October 10, 2013

Robotic Beings Rule the World


Robotic Beings Rule the World



No. Don’t worry - the humans aren’t dead…. yet. While obviously satirical, the New Zealand band, Flight of the Concords, does shed some light on the growing reliance of robotics in our daily lives and in the world of business. During the coming weeks we will explore robotics through multiple lenses, eventually painting a clearer picture of just how prevalent robots have become in various sectors, what types of value they add, and the consequences that accompany these innovations. 

Robots have steadily infiltrated all types of businesses. From hospitals to military front lines to automotive production to the depths of the ocean – all these industries have implemented and realized the benefits of robotics. Surgeons are now able to perform life-saving operations from miles away, while reducing inpatient stays and unbearable levels of pain. Cars can now be assembled with accuracy and time efficiencies that near 99.999%. Drones have now replaced manned planes, allowing militaries to execute missions without leaving their bases. Undersea exploration has just begun to breach the extreme depths (over 10,000 meters) of the ocean using unmanned submarines, which are currently impossible to reach using crewed vessels. These are just a few brief examples of some of the contexts robots have been employed in, with great success. In most cases, robots have pushed the boundaries of what humans are capable of. Ultimately, robots have added value in uncountable ways, whether it is in business, scientific research, or in healthcare. 

While this seems all well and good, others like the MIT scholar Andrew McAfee have stated that we may ultimately lose the “race against the machine.” Will there come a day when manual labor is replaced by machinery or when robotic beings really do “rule the world”. This is a highly debated and speculative topic, which, in all honesty needs to take place lest we lose sight of where robotics is going and where that puts mankind – tomorrow and hundreds of years down the line. For now, let’s just say that this blog is going to be an amazing journey through robotic applications and innovations in a variety of field and from a mixture of perspectives – Now, Robo-Boogie!

-Brendan Cmolik

3 comments:

  1. FOTC FTW...All kidding aside, robots may take over the world. VIVA

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  2. Great article! Keep up the good work.

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  3. Man I cant believe you went from that dunce who got pulled over after midwests to writing complete sentences...there is hope for the world

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