Wake me when the robots are here. Real robots.
Seriously, I’m this close to checking out on the robot scene for another couple decades, at least. I’ve been reading Popular Mechanics and Popular Science mags for many years now (true, not the definitive source for robot research, but they do cover most developments), and the perennial favorite subject is robotics. They’ve been a popular subject for almost as long as those publications have been around, judging from excerpts from old articles and photos. What hasn’t changed in the past 50 or 60 years is the concept of where robots will be only 20 or 30 years “in the future.” Well, we are long past due to be in that speculative future robo-topia.
Frankly, it’s incredibly depressing that our 2010 technology has only produced an Asimo. It’s so sad that the most common “robot” known by consumers right now is the Roomba. Computers and processors have advanced so rapidly (Moore’s Law is still holding strong) but our robot technology crawls at a snail’s pace. I’m tired of how the media, such as the Popular Mech/Sci mentioned above, plays up the robots in development today. As an example, a recent PopSci flashed this on the cover: “THE FUTURE OF ROBOTS — YOUR HELPER BOT HAS ARRIVED — America’s First Humanoid.” From the article, that thing could barely even stand on its own. Its creators were trying to get it to kick a soccer ball. Stand. And kick a ball.
There is NO person or group or educational program today that is putting all the pieces together. Sure, we are more miniaturized today with circuits and electronics and wiring, but there is no compelling design that is showing to be better than another. For instance, what should be used to move a robot’s appendages? A contracting material that works like a muscle? A threaded bolt-like structure that spins? A bladder that uses compressed air? What about the power source? Battery technology today just plain won’t cut it (another pet peeve of mine), which pretty much means any autonomous robot will have to remain tethered. Where is the AI technology that should be making use of the advanced computation power we have today? Can’t we even come up with a hexapod (which I think is one of the most useful and versatile of robot types) that can be used in a real-world application?
Thanks to Hollywood, we do have a pretty high standard set in our minds for what an autonomous, fully functioning android or humanoid robot should be. Terminators come to mind. It’s easy to let the bar be set so high and to get so jaded by those visions of what we may possibly create. But is it really too much to ask? When will we have anything that even gives us a real, true glimpse of that reality, instead of making us grimace?
Til then, here’s to all the roboticists in their various bailiwicks and the work they are doing. Keep it up, work hard… but don’t bother me again until you have something worth my time and attention.
