Why we’ll still have to wait for the robot revolution
Karel Čapek first used the term “robot” to describe machines that resemble humans in R.U.R, a science fiction play from 1921. The word originated from “robota,” the Czech word for servitude. The word choice was crucial. After all, it expresses what we expect of them.
Robots have definitely begun to serve us in the last decade or two. For example, you’ll find them in science labs and on production lines. The technology continues to advance at a rapid rate as our needs evolve. However, robots have yet to be part of our everyday lives. Why haven’t we lived up to the sci-fi prophecies of a robot in every household?
Look how far we’ve come
Boston Dynamics uploaded a YouTube video called “Atlas, The Next Generation” in 2016. The video shows a bipedal robot that kind of looks like a human without a face. It opens doors and walks along a woodland track that is covered in snow. Afterward, the robot picks up a box and gets up from a fall after being pushed over.
In 2017, the “What’s New, Atlas?” video showed a robot jumping onto boxes and somersaulting off them just like a freerunner would.
We aren’t accustomed to seeing such precise human imitations from robots. But does that mean we ought to be impressed?
Sophia is another robot that resembles a human due to her appearance from the front as well as her mannerisms. This humanoid can hold a conversation, tell jokes, and respond to questions. She’s certainly smart, but her usefulness isn’t obvious right away.
The Robot Revolution
There are some indications that the robot revolution isn’t too far off though.
Doctors are already receiving help from medical bots when it comes to alleviating the side-effects of prostate cancer surgery and executing skull base surgery. Apple recently came out with Daisy, a robot that can efficiently strip old iPhones for recycling.
Robots will shortly be able to cook your meals and assemble your IKEA furniture. Just like they’ve infiltrated our homes with Alexa, Amazon is also starting to create a home robot to help with our everyday tasks. There isn’t much information about the project at the moment, but this strongly suggests that robots are making their way into the mainstream.
Boston Dynamics also has exciting plans for the mid-term with the creation of a collection of animal-inspired robots. The animals could be used for disaster relief and offer assistance to soldiers in the battlefield.
Even our strange humanoid friend Sophia is useful in some ways. The team behind her believes she can serve as a companion and prevent elderly or sick people from becoming socially isolated.
The halfway point
Even though robots haven’t made a significant arrival in our regular lives just yet, there’s no doubt that they’re contributing to society. In addition, their influence is expected to expand at a rapid rate in the next decade. Let’s hope that these intelligent machines will have a positive impact on our lives.
What effect do you think robots will have within the next ten years? Share your thoughts in the comments below.
