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
FOTC FTW...All kidding aside, robots may take over the world. VIVA
ReplyDeleteGreat article! Keep up the good work.
ReplyDeleteMan I cant believe you went from that dunce who got pulled over after midwests to writing complete sentences...there is hope for the world
ReplyDelete