Future isn’t far when robots would take care of our homes
and aid in the events of disaster. Many companies have been investing in robotic
technologies for solving the challenges related to mobility for enabling this
future.
Cassie is one such
robot by Agility Robotics which captures animal-like dynamics. The company
provides two dynamic simulations of Cassie
that can be used for the evaluation of physical capabilities, as a result, the
operations can be performed on the sims first in order to avoid the risk of
damage.
European Commission has invested in CogIMon project in
order to take human-robot interaction to the next level. The focus is on interaction that requires active and
adaptive regulation of motion and behaviour of both the human(s) and the
robot(s) and involves whole-body variable impedance actuation, adaptability,
prediction, and flexibility.
When the banks are being run by
Humanoids motion plays a major role. Last year in April, world’s first person-less
bank in China ran everything through humanoids. Watch for yourself to be
amazed:
From the video it is clear that the
motions of these robots are limited!
When Motion comes into
picture the flexibility of joints play a pivotal role. Worth mentioning here is
the major player specialising in high performance motion joint solutions. Innfos introduced on 24 Feb, 2019 “high-performance
humanoid robot” which features “highly integrated smart compliant actuators”
for the human like motion.
By the end of this decade, it is
expected to see more human-like robots running the operations at a larger scale
than state of the art.
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A poison can serve as a nectar depending
on how you use it! Those fearing the onset of Artificial Intelligence (AI) might
not be aware of benefits that AI presents for the mankind and environment. AI
is just a technology, it works on how you design it and what you feed i.e. what
you input into the machine.
In order to understand the vital and
complex ecosystems, a team of programmers, foresters and biometricians came together
to form SilviaTerra. The organisation seeks to
apply AI and Machine Learning (ML) in four key environmental areas: agriculture,
water, biodiversity and climate change.
Human has already done much damage to the environment in past, what we do today is going to affect the future. SilviaTerra and Microsoft AI work hand in hand to build the forests of future, sustainably managed working forests.
Listen to the podcast with Lucas Joppa, Chief Environmental Officer at Microsoft and Zack, Co-founder and president of SilviaTerra HERE
AI has also been shaping the farming
techniques as agriculture businesses have a plethora of trackable assets (livestock,
machinery and plants). Also, by analysing data from disparate sources such as temperature,
soil analysis, weather, moisture and historic crop performance, AI enabled
systems can effectively predict which crops to plant, the optimal date for
sowing and harvesting in a specific area, thus improving the crop yields.
The predictive analytics of AI can
raise alarm if it sees the increased risk for pest attacks, allowing strategic application
of pesticides and thus reducing their overall requirements.
An autonomous robot have been
developed by Jon Deere which distinguishes crop from weeds utilising the deep
learning computer vision model. This robot administers the exact quantity of
weed killer required, thus dramatically reduces the chemicals used for the
protection of crops.
Through sensors, drones,
data analytics, AI and connectivity solutions, Microsoft is enabling precision
agriculture to improve yield while reducing resource consumption.
As the world’s population is projected
to touch 10 billion by 2050, it becomes essential to increase the crop productivity
and decrease the water abuse.
The applications of AI promise higher productivity of crops, reduced use of pesticides, fertilizers and water. This keeps the food prices down, produces higher quality food and ensures that the food production keep abreast with the population needs. In this era of Quantum Computing, there much more to be realized of AI and cognitive technologies.
Are we close to building
something like Aladdin’s Magic Mattress which flies as per the instructions
given? Well, the technology advances in a jiffy and never falls short to amaze
you. Welcome to the new era of transportation shadowing you with flying taxis! Travel
to your destination in Flying Vehicle without any driver and without holding
any license!
Dubai’s government “Roads and Transport Authority” (RTA) in collaboration with a German urban mobility company Volocopter has conducted the first-ever public flight of a driverless, chargeable and an autonomous flying taxi (a 2-seater aircraft) in Dubai. See the Volocopter 2X public demonstration flight:
A quarter of all the journeys by year
2030 will be made by the airborne taxis as a means of public transportation,
Dubai plans.
Recently, Volocopter partnered
with Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore (CAAS), The Singapore Ministry of
Transport and the country’s Economic Development Board. The Taxis would be seen
in Singapore skies in mid-2019 for trails.
Volocopter 2X is powered by
electricity can travel 27 km (17 mi) at an optimal range cruise speed of 70
km/h (43 mph).
The increase in mobility issues
and recurring traffic jams calls for utilization of flying taxis to meet the
demand. Yet, the infrastructure (see the Video for infrastructure requirements), laws
and policies around the taxis are yet to be developed and the Dubai government has
been working on full swing to realise the plans.
It’s only the matter of a decade
or two when walking down the streets, you’ll be shadowed by the air taxis.
Jonathan Zittrain, faculty director of the Berkman Klein Center for
Internet and Society, poses a question— “Should the driver be able to instruct
the car to go 80 miles per hour?”
If yes, who would be responsible if the accident takes place on that speed? Would the driver be responsible? Or would the carmaker be held accountable for allowing the car to speed up?
As there’s no driver in a fully autonomous vehicle, can we blame the object
like a car?
Although it seems strange, but AI based systems have the potential to develop feelings, CIMON- AI crew member at International Space Station, developed feelings and shuts itself down when the scientist told CIMON to stop singing songs. Watch the Video!
Gunkel, 2018 argues that Robots are going to demand their rights!!!!
Turner J. 2019, argues that Rights make sense
only if the entity is conscious of its suffering.
So the question arises whether AI can become
conscious!
AI systems have the ability of develop mind
of its own, but consciousness?
Cameron McLain, after the exhaustive research in his article – Can Artificial Intelligence Be Conscious? – writes,” With the quantum theory, it’s possible to imagine that AI endowed with some biological materials interacts at the quantum level in the same way that humans do.”
Does it call for special regulations and laws for ensuring AI auditability and imprisonment if AI machine is held liable?
Humanoids: A Reality! 