English Research: Application and Effects of Artificial Intelligence Robots.

Name: Ahmed Abdulla Al-Ali

ID: H00128005

Date: 12 – 01 - 2012

Submitted to: Mr. Hedley

The science of making machines perform intelligently is commonly defined as Artificial Intelligence (AI). According to Murphy (2000), one textbook defines it as "the study of ideas that enable computers to be intelligent". A later text book was more specific," AI is the attempt to get the computer to do things that, for the moment, people are better at" (p.15). However, when talking about AI Robots, we actually mean the applications of AI techniques to robots; such as learning, planning, reasoning, problem solving, and knowledge representation and computer vision (Murphy, 2000, p.16). Marrs (1988) stated that "the integration of the computer with the various mechanical, pneumatic, hydraulic and electrical systems of the robot makes the intelligence robot complete" (p.23).
The main point of this research paper is to discuss the impact of Artificial Intelligence Robots to better understand them. That entails how they have developed, what applications they can be used for, what are the reasons that might prevent them from being marketed in the consumer marketplace, and finally what are their social effects.
According to Marrs (1988), the first International Personal Robot Congress was held in Albuquerque, New Mexico in 1984. Two years later, in 1986, robotic devices proved their usefulness by assisting in the clean up of radioactive wastes and other contaminated material following a nuclear accident at Chernobyl nuclear power plant in the U.S.S.R (p.28). However, the Intelligence Quotient of robots has developed in a space of a few years, making the robot able to achieve an incredible list of tasks, "the robot, with its computer brain and ability to perform work normally performed by humans, is perhaps the greatest achievement of technology" (Marrs, 1988, p.23).

Indeed, robots become more important and capable everyday. According to Marrs (1988), they are being equipped with more devices such as sensors for touch, vision, force, speech, range-finding, smell, and voice recognition. Also, robot mobility has been achieved. On-board computers of increasing sophistication provide the brains for today’s robots. Their memories allow the storage of maps, drawings, parts lists and assembly schematics. Robots can also be outfitted with laser devices and other peripheral equipment (p.4). In addition, robots have been developed and modified so as to perform more complicated tasks. It seems that every day a new job is found for robots. Their market potential seems to grow larger and they are being used in assembly lines. For example, "Ford Motor Company says its robots are now proficient at 30 different tasks" (Marrs, 1988, p.4).
In the past, robots were just used for investments in military and industries. However, with the development of technology and the advanced applications of Artificial Intelligence, more important jobs are being assigned for them in many fields, especially in the medical, nuclear and agricultural ones. They can be used for just about any application that can be thought of, but in particular for repetitive and risky jobs. Robin R. Murphy (2000) stated that "robots are good for the 3 D's: Jobs that are dirty, dull, or dangerous" (p.16). He also explained that:

 "AI Robots are well suited for applications where 1) a human is at risk (nuclear, space, military), 2) the economics menial nature of the application result in inefficient use of human workers (service industry, agriculture) and 3) for humanitarian uses where there is great risk (urban search and secure)" (p.16).

 For example, robots are being used in pharmaceutical industries to process immune suppressant drugs which may expose workers to highly toxic chemicals (Murphy, 2000, p.17). Another example is working in assembly lines where the job is repetitive and boring, "repetition activities in unpleasant surroundings make human workers inefficient or expensive to retain" (Murphy, 2000, p.17).

