i robot

i robot was the title of a classic science fiction collection by isaac asimov . . . . a book that i remember for its positing of the three laws of robotics:

1. a robot may not injure a human being or, through inaction, allow a human being to come to harm.
2. a robot must obey orders given to it by human beings, except where such orders would conflict with the first law.
3. a robot must protect its own existence as long as such protection does not conflict with the first or second law.

fast forward to 2008 and irobot has a much different connotation - a much more down-to-earth almost homely appeal as a company that makes floor washing, pool cleaning, gutter cleaning, robots and shop sweeping little cuties that quietly and unobtrusively trundle around doing their immaculate little jobs without complaint. take a look here and see what i mean.

okay, so did you go there? hey, did you notice the little box with the words “tactical robots” on it? yeah, it’s on the right hand side of the page. wanna know what’s behind that little box? i do. click on it and here’s what you’ll see . check out the green banner spread across part of the page
. . . . uh oh.

dig deeper now. wow! a treasure trove of military hardware! who knew? let’s click on the “perimeter patrol” button. well this one’s my favourite because it has a cool remote control john deere truck with six wheels, that secures a perimeter guided by a remote operator.
i’d like that for getting the groceries. or just nipping down to the seven eleven for a froster in the summer. i wouldn’t even need to go. i could guide it there.

i also like the packbot. i could see using this at school when i am doing “hall duty” for situations where going in could be a hazardous decision. the description has me sold. ” Ideal for basic reconnaissance in theater and urban settings, this robot investigates potentially hostile areas — before warfighters and first responders enter. Weighing only 40 pounds (18 kg) and standing less than 8 inches (20 cm) tall, it has an impact-resistant chassis that can survive up to 400 Gs. Keeping personnel away from unnecessary risk, the iRobot PackBot Scout sets the standard for lightweight but rugged unmanned reconnaissance and tactical warfare vehicles.”


so, at this point these robots are passive - protecting soldiers without actively engaging in aggression. can you feel it coming though? it just seems so obvious. the times they are a changing.