Hallo Robot

How robots will change our world

Some fear that robots could do half our jobs and even wipe us out. But is that likely? 

Smart machines already make our cars and clean our homes. Soon they could drive us about, teach our children, and keep our parents company.

While dealing with the ethical concerns about Artificial Intelligence, Bennie Mols and Nieske Vergunst reveal the history, present and future of robots. They show how moving AI could allow the lame to walk again, rescue survivors from collapsed buildings, and boost the global fight against hunger and pollution.

Welcome to a vivid view of our robot future. With 60 colour photos.

Topics 

From dolls to industrial workers, a history of robots

How robots respond to their surroundings

What robots learn about human speech

Why self-driving cars are safer and greener

The possibilities of robots in education

Meet the ‘cyborgs’ who learn to walk again

Why evolution designs the best robots

Will rogue robots take over the world?

Using robots as weapons and drones

What the future holds: 2100, a Robot Odyssey

Table of Contents

1 A short history of robots, from dolls to androids

Machines as man throughout historyMechanical dolls: forerunners of the robotEnter the working humanoid robotsThe next step: android robots that look like youUncanny valley: the problem with creepy robots 2. How do robots see their surroundings?

Getting to grips with a new environmentSeeing through the eyes of a robotTraining robots to recognise objectsRobots can see what a person cannot seeFeeling with whiskers: sensing the way forwardRobots use electronic ears to listen 3. How does a robot brain work?

A robot must learn to think like a humanKeeping it simple with an insect brainMachine learning is trial and errorRobots can learn without supervisionThe football world cup for robotsDeveloping robot emotional intelligence 4. Giving humans a helping hand

Robots suck: doing the dirty jobs at homeA robotic arm reaches deep into the supply chainJoseph Engelberger, father of car factory robotsCo-bots will work alongside peopleCoping with variation is Amazon’s challengeBuilding a robot car 5. Learning to speak to people

The problem with machine talkSHRDLU! The first experiment in robot conversationToilets are hidden: translation problemsA robotic teacher never runs out of patience 6. Robots get emotional

Emotional robots encourage humans to interact with themA robot can work out how you are feelingWhy am I afraid? Understanding human emotions Help! My robot looks angryEstablishing a bond with a robot 7. Humans need robots and robots need humans

Meet the robot psychologistsUnder-promise and over-deliver performanceSilicon Valley utopias vs calm technologyWhat is the best ratio of robots to humans?In the rubble: the search and rescue robotThe paradox of robotization 8. Humans need robots and robots need humans

Meet the robot psychologistsUnder-promise and over-deliver performance • Silicon Valley utopias vs calm technologyWhat is the best ratio of robots to humans?In the rubble: the search and rescue robotThe paradox of robotization 9. Evolution designs the best robots

How robots travel in a bumpy worldRobothand has nature’s gripA two-legged walking robotThe first robot babyWorking out the best path through evolution 10. Swarming robots show the wisdom of crowds

The power of robots working togetherA robot swarm without a bossGoal is mapping a building about to collapsePredicting how a robot will behaveRobot swarms in the real worldA robotic swarm looks for a queen11.  The importance of building ethical robots

Isaac Asimov’s three rules about rogue robotsWhen robots go wrongResponsible roboticists are planning for the futureRobots and the UN’s development goalsHow will robots change the human race?Killing machines: robots in the military 12. 2100 — A Robot Odyssey

The future of work in a robotic worldFusing mind and body with soft roboticsAnd then the smart robot became creativeWas that move really creative?Will robots really take over the world?