THE PURPOSE AND USE OF ROBOTS

SECTION 2: THE PURPOSE AND USE OF ROBOTS

1.       Robots have been designed for range of purposes. Provide a discussion of the purposes of robots and describe the two key areas they have been designed for (p. 249 to 250)

All robots are designed for a purpose whether the task is simple, complex it requires a degree of intelligence. There are two types of robots; Adaptive “smart” robots and Non-adaptive “dumb” robots. Smart robots are used to operate under programmed control and are able to gain knowledge as they perform a task. Dumb robots although do repetitive tasks well but will learn nothing when they perform the tasks and will keep on carrying out their operations continuously.

Two key areas they have been designed to be used for are exploration and maintenance/repair.  Robots in exploration are used as space is a hostile environment where if human labour is used, it is both costly and complex. This makes the use of robots more scientifically appropriate as they are able to stay on the planet for extensive amounts of time compared to human that have only limited, physical abilities. Tasks that exploration robots may undertake are transport, maintenance and surveying of devices on the planets. An example of a robot that has been used for space exploration purposes is the Sojourner that was sent as part of the Mars exploration trip by NASA in 1997.

Maintenance and repair is another key area of where robots are used with an example of robots being applied into the field of management are maintenance of railway systems, a job that is very time consuming, tedious and dangerous for humans, robots are used instead as an alternative and safe method in managing this sector. On a railway system, robots are programmed to run along the overhead stanchions/ the tracks themselves to do track work providing feedback and photos of the track faults back to the railway management centre.

2.       Complete the following table;

Robot use	Advantages of using robot in this role	Identify and describe repetitive and dangerous tasks involved	Picture of a robot performing the role
Exploration (give e.g’s)	Reduce cost and complexity of space missions.	Exploration, transport, maintenance, surveying, scientific collection tasks.	A space probe
Assembly-line (give e.g’s)	To reduce time and improve efficiency of products being made in the assembly line.	Welding, cutting and unloading of heavy materials.
Maintenance & repair (give e.g’s)	Reduce time; improve quality and efficiency of the job at hand. E.g. Railway system maintenance.	Conducting tests for faults and welding of gaps in the rails at the same time trains are scheduled on the lines.

3.       The use of robots in the military is becoming more common. Based on the knowledge you have learnt above, explain why the use of robots in the military is becoming more prevalent. Include some pictures of military robots.

The use of robots in the military and the warzone has become more prevalent over the recent years because these robots have the ability over humans to take on jobs that are of too much of an opposed risk. Example: A human exploring a large field that is supposedly full of land mines.

These robots also have the capability to perform missions remotely in the fields that some of these designated locations of investigation are of far in reach without endangering any human lives. Robots have also been developed to withstand more weaponised damage than humans. Through the use of robots it gives greater chances of success of the mission especially in dangerous environments. In the instance of where a robot is shut down, the military have the ability to just simply roll out another one.

Below are some examples of military robots used in the field:

 

4.       Please undertake some research and add a video in this location that highlights the use of a military robot. Provide a brief description of the robot under the picture.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SNPJMk2fgJU

 

5.       Describe 3 social and ethical issues that can arise from using robots in the military. Add some appropriate pictures to highlight the issues you raise... a few examples below.

Changing nature of work- As humans have traditionally been known to fight on the front lines of a war, but robots due to emerging technologies are beginning to replace them with this aiding to the process of changing the nature of war with robots. Due to the development of robotic weapons it has changed power capacity in which many armies have in which they feel more protected in doing so. Military robots have also led to the issue of unemployment for men and women that are wishing to enter the force to train and fight for their country with machines replacing humans who fight on the front lines in wars.

Health and safety- As robots require laboratory development; some of these robots contain harmful substances such as radioactive material and highly toxic and poisonous liquids and gases. With humans in the labs there has been a raising concern of possible serious injuries and sickness that may occur because of the robots capabilities if not kept under 100% control and handled with not enough precaution.

 

Technical issue/terrorism threat- As robots are being developed around the globe with information on how to develop these robots being spread at a rapid rate, there is potential threats to national security and even international peace if the robotic technology is placed in the wrong hands in which could result in major terrorist activity for example: Chemical weapons and missiles in Syria and land mines in Cambodia.