Page 56 - Introduction to AI Robotics

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1.9 End Notes
Exercise 1.15 [Advanced Reading]
Read “Silicon Babies,” Scientific American, December 1991, pp 125-134, on the chal-
lenges of AI robotics. List the 7 topics of AI and give examples of robots or researchers
addressing each topic.
Exercise 1.16 [Science Fiction]
Read “Stranger in Paradise,” Isaac Asimov, The Complete Robot, Doubleday, 1982,
and enumerate the problems with telepresence illustrated by this story.
Exercise 1.17 [Science Fiction]
Watch the movie Star Gate. The military uses a teleoperated vehicle (in reality, NASA
Jet Propulsion Laboratory’s Hazbot) to first go through the star gate and test the envi-
ronmental conditions on the other side. Discuss other ways in which the team could
have continued to use the robot to their advantage.

Exercise 1.18 [Science Fiction]
Watch the 1971 movie, The Andromeda Strain, by Michael Crichton. The movie has
several nerve wracking scenes as the scientists try to telemanipulate an unknown,
deadly organism as fast as possible without dropping it. What do you think can be
done with today’s robots?

1.9 End Notes

Finding robots in the popular press
There is no one-stop-shopping publication or web site for robot applications. Robotics
World is a business oriented publication which often has interesting blurbs. Popular
Mechanics and Popular Science often contain short pieces on new robots and applica-
tions, although those short bits are often enthusiastically optimistic. A new magazine,
Robot Science and Technology, appears to be bridging the gap between hobby ‘bots and
research ‘bots. In addition to surfing the web, annual proceedings from the IEEE
International Conference on Robotics and Automation (ICRA) and IEEE/RSJ Interna-
tional Conference on Intelligent Robots and Systems (IROS) contain scientific articles
on the newest robots emerging from university and government laboratories. Intel-
ligent Robotic Systems, ed. by S.G. Tzafestas, Marcel Dekker Inc, NY, 1991. This is a
collection of chapters by various researchers and laboratory managers. The work is a
bit dated now, but gives some feel for the variety of applications.
About Joe Engleberger
Joe Engleberger is often referred to as the “Father of Industrial Robots.” His impres-
sive resume includes having formed Unimation. His most recent robotics company
made the HelpMate robot for hospitals. Engleberger participates in many robotics