Some people think of robots as simple industrialized devices limited to restricted duty on an auto production line. However, according to Marrs (1988), not all worker robots are on assembly lines. There are bomb disposal robots, space robots, police robots and show and promotional robots. Some of them work in nuclear power plants, little toil in hospital operating rooms where, under the directions of trained surgeons, they insert needles into patients’ brains with incredible precision (p.4). Robots can also help in the humanitarian purposes for the welfare of mankind. They can perform several tasks that are too difficult for human beings to achieve. Murphy (2000) stated that "recently, robots have been proposed to help with detecting unexploded ordinance (land mines) and with urban search and rescue (finding survivors after a terrorist bombing of a building or an earthquake)" (p.18). Therefore, it is definitely clear that robots have significant potential because they can function in various fields.
Nowadays, many people wonder why robots are not common in markets as they have been manufactured since the 1980s. However, as Mr. Chien clearly stated, the high cost of approximately $100,000 US, is one reason (Chien, KUSTAR seminar, 2009). Another reason is that robots are not modified to estimate the maximum power needed to hold things. For example, when a robot holds a glass cup, it may break. Also, when it shakes someone's hand, it may hurt it. Mr. Chien says, "the robot does not have the ability to distinguish between flabby objects and hard ones" (Chien, KUSTAR seminar, 2009). Moreover, when a robot opens a door, it may simply break the doorknob; this is because the robot pushes the doorknob towards itself without trying to rotate it. Because of these potentially dangerous aspects, in my point of view, robots up until now are not completely safe. They don’t know how to react with people neither how to do house work. Thus, robots do not yet perceive texture in the objects they interact with. However, Mr. Chien stated that "Intel Corporation labs are making feedback to develop a household robot that knows how to live in human environment" (Chien, KUSTAR seminar, 2009). Additionally, robots still have other problems such as their social effects on humans.

Robots population is increasing dramatically and the industries are moving speedily to robotize their operations. The reason for this is that robots have an advantage over humans in the workplace.  Margaret Taber, a professor of electrical engineering at Purdue University states, " the worker robot does not care if its work area is ventilated, if it is hot or cold, or even if it has a parking place," (Marrs, 1988, p.11). However, the robot revolution has a negative impact on human life. Robots have changed the role of expertise and skilful workers in factories. Murphy (2000) confirmed this when he explained that "the cultural implications of robots cannot be ignored," because "robots appear to amplify the tension between productivity and the role of the individual" (p.18). For example, Helpmate Robots appear to be competing with workers in cleaning office buildings. One janitorial company has investments in mobile robots that cause 90% yearly turnover in staff (Murphy, 2000, p.19). Moreover, robots have a fatality rate. For example, according to Murphy (2000), while the sheep shearing robots in Australia were successful and were ready to be commercialized for significant economics gains, the sheep industry reportedly rejected the robots. Murphy (2000) states that the reason behind this is the fatality rate which should be 0% (p.19). However, from my point of view, robots might appear more accurate and patient than human labor is, but they cannot think; they cannot diagnose or report any errors in the production line. So it is true that having robots in factories will enhance production, but that should not replace human labor and experienced workers.
The future of robots will without a doubt be surprising. They are becoming more and more capable and important in our lives and we will definitely see them commonly used among us in the near future. Some experts have expressed their opinions regarding this topic; for example, according to Marrs (1988), "robotics will become the forth ‘R’ after reading, ‘riting and ‘rithmetic," [according to] S. Norman Feingold, President, National Career and Counseling Services, Washington, D.C. Also, "the robot industry will become one of the largest, most profitable and most important industries… that dominate our economics," states Bruce Nussbaum, author, the World After Oil (p.10). Other experts in the field have anticipated this perception, like Joseph Engelberger who says "robots will become prized tools of society, performing brain surgery and collecting the garbage" (as cited in Marrs, 1988, p.25). Moreover, in Fanuc, Japan, there is a factory where, ironically, robots build other robots (Marrs, 1988, p.25).
It can be concluded that artificial intelligence robots are machines that are being created to help humanity perform tasks that otherwise might be assigned to human beings. They can serve in various fields and uses, such as manufacturing, education, hospitality, military and medicine. However, they sometimes have negative effects on human expertise and skilled workers, especially in factories. Ultimately, they require more time and support to be developed as precise machines capable of doing house work as well as to be marketed and to make a productive contribution to the economy.

References

http://www.newscientist.com/article/mg19125616.400-a-good-robot-has-personality-but-not-looks.html

http://www.physorg.com/news155989459.html

Marrs, Texe W. The Robot Revolution. New York: Oxford, 1988. Print.

Murphy, Robin R. Introduction to Robots. London: Cambridge, 2000. Print.