electronics
Editorial Advisory Committee
Jennifer Martino, PhD, science teacher, Governor Livingston High School
John E. Riley, Radiation Safety Consultant, Just-In-Time Industrial Hygiene
Douglas A. Tyson, chemistry teacher, Benjamin Banneker Academic High School
Gary Ybarra, PhD, Director of Undergraduate Studies, Duke University
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TechXtra, a free e-newsletter published periodically from September through May by the National Science & Technology Education Partnership (NSTEP), brings new technology to life for students and their science, technology and math teachers. And, it brings life to technology with a close-up look at the jobs, career paths and education of the people who make it all happen.
National Science & Technology Education Partnership (NSTEP) is a nonprofit 501(c )3 organization that is dedicated to developing tomorrow's technology leaders.
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