Lecture (1 hour inclusive of lecture and Q&A)
The last decade has seen exponential growth in the field of robotics. From autonomous vacuum cleaners to unmanned aircraft, the use of sensors, artificial intelligence, and effectors has become increasingly sophisticated at an incredible pace.
This lecture tracks this development, from the first use of the word "robot" in an apocalyptic play, to the role the machines have played as America's "answer to suicide bombers" in the War on Terror.
Students will be asked to use voting cards to respond to a number of ethical choices involving the roles robots could play in our society, as well as judging whether the current robot revolution is a beneficial development in human history, or a considerable risk comparable to the development of the atom bomb.
This lecture explores these debates, focussing on issues such as:
- What is a robot?
- What are the different kinds of autonomy, and why do robots need it?
- The driving factors behind the robot revolution
- The optimists and the pessimists views on the future of robotics
For maximum benefit and skills development, students will be expected to take notes during the lecture. There will be a chance for questions and discussion of the issues raised at the end.
Seminar (1 hour)
For the seminar session, students will be asked to read a number of opposing arguments by experts in the field of robots and discuss their opinions on them. They will also be asked to explore the concept of a "paradigm shift", and conclude whether they feel the robotics revolution represents one.
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