Perceived Robotic Futures

Inspired by P.W. Singer\u27s Wired for War, this comparative study investigates the perceptions of students pursuing robotic, technical, and non- technical careers on the likelihood, desirability, and ethical implications of four possible scenarios unfolding for the field of robotics circa 2050. Each scenario posits a different institution driving the development of robotics and each institution takes a different stance on Isaac Asimov\u27s three Laws of Robotics. Using these responses we investigate the concerns of students majoring in different fields about the direction the military, government, and corporations are taking robotics and if these concerns are mitigated by the ethical values of the controlling institution

Nonlinear Model Predictive Control for Constrained Output Path Following

We consider the tracking of geometric paths in output spaces of nonlinear systems subject to input and state constraints without pre-specified timing requirements. Such problems are commonly referred to as constrained output path-following problems. Specifically, we propose a predictive control approach to constrained path-following problems with and without velocity assignments and provide sufficient convergence conditions based on terminal regions and end penalties. Furthermore, we analyze the geometric nature of constrained output path-following problems and thereby provide insight into the computation of suitable terminal control laws and terminal regions. We draw upon an example from robotics to illustrate our findings.Comment: 12 pages, 4 figure

Decentralized Motion Planning with Collision Avoidance for a Team of UAVs under High Level Goals

This paper addresses the motion planning problem for a team of aerial agents under high level goals. We propose a hybrid control strategy that guarantees the accomplishment of each agent's local goal specification, which is given as a temporal logic formula, while guaranteeing inter-agent collision avoidance. In particular, by defining 3-D spheres that bound the agents' volume, we extend previous work on decentralized navigation functions and propose control laws that navigate the agents among predefined regions of interest of the workspace while avoiding collision with each other. This allows us to abstract the motion of the agents as finite transition systems and, by employing standard formal verification techniques, to derive a high-level control algorithm that satisfies the agents' specifications. Simulation and experimental results with quadrotors verify the validity of the proposed method.Comment: Submitted to the IEEE International Conference on Robotics and Automation (ICRA), Singapore, 201

Artificial Consciousness: What is it?

The advancements we have made in robotics thus far is extraordinary. As extraordinary as those advancements have been, robots are simply used as tools. They can only perform tasks that they have been programmed to do. But, what if they somehow become self-aware, and now are able to make decisions based on their own reasoning and judgement? What would that mean for the human race, and would Asimov’s three laws of robotics be enough? The only way to answer these questions and to gain a complete understanding, would be to first understand what it means to be a robot with artificial consciousness. Through our research, we hope to provide an understanding of what classifies as a robot with artificial consciousness, the implications those robots will have on the human race, as well as the need for laws concerning the programming and legal rights of said robots, and whether those laws will be enough to protect the human race. To support our research we will look at the various definitions of scholars, and fictional works of literature concerning artificial consciousness, such as, Artificial Beings: The Conscience of a Conscious Machine, by Jacques Pitrat, Age of Spiritual Machines: When Computers exceed Human Intelligence-Kay Kurzwell, and Artificial Consciousness, by Antonio Chello and Riccardo Manzottti

Emotions and a Prior Knowledge Representation in Artificial General Intelligence

In this paper a prior knowledge representation for Artificial General Intelligence is proposed based on fuzzy rules using linguistic variables. These linguistic variables may be produced by neural network. Rules may be used for generation of basic emotions – positive and negative, which influence on planning and execution of behavior. The representation of Three Laws of Robotics as such prior knowledge is suggested as highest level of motivation in AGI

Cooperative Adaptive Control for Cloud-Based Robotics

This paper studies collaboration through the cloud in the context of cooperative adaptive control for robot manipulators. We first consider the case of multiple robots manipulating a common object through synchronous centralized update laws to identify unknown inertial parameters. Through this development, we introduce a notion of Collective Sufficient Richness, wherein parameter convergence can be enabled through teamwork in the group. The introduction of this property and the analysis of stable adaptive controllers that benefit from it constitute the main new contributions of this work. Building on this original example, we then consider decentralized update laws, time-varying network topologies, and the influence of communication delays on this process. Perhaps surprisingly, these nonidealized networked conditions inherit the same benefits of convergence being determined through collective effects for the group. Simple simulations of a planar manipulator identifying an unknown load are provided to illustrate the central idea and benefits of Collective Sufficient Richness.Comment: ICRA 201

Preventive regulation of autonomous weapon systems: need for action by Germany at various levels

The authors argue that in order for Germany to do justice to its claim of outlawing lethal autonomous weapon systems (LAWS) internationally, the Federal Government should first define the term "human control", for example in a strategic document from the Federal Ministry of Defence. The aim should be to facilitate the regulation of the development and use of LAWS - at the international level - thus making the issue of military robotics politically manageable. The international framework for negotiating the regulation of LAWS is currently the United Nations Convention on Certain Conventional Weapons. A Common Position of the EU member states that demands human control - or, better still, suggests proposals for its design - could have a decisive influence on the negotiations. (author's abstract

From Jeopardy! to Jaundice: The Medical Liability Implications of Dr. Watson and Other Artificial Intelligence Systems

In this article, the author offers information on need of reframing the laws that can encourage innovative technology\u27s growth to overcome the healthcare shortages and enhance the quality of patients care. It suggests that an approach of law for assessing the liability against artificial intelligence systems and robotics for advanced health care is required in the U.S