Automation from Love to War Flashcards
What was the primary use of robots until recently?
Robots were mainly used in factories to automate production processes
What societal concern arose with the rise of factory robots in the 1970s?
There was fear that robots would cause mass unemployment
What shift is occurring in robotics according to the introduction of the article?
Robotics is expanding from factory applications to more complex, unstructured environments like healthcare, traffic, and military use
What is the article’s main focus on new robotics?
The article investigates the societal and ethical implications of using robots in diverse areas beyond industrial applications, such as in caregiving, warfare, and entertainment
What are the two long-term engineering ambitions driving new robotics?
Building autonomous machines for complex environments and creating machines capable of social and moral decision-making
What term is used to describe the interconnectedness of new robotics with other technology networks?
Networked robots, as these robots are supported by a network of information technologies like the Internet
Which sectors are major drivers behind the development of new robotics?
The military and the automotive industries are key drivers
What are the three central questions guiding the literature review on new robotics?
1) What robotic technologies exist now and are expected in the future?
2) What ethical questions arise with new robotics?
3) What regulatory issues need public discussion?
What are the two types of home robots discussed in the article?
The functional household robot and the entertainment robot
What is a major gap observed in household robots?
There is a significant gap between high expectations for multifunctional robots and the limited capabilities of currently available household robots
What was the prediction made by Medith Wooldridge Thring in 1964 about household robots?
Thring predicted that by 1984, robots would handle most household tasks, freeing housewives from daily chores
Why do household cleaning robots require users to adapt their environment?
Users often need to rearrange their homes to accommodate cleaning robots, a process known as “roombarization”
Why do multifunctional home robots still face challenges despite technological advancements?
Household tasks require numerous common-sense decisions that are difficult to automate, making it challenging for robots to perform multiple tasks effectively
What did Bill Gates predict regarding home robots?
He predicted “a robot in every home by 2015,” but this has proven unlikely due to unresolved technical challenges
How do entertainment robots differ in expectations compared to household robots?
Entertainment robots have less predefined expectations and primarily aim to interact with humans for social and recreational purposes
What is anthropomorphism, and why is it relevant to entertainment robots?
Anthropomorphism is attributing human traits to non-human entities, relevant because users often view entertainment robots as friends or companions
What are some ethical concerns surrounding entertainment robots?
Concerns include their impact on children’s emotional development, de-socialization, and unrealistic expectations of social interaction
What is a potential future concern regarding the social interaction abilities of robots?
Developing robots with high-level social intelligence may take decades, and until then, social robots may be seen more as gadgets than meaningful companions
What is the main reason cited for deploying care robots in long-term care?
A staffing shortage due to an aging population is often cited as a reason for using care robots
What are the three main types of services expected from care robots for the elderly?
Assisting with daily tasks, monitoring health and behavior, and providing companionship
What is a common misconception about the role of care robots in addressing staff shortages?
Care robots are expected to shift responsibilities rather than directly replace caregivers, creating new types of care practices
How are current developments in home automation, or domotics, related to care robots?
Domotics allows for tele-monitoring and remote interaction with health professionals, which may pave the way for more integrated care robots
What is value-sensitive design in the context of care robots?
It is an approach to design that considers the needs and values of both caregivers and care recipients to ensure robots are beneficial and user-friendl
What privacy concerns arise with the use of care robots?
Concerns include what information is collected, who accesses it, how long it is stored, and the awareness of care recipients about this data collection
How does the use of care robots impact human dignity?
The concern is that increased robot use could reduce human contact, potentially leading to feelings of objectification and dehumanization among care recipients
Why might some ethicists view the use of care robots as unethical?
Some argue that robots lack the ability to provide the empathy, companionship, and genuine care that humans need, especially the elderly
What skills are required of caregivers when working with care robots?
Caregivers need new skills to operate and troubleshoot robots, as well as the ability to tele-monitor and instruct care recipients on using the technology
How could care robots impact the training of future caregivers?
Training programs will need to include robotic technology skills to ensure caregivers can adapt to a tech-integrated care environment
What is the primary focus of current robot car technology?
What is the primary focus of current robot car technology?
What are some of the benefits expected from cooperative systems in robot cars?
Cooperative systems are expected to reduce congestion, improve road network usage, and enhance safety through coordinated vehicle-to-vehicle (V2V) and vehicle-to-infrastructure (V2I) communication
What was the early concept of autonomous cars introduced by Bel Geddes?
Geddes proposed “automatic highways” where cars would be guided by embedded road systems, an idea first demonstrated by General Motors in the 1950s
How does public acceptance of robot car systems affect their deployment?
