| The phrase life imitates art comes to mind when I am | | | | neck and its little body goes limp. Beware of the tail |
| confronted with the latest in robotics. Although it is still | | | | though. If you pull it the cat lets out a banshee hiss and |
| a mighty leap to the popular apocalyptic Hollywood | | | | makes a nasty face. When just sitting around, the |
| versions, we are a lot closer to that level of robot | | | | eyes blink automatically and its little bitty mouth makes |
| sophistication than most people know. Pop culture is | | | | a suckling motion just to make it 'cute' in general. |
| fascinated by the possibility of creating technology that | | | | * Instead of your shrink try Domo. Domo's schtick is |
| will eventually overpower us. Hal 9000, in 2001: A | | | | that it has eyes that closely replicate human's. Domo |
| Space Odyssey, the super-computer, even outsmarts | | | | has voice recognition and responds to touch. When |
| the Protagonist, Dr. Floyd, until Hal's higher capabilities | | | | you speak, Domo looks at you as if it was listening. |
| are disabled. In other words, they have to kill the | | | | without the human hassle of talking back. Domo is your |
| computer. Will Smith's I Robot is another film that has a | | | | go-to guy for smiling and nodding. |
| dark vision of the robot-centric world in mankind's | | | | Do not think that you yourself are exluded! Within your |
| future. Even Mike Myers is in on the theme with his | | | | home, even you can be eliminated. Instead of you try |
| upcoming, appropriately titled, movie How to Survive a | | | | the Honda Asimo. Asimo looks and moves like a real |
| Robot Uprising. These movies serve as some kind of | | | | man in a big space suit. This sturdy guy can go |
| warning to a impending future downfall caused by | | | | forward, backward, up stairs, down stairs, and even |
| man's hubris. As we look so far in the future we | | | | run at 4 mph. Asimo aslo can recognize gestures, |
| sometimes we do not see what is right before us. The | | | | moving objects, environment, sounds, and faces. He |
| missing component of robotics that scientists currently | | | | takes direction from people. The point is to help in the |
| have not overcome is organic emotion and free will. | | | | home so he has been built to the specifications of |
| That makes the smartest robot at the present time | | | | doorknobs, electrical outlets, etc. to better perform |
| just a tool and aid for humans. We may ask though, | | | | household duties. |
| how much help do we really need as, robots | | | | Combine all Asimo's features with a new home-grown |
| systematically replace human action until people and | | | | innovation in robotics and we have the potential of |
| pets are included. | | | | some I-Robot type robots. At USC they have a robot |
| This is the current breakdown of possible | | | | that exists in a computer with some startling advances |
| replacements. | | | | in robotech. This humanoid robot looks human-ish with |
| * Instead of a Rescue Worker try Enryu! This giant | | | | different muscular features accentuated making him |
| robot moves around in all-terrain, including snow, with a | | | | look like a bad samurai caricature. Its eyes are |
| hand that looks like the jaws of life. It has far more | | | | cameras. This robot has the ability to learn face |
| tools and strength to aid in rescue than man. | | | | movement of people and over time watches what it |
| * Instead of your girlfriend try Repilee Q1. Looks like a | | | | finds 'interesting'. That sounds like some qualitative |
| woman, talks like a woman, moves like a woman, and | | | | thought processes going on. This can be defined as |
| has long hair. Good enough. | | | | 'will', although not quite 'free will'. |
| * Instead of your best friend try Robocco Asahi. This | | | | This is the scorecard of bio-life versus man-made |
| little R2-D2-esque bot is all about the beer. It stores | | | | robot capabilities at the current time. However, keep |
| chilled beer until the red button is pushed. This activates | | | | your head up for future technologies. Although we |
| the process of opening a beer can and pouring it into a | | | | would all like help, we are still all on the fence on how |
| mug better than your favorite bartender, less foam | | | | far we want those 'helping' capabilities to go. Fret not |
| and no spillage. | | | | though because by the time human capabilities are |
| * Instead of your cat try Yume Neko Smile. This little | | | | performed by robots, we will have already lost control |
| guy rsponds to human touch, as well as human abuse. | | | | and become part of Earth's own history, alongside the |
| Petting it will make him pur. Rubbing the belly gives it an | | | | dinosaurs. |
| even deeper pur. You can grab it by the back of the | | | | |