Robotic revolution

Citation

Rudall, B.H. (1999), "Robotic revolution", Kybernetes, Vol. 28 No. 3. https://doi.org/10.1108/k.1999.06728caa.004

Robotic revolution

Keywords Automation, Cybernetics, Research, Technological developments

Abstract Gives reports and surveys of selected current research and development in systems and cybernetics. They include: Human cells may process information, Artificial brain, Genetics smartcard, Robotic revolution, Application of AI, New devices in medicine, Innovations in cybernetics and systems.

Robotic revolution

Artificial brain for robots

Research announcements often include the word revolutionary and perhaps we can be forgiven for being sceptical about its meaning. The media are usually guilty of adding it to researchers' claims to attract attention and to "sell" the copy. This announcement, however, comes from the University of Sussex, UK, and has been published in its original form as:

Dr Phil Husbands and Professor Michael O'Shea of Sussex University announced that they have transformed the network of artificial brain cells in a robot by using atoxic gas found in human brains. The result is a new artificial brain called a "gasnet".

The additional information given describes the gas, which is nitric oxide, as integral to the workings of the brain, where it enables nerve cells, the neurons, to communicate with each other. The researchers say that the discovery that nitric oxide carried messages was:

. . . a completely new way of thinking about how the brain works. It could boost the attempts to replicate the human brain in robots. The development transforms robots from being pretty slow and stupid to being faster, more adaptable and clever.

Professor O' Shea and Dr Husbands are co-directors of the University of Sussex Centre for Neuroscience and Robotics and details of their researches have been published in this journal on many occasions. We now look forward to receiving more information about their new endeavours.

Revolutionary robocats

The Japanese electronics giant Matsushita is developing hi-tech robot cats which have been designed to communicate with their owners and combat loneliness. This is a true cybernetics and systems application where high level research into technology has been applied to the problems of society. The result of this project will be, it is claimed, that thousands of elderly Japanese who live alone, will have a cuddly "talking cat" in their homes. This is but one example of the use of the developed robocat at the start of a government scheme to use robots to ease the problem of an ageing population.

This is a three-year project which has been sponsored by the Health and Welfare Ministry. The result has been the birth of "Tama", the prototype of the new world of robocats. Tama is said to be some 9.5 inches high and has a furry coat that conceals some very sophisticated electronics. These include sensors and circuitry that will allow her to distinguish between people's voices and to respond to simple questions and greetings with verbal answers. A memory unit allows some 50 different replies to be formulated, all given in a "perky, female voice". The developers say that when scolded the cat answers:

. . . with a good-humoured query: "Why don't you play with me?" When stroked, Tama wiggles and shifts her paws.

Researchers involved with the project say that they have investigated the work of animal therapists and have been encouraged by the claims that such therapy can delay dementia. Tama, it is believed will have uses other than relieving senile dementia since cats have recently been the subject of experiments involving humans. These have investigated the effects on humans of stroking or cuddling animals as a means of reducing stress. Other conditions have been shown to have been improved by the presence of an animal in a household. Loneliness amongst people of all ages can be countered, for example.

Matsushita are continuing with the project and the robocats should be appearing mid-l999. Obviously the results of this project and other experimentation and application will be awaited but the potential is good and robo-animals may yet take over from the "real thing".

This is of course a fine example of interdisciplinary research and of the potential benefits to society that will result.