Public acceptance is crucial; drivers need to trust these systems, feel safe, and have the ability to intervene if necessary
What is a significant skill-related challenge posed by driver assistance systems?
Over-reliance on driver assistance systems may lead to de-skilling, where drivers become less capable of responding independently in emergencies
What is one of the main reasons for developing autonomous cars?
Autonomous cars are expected to reduce accidents caused by human error, which is responsible for over 90% of all traffic accidents
How might autonomous vehicles influence driver licensing and road regulations?
The shift to autonomous cars may lead to certifying vehicles instead of drivers, altering the traditional driver licensing system
What are the privacy concerns associated with robot cars?
Privacy concerns include the potential for continuous monitoring of driver behavior, with data being used for enforcement and possibly insurance purposes
What security risks are associated with robot car cooperative systems?
Security risks include vulnerability to hacking, which could allow malicious control over vehicles and lead to traffic disruption
What is a projected timeline for fully autonomous cars to become commonplace?
Fully autonomous cars are estimated to become widely available around 2030, with semi-autonomous systems expected sooner
What are the primary applications of police robots currently?
Police robots are primarily used for surveillance and disarming explosives
What is a unique capability of ground and airborne police robots?
These robots are often equipped with smart cameras and can access locations too dangerous for human officers
How might police robots assist citizens in the future?
In the future, police robots could interact directly with the public, performing duties like traffic management and riot control
What is a major ethical concern with police robots?
Privacy concerns arise from the potential for continuous surveillance and data collection on citizens’ daily activities
What is the skill-related challenge posed by the use of police robots?
The use of police robots requires officers to develop new technical skills, which may lead to the loss of traditional policing skills
What is a significant regulatory issue concerning airborne police robots?
Airborne police robots currently face legal uncertainties regarding safe deployment in civilian airspace under national Aviation Acts
What potential issue could arise from the public’s perception of police robots?
Public acceptance is a concern, as people may react negatively or even violently toward robots used for law enforcement
What are some safety concerns related to police robots?
Police robots must be reliable to avoid posing risks to civilians, especially when deployed in crowded areas
What is an ethical issue specific to armed police robots?
Armed police robots, such as those equipped with tasers, raise ethical questions about the safety and justification of using force remotely
What are the main functions of military robots currently?
Military robots are used for tasks such as defusing bombs, reconnaissance, and in some cases, armed operations
What technological trend is influencing the development of military robots?
There is a shift from “in-the-loop” to “out-the-loop” systems, aiming for fully autonomous robots that operate without direct human intervention
What is the principle of unnecessary risk in the context of military robots?
The principle suggests it is ethically required to use robots for dangerous tasks instead of risking human soldiers’ lives
What ethical advantage do military robots potentially offer according to some researchers?
Military robots may make better ethical decisions than soldiers under stress, possibly preventing revenge or unethical behavior
What concern arises from the international spread of military robot technology?
There is concern about an arms race and the risk that military robots could fall into the hands of unstable governments or terrorist groups
How might military robots be vulnerable to security threats?
Military robots can be hacked or infected with viruses, which could allow adversaries to hijack or disable them
What controversial practice involves the use of military drones?
Targeted killing, particularly of suspects without trial, has sparked ethical and legal debates around drone warfare
What impact might the increased use of military robots have on public suppor
Civilian casualties from military robots, especially drones, may lead to public resentment and loss of support among local populations
What is an ethical governor in military robots?
An ethical governor is a proposed system within military robots to prevent unethical behavior by embedding rules based on the laws of war
What are the key characteristics of new robotics that raise social and ethical issues?
Key characteristics include technology trends, social gains, information technology integration, lifelike appearance, degree of autonomy, potential dehumanizing effects, and governance challenges
How does the appearance of robots contribute to ethical concerns?
he lifelike appearance of robots raises concerns about anthropomorphism, as people may develop attachments or even be deceived by human-like robots
Why is a broad international debate on military robotics necessary?
The rapid advancement of military robotics impacts global security, making it essential for stakeholders to establish common ethical and legal standards
What is the “man in-the-loop” concept in robotics?
“Man in-the-loop” refers to systems where humans actively control robotic actions, in contrast to fully autonomous systems where robots act independently
What social gains does robotization aim to achieve?
Robotization seeks to improve efficiency, reduce human error, lower costs, and enhance the quality of services across various sectors
How might robot systems lead to dehumanization?
Over-reliance on robots in social contexts, like caregiving or companionship, could reduce meaningful human interaction, leading to objectification and loss of human empathy
What role should robots ideally play in human society, according to the document?
Robots should support human activities without overshadowing or replacing essential human interactions and responsibilities
