| Thanks to Science Fiction writers, the image of robots | | | | resembling a human is not one of the properties. |
| has not always been so well received. For many it | | | | Robotic engineers are more focused on the controlled |
| means sentient computers coming to take over the | | | | actions than it appearing humanoid. |
| world. There have been countless stories written | | | | Is there a sentient robot in existence? |
| about robots and their nefarious plots to do in | | | | Whether or not there is an actual "sentient" robot in |
| humanity. The likelihood of that happening is pretty | | | | existence is all depending on how you view sentience. |
| small. | | | | There are robots that look very human and can |
| Especially when you consider how intelligent modern | | | | perform many functions. At this point it is more about |
| robots actually are. But it is easy to get lost in the hype | | | | the robots being intelligent machines. Many can actually |
| and not realize how robots have been of great use to | | | | have the ability to sense its environment and can |
| humanity for many years. The robot is not just a | | | | move without direct human intervention. |
| man-like device, though there are some that are, that | | | | One of the requirements of being labeled as "robots" is |
| serve out the wishes of its owner. In this article we will | | | | that it has to have the ability to make some choices |
| cover the basics of robots and what purpose they | | | | on its own. Mechanized devices that cannot meet |
| serve in our world today. | | | | some of these criteria set forth are simply referred to |
| When was the first robot invented? | | | | as machines. It is important to note that robots do not |
| Before 1206 robots were more like automated | | | | have to be humanoid in appearance though. If the |
| machines that performed a certain task. Those found | | | | measure of sentience is by making logical choices and |
| in the first century A.D. were more like toys. It was not | | | | the ability to think independently...there are certainly |
| until 1206 that the Muslim inventory, Al-Jazari, created | | | | sentient robots in existence. |
| the first programmable robots. These robots were | | | | What role has robots played in literature? |
| designed as musicians on a boat. The purpose was still | | | | This may come as a shock to you but the first |
| entertainment but it is the first example of mechanisms | | | | reference to mechanical servants is from Homer's Iliad. |
| that could be programmable and would interact in | | | | In it Hephaestus is helped by human-like mechanical |
| different ways by playing different rhythms. | | | | devices to create new armor for Achilles. But it was |
| What properties does a robot have? | | | | not until the writer Isaac Asimov that the robot really |
| There really is not a total consensus in the properties | | | | came to be a staple in Science Fiction. It was Asimov |
| that robots have. There are some actions that allow | | | | that created the Three Laws of Robotics that many |
| people to define a machine as a robot or not. One of | | | | writers refer to even to this day in literature and film. |
| the most important properties is that it is artificially | | | | In fact the very term "robotics" was coined by Asimov |
| created. If it is a biological entity, it cannot be | | | | in his short story "Liar!" in 1941. There have been |
| considered a robot. Other properties are that the | | | | countless stories written that have involved a robot or |
| robots must be programmable, be able to sense its | | | | two since then. Many of these works of literature |
| environment and interact independently. It also has to | | | | have been turned into movies. Unfortunately, in many |
| serve a purpose. You might be surprised but actually | | | | literary works, the robot is portrayed as the antagonist. |