What are the 2 main visions for the role of robots in future societies?
Technological singularity
Technological multiplicity
Technological singularity (Ray Kurzweil, inspired by science-fiction like Terminator)
-> How does the singularity model view robots’ role in work?
AI surpasses human intelligence, => Replacement of humans by machines & loss of human control.
-> Robots replace humans entirely, automating jobs.
Technological multiplicity (Ken Goldberg)
-> How does the multiplicity model view robots’ role in work?
-> What strengths do Humans contribute in multiplicity?
-> What strengths do Robots contribute in multiplicity?
Humans & robots collaborate in hybrid teams, each contributing their unique strengths.
-> Robots complement humans.
-> Human strength = context-sensitivity, empathy, moral judgement
-> Robots strength = speed, endurance, data processing.
What are 3 risks of technological singularity for work?
1) Massive job loss
2) Economic inequality
3) Loss of human control over AI
What are 3 benefits of technological multiplicity for work?
1) Collaboration
2) Enhanced efficiency
3) Demand for human-centered skills (Against job loss due to AI taking over low-skilled labor).
Ethical & Social Context of Human-Robot interaction: Asimov’s 3 Laws of Robotics
- Robot may not injure a human being or, through inaction, allow a human being to come to harm.
- Robot must obey the orders by human beings, except where such orders would conflict with 1st Law.
- Robot must protect its own existence as long as such protection does not conflict with 1st or 2nd Law.
How do these visions (Technological Multiplicity & Technological Singularity) influence our understanding of the future of work?
They shape how we plan for automation—either as a threat to humanity (singularity) or as an opportunity for cooperation (multiplicity).
Why are Asimov’s Laws difficult to implement in real-world robotics?
Assumption that robots can understand context, human intent & moral dilemmas (= AI cannot understand it)
Give a real-world example that challenges Asimov’s First Law
2020 = UN reports an autonomous drone in Libya may have conducted a lethal strike without human input—contradicting the rule against harming humans.
What kind of ethical dilemma arises from the 2nd Asimov Law?
Conflicting Commands: Obeying human order can cause harm to someone else.
Modern Ethical Framework: Ethics by design
Ethics by design
-> Programming robots to recognize high-risk situations, defy to human judgment when needed & record actions for accountability.
How does the singularity vs. multiplicity debate relate to business strategy?
Singularity approach: focus on automation & cost reduction.
Multiplicity approach: focus on collaboration, upskilling & human–robot teams.
Where does the word robot come from, and what was its original meaning?
Karel Čapek (1920’s play R.U.R)
=> Derived from the Slavic word robota (= forced labour)
=> artifical workers rebelled against creator
Functional Architecture of Robots: What are the 3 core components of a robot’s architecture?
SAPU
Sensors
Actuators
Processing Units
What is a sensor in robotics?
Sensor = eyes, ears, & skin of a robot
Sensor detects environmental changes (e.g., light, sound, distance, temperature) & converts them into signals for processing unit.
- Vision Sensors (Cameras): Used in quality control and item recognition on manufacturing lines. For example, retail robots use them for shelf monitoring or inventory tracking.
- Proximity and Distance Sensors: These, like LIDAR or ultrasonic sensors, allow navigation in robotics such as warehouse robots or autonomous cars.
- Tactile Sensors: Found in robotic arms, they allow precision tasks like surgery or electronics assembly by mimicking a sense of touch.
- Environmental Sensors: Include temperature, pressure, or gas sensors, often used in agricultural or industrial monitoring robots.
- Motion and Gyroscopic Sensors: Found in humanoid robots, helping with balance and stability in uneven environments.
- Manufacturing and Industry: Vision sensors are widely used for quality control. For instance, robotic arms equipped with cameras inspect products for defects during production, ensuring uniform quality. Proximity sensors also prevent collisions in automated assembly lines, increasing safety and precision.
- Healthcare: Tactile sensors are integrated into surgical robots to provide delicate haptic feedback. This enables precise surgical interventions, such as in robotic-assisted cardiac or orthopaedic surgeries. Environmental sensors, like temperature monitors, are also critical for sterile medical environments.
- Agriculture: Robots with environmental sensors measure soil moisture and nutrient levels. Coupled with processing units, these robots automate precision farming tasks such as targeted fertilisation or watering, saving resources and increasing yield.
- Logistics and Warehousing: Distance sensors, like LIDAR, guide autonomous forklifts or drones in warehouses, optimising navigation and avoiding accidents. These robots also use vision systems to identify and pick customer orders.
- Retail: Humanoid robots like Pepper use vision sensors to recognise customers’ faces and gestures, enhancing customer interaction through tailored responses and assisting with queries on products.
What is an actuator in robotics?
Actuator = muscles & joints of a robotic body
Actuator translate electric energy into mechanic motion
-> movement & physical action
How do sensors, actuators, and processing units interact?
- Sensors collect data from environment.
- Processing unit interprets data & decides on action.
- Actuators execute action physically.
perception → decision → action.
What is a processing unit in robotics?
Processing Unit = “brain.”
=> Interprets sensor data & sends commands to actuators.
Decision-Making & Autonomy: PU manage data from sensors to determine how robots should interact with their environment.
Real-Time Communication between sensors & actuators.
Levels of control:
Low-level: Motor speed regulation
Mid-level: Navigation using map data
High-level: Understanding natural language or complex tasks
Classification by Application
-> What are the main robot categories by application?
I,S,M,D,E
Industrial robots
Service robots
Medical robots
Defense robots
Educational robots
Classification by Environment/ Mobility
-> What are the main types of robots by environment or mechanism?
M,F,ATA
Mobile robots: Wheeled, legged, or flying (e.g., drones).
Fixed robots: Stationary robots used in production lines.
Aquatic, terrestrial, airborne
Why is understanding robot architecture and classification important for managers?
- Enables precise communication with engineers & suppliers.
- Supports strategic investment decisions (e.g., choosing mobile vs. fixed robots).
- Helps assess costs, risks & returns for automation projects.
What is a key ambiguity in Asimov’s Laws?
Key ambiguity:
Concept of “harm” is vague & situational — robot can’t determine what counts as harm or which action causes less harm.
=> Fixed universal laws are not context-sensitive
Why is a human-centered design important for robotics? (3)
Human-centered design increases…
…user trust
…acceptance
…satisfaction
=> Ensure that robots act transparently & respect human autonomy.
4 actuator types
-> Electric actuators
-> Hydraulic actuators
-> Pneumatic actuators
-> Artificial acutators
- Hydraulic Actuators: Fluid pressure for motion => high-power output (e.g. work-force robots)
- Pneumatic Actuators: Compressed air for motion => lightweight & faster than hydraulics.
- Electric Actuators: Quite, precise & versatile
- Soft Actuators (e.g., artificial muscles): Mimic organitc movement => delicate jobs
- Hydraulic Actuators: Industries: construction & manufacturing.
- Pneumatic Actuators: Light, fast & repetitive tasks in food processing or packaging.
- Electric Actuators:
Surgey settings, medical robots - Soft Actuators:
Wearable devices for eldery or disabled, healthcare
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Unit 1: Introduction to basic computer science20
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Unit 2: Programming languages and programming4
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Unit 3: Basics of Computer Science – Algorithms and Pseudocode13
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Unit 5: The internet7
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Unit 6: Artificial Intelligence17
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Unit 7: Robots24
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Unit 8: Wearables11
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Unit 912
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Unit 1015
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Unit 1111
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Unit 8: Immersive Systems14
