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194 Science and Technology

Robots are automatic machines. Some robots can

perform mechanical and repetitive jobs faster, more

accurately, and more safely than people. Robots can also

handle dangerous materials, and explore distant planets.

CAN ROBOTS THINK?

Robots can think. They can play complex games,

such as chess, better than human beings. But will

a robot ever know that it is thinking? Human

beings are conscious – we know we are thinking

– but we don’t know how consciousness works.

We don’t know if computers can ever be conscious.

HOW DO ROBOTS SENSE?

Electronic sensors are a robot’s eyes and ears. Twin

video cameras give the robot a 3-D view of the

world. Microphones detect sounds. Pressure sensors

give the robot a sense of touch, to judge how hard

to grip an egg. Built-in computers send and

receive information with radio waves.

WILL ROBOTS TAKE THE PLACE OF PEOPLE?

Robots have replaced people performing repetitive

jobs, and in dangerous jobs, such as bomb disposal.

In future, robots may do housework and other

jobs we hate. But will robots replace people

in jobs that need kindness or creativity? It’s

hard to imagine a robot teacher or dancer.

WHAT CAN ROBOTS DO?

Robots can sense and respond to their surroundings.

They can handle delicate objects or apply great force,

for example to perform eye operations guided by

a human surgeon, or to assemble a car. With

. ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE, robots will also
be able to make decisions for themselves.

Artificial intelligence attempts to create

computer programs that think like human

brains. Current research has not achieved

this, but some computers can be

programmed to recognize faces in a crowd.

ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE

4 ROBOT CLEANER

This robot vacuum cleaner finds

its own way around as it cleans

your home. With three

computers, and over 70 sensors,

it plans an efficient route,

remembering where it has been

and deciding where to clean next.

HUMANOID ROBOT 3

This humanoid robot has been built for

the entertainment industry. Dressed as

pirates or cowboys, robots like this are

performers in theme park attractions.

Robots

1 ROBOTS IN MEDICINE

Monitoring progress on a TV, a skilled surgeon

performs an operation by remote control. Robot

instruments carry out his actions on the patient.

Limbs

moved by

pipes and

pistons

Joints

move like

a human’s

Movements

controlled by

a computer

FIND OUT MORE. Computers 190 • Industry 204 • Machines 196–197

robots