Human fascination with robots has long been fused with fear. The first widespread use of the term came a century ago in a Czech play about robots manufactured to serve and work for people. The catch? The bots turn on their masters.
But like fire, AI can burn us too. Today's Sunday magazine takes stock of where we are, where the technology is headed and the pitfalls that lie ahead with AI. There is much to celebrate, loads to fear and even more to question about a future in which machines join humans in striving for a better world.
This may worth something:
Researchers gives robots intelligent sensing abilities to carry out complex tasks -- ScienceDaily
Picking up a can of soft drink may be a simple task for humans, but this is a complex task for robots -- it has to locate the object, deduce its shape, determine the right amount of strength to use, and grasp the object without letting it slip. Most of today's robots operate solely based on visual processing, which limits their capabilities.
A team of computer scientists and materials engineers from the National University of Singapore (NUS) has recently demonstrated an exciting approach to make robots smarter. They developed a sensory integrated artificial brain system that mimics biological neural networks, which can run on a power-efficient neuromorphic processor, such as Intel's Loihi chip.
Letting robots manipulate cables | MIT News
The system uses a pair of soft robotic grippers with high-resolution tactile sensors to successfully manipulate freely moving cables.
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The opposing fingers are lightweight and quick moving, allowing nimble, real-time adjustments of force and position.
For humans, it can be challenging to manipulate thin flexible objects like ropes, wires, or cables. But if these problems are hard for humans, they are nearly impossible for robots. As a cable slides between the fingers, its shape is constantly changing, and the robot's fingers must be constantly sensing and adjusting the cable's position and motion.
Giving robots human-like perception of their physical environments -- ScienceDaily
Wouldn't we all appreciate a little help around the house, especially if that help came in the form of a smart, adaptable, uncomplaining robot? Sure, there are the one-trick Roombas of the appliance world. But MIT engineers are envisioning robots more like home helpers, able to follow high-level, Alexa-type commands, such as "Go to the kitchen and fetch me a coffee cup."
To carry out such high-level tasks, researchers believe robots will have to be able to perceive their physical environment as humans do.
Quite a lot has been going on:
Demand for robot cooks rises as kitchens combat COVID-19
Flippy is a robotic arm that can make fries, or as per its name, flip burgers. (Miso Robotics)
Coronavirus concerns could mean a robot will be cooking your White Castle fries or perhaps assembling your salad.
Cooking robots are in growing demand as virus-wary kitchens try to put some distance between workers and customers. This fall, the White Castle burger chain will test a robot arm that can cook french fries and other foods. The robot, dubbed Flippy, is made by Miso Robotics.
White Castle is testing a burger-grilling robot named Flippy - CNN
Scientists build beetle GoPro-style camera, pave way for mini robots - Business Insider
Scientists at the University of Washington have successfully created a wireless camera so miniature it can be carried on a beetle's back.
So why build GoPros for beetles? "Aside from sounding like something from a sci-fi movie, this small wireless vision system is an important step to miniaturizing robots," said Iyer.
While cameras in smart phones are much smaller than the ones mounted on the beetles' backs by the researchers, they are not wireless in the same sense as they're hooked up to bigger bits of hardware.
FedEx is utilizing robotic arms to sort packages at a Memphis facility – TechCrunch
FedEx has flirted with robotic technologies before, most notably in the case of Roxo. The delivery robot made its debut in New York City last year, only to get the boot from Mayor Bill de Blasio. These days, however, the prospect of increased automation seems all the more pressing, as COVID-19 has left many reconsidering the human element of the supply chain.
The logistics giant reached out to TechCrunch this week to note that it has been using robots in another matter for a few months now. In March, FedEx installed a quartet of robotic arms from Yaskawa America and Plus One, with the express intent of helping sort the massive numbers of parcels that pass through its Memphis facility.
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