History and Development of Robotics

Robotics

ABSTRACT

This paper discusses three aspects of the field of robotics The first is the history of where the ideas of robotics originated. Second, what was the effect that these ideas had on society? Finally, what developments in the field have proved to be useful to society?

INTRODUCTION

"Klatuu verita nicto!" These are the words spoken to turn away the robot that would destroy the earth in the movie The Day the Earth Stood Still. Hollywood has portrayed the robot as both a friend and an enemy. In many instances, such as in The Day the Earth Stood Still, they can be controlled, but if one gets loose it will cause great destruction. In the Star Wars trilogy their are three robotic characters that play large roles. Two of the robots, C3PO and R2D2, are friendly and harmless. They are both on the side of good. However, they are contrasted by Darth Vader, who being partially man, but mostly robot, is portrayed as the antagonist of all that is good. Not only Hollywood, but also science fiction literature has helped to produce certain expectations concerning what a robot should look like and how it should act. The result of these expectations has not always been good for the field of robotics.

Some would say the attempt to make a robot is an attempt to 'play god' and to recreate man. Others would argue that robots might become so intelligent that they would take over and replace humans. There is no better example of this than the movie Terminator, which begins with a world ruled by machines who are trying to kill the remaining human population. The actual field of robotics however, has produced many products which we take for granted. The clock is a household item that was developed in the beginning stages of machine ...

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...ics and we have only begun to see what they are. Precautions must be taken for the future, but the developments already made have produced great benefit and far outweigh any fearful expectations about the dangers of robotics.

1. Bonnett, Kendra, and Gene Oldfield. Everyone Can Build a Robot. New York: Simon & Schuster, Inc, 1984. p 2.

2. Asimov, Isaac, and Karen A. Frankel. ROBOTS: Machines in Man's Image. New York: Harmony Books, 1985. p 2.

3. Ibid. p 4.

4. Ibid. p 1 - 2.

5. Ibid. p 1 - 2.

6. Aleksander, Igor, and Piers Burnett. REINVENTING MAN: The Robot Becomes Reality. New York: Holt, Rinehart and Winston, 1983. p 25.

7. Asimov and Frankel, p 12.

8. Ibid. p 19.

9. Aleksander and Burnett, p 19 - 20.

10.

10. Ibid. p 19 - 20.

11. http:www.kipr.org

12. Ibid.

13. http://mpfwww.jpl.nasa.gov/rovercom/rovintrot.html

14. Ibid.