Revealing the ‘face’ of the robot introducting the ethics of Levinas to the field of robo-ethics

This paper explore the possibility of a new philosophical turn in robot-ethics, considering whether the concepts of Emanuel Levinas particularly his conception of the ‘face of the other’ can be used to understand how non-expert users interact with robots. The term ‘Robot’ comes from fiction and for non-experts and experts alike interaction with robots may be coloured by this history. This paper explores the ethics of robots (and the use of the term robot) that is based on the user seeing the robot as infinitely complex

Security Considerations in AI-Robotics: A Survey of Current Methods, Challenges, and Opportunities

Robotics and Artificial Intelligence (AI) have been inextricably intertwined since their inception. Today, AI-Robotics systems have become an integral part of our daily lives, from robotic vacuum cleaners to semi-autonomous cars. These systems are built upon three fundamental architectural elements: perception, navigation and planning, and control. However, while the integration of AI-Robotics systems has enhanced the quality our lives, it has also presented a serious problem - these systems are vulnerable to security attacks. The physical components, algorithms, and data that make up AI-Robotics systems can be exploited by malicious actors, potentially leading to dire consequences. Motivated by the need to address the security concerns in AI-Robotics systems, this paper presents a comprehensive survey and taxonomy across three dimensions: attack surfaces, ethical and legal concerns, and Human-Robot Interaction (HRI) security. Our goal is to provide users, developers and other stakeholders with a holistic understanding of these areas to enhance the overall AI-Robotics system security. We begin by surveying potential attack surfaces and provide mitigating defensive strategies. We then delve into ethical issues, such as dependency and psychological impact, as well as the legal concerns regarding accountability for these systems. Besides, emerging trends such as HRI are discussed, considering privacy, integrity, safety, trustworthiness, and explainability concerns. Finally, we present our vision for future research directions in this dynamic and promising field

Makers at School, Educational Robotics and Innovative Learning Environments

This open access book contains observations, outlines, and analyses of educational robotics methodologies and activities, and developments in the field of educational robotics emerging from the findings presented at FabLearn Italy 2019, the international conference that brought together researchers, teachers, educators and practitioners to discuss the principles of Making and educational robotics in formal, non-formal and informal education. The editors’ analysis of these extended versions of papers presented at FabLearn Italy 2019 highlight the latest findings on learning models based on Making and educational robotics. The authors investigate how innovative educational tools and methodologies can support a novel, more effective and more inclusive learner-centered approach to education. The following key topics are the focus of discussion: Makerspaces and Fab Labs in schools, a maker approach to teaching and learning; laboratory teaching and the maker approach, models, methods and instruments; curricular and non-curricular robotics in formal, non-formal and informal education; social and assistive robotics in education; the effect of innovative spaces and learning environments on the innovation of teaching, good practices and pilot projects

Makers at School, Educational Robotics and Innovative Learning Environments

This open access book contains observations, outlines, and analyses of educational robotics methodologies and activities, and developments in the field of educational robotics emerging from the findings presented at FabLearn Italy 2019, the international conference that brought together researchers, teachers, educators and practitioners to discuss the principles of Making and educational robotics in formal, non-formal and informal education. The editors’ analysis of these extended versions of papers presented at FabLearn Italy 2019 highlight the latest findings on learning models based on Making and educational robotics. The authors investigate how innovative educational tools and methodologies can support a novel, more effective and more inclusive learner-centered approach to education. The following key topics are the focus of discussion: Makerspaces and Fab Labs in schools, a maker approach to teaching and learning; laboratory teaching and the maker approach, models, methods and instruments; curricular and non-curricular robotics in formal, non-formal and informal education; social and assistive robotics in education; the effect of innovative spaces and learning environments on the innovation of teaching, good practices and pilot projects

Studying robots outside the lab:HRI as ethnography

As more and more robots enter our social world, there is a strong need for further field studies of humanrobot interaction. Based on a two-year ethnographic study of the implementation of a South Korean socially assistive robot in Danish elderly care, this paper argues that empirical and ethnographic studies will enhance the understanding of the adaptation of robots in real-life settings. Furthermore, the paper emphasizes how users and the context of use matters to this adaptation, as it is shown that roboticists are unable to control how their designs are implemented and how the sociality of social robots is inscribed by its users in practice. This paper can be seen as a contribution to long-term studies of HRI. It presents the challenges of robot adaptation in practice and discusses the limitations of the present conceptual understanding of human-robot relations. The ethnographic data presented herein encourage a move away from static and linear descriptions of the implementation process toward more contextual and relational accounts of HRI

Disciplinary orientations and method - Interdisciplinary approximations and distantiations. Documentation report of case study progress.

This deliverable provides a progress documentation of the Epinet case studies. It focusses on key factors in the coming together of disciplinary orientations and methods both within each case study and among the broader communities of expertise and experience who were involved in the embedding phase of the case studies

From erewhon to alphaGo: For the sake of human dignity, should we destroy the machines?

This paper asks whether, for the sake of human dignity, regulators should adopt a precautionary approach to the development of smart machines. Having identified a set of essential (or commons’) conditions for the existence of human social agents, including respect for human dignity in both foundational and non-foundational senses, consideration is given to human reliance on personal digital assistants, to the development of autonomous vehicles and lethal autonomous weapons systems, and to the use of smart machines in the criminal justice system. The paper concludes that, while smart machines should not be destroyed, a degree of precaution for the sake of human dignity is warranted. In particular, it is recommended that international agencies should monitor the impact of smart machines on the commons’ conditions; and that national commissions should facilitate the articulation of the local social licence for the development and application of such machines

Care robots in residential homes for elderly people: an ethical examination of deception, care, and consent

We are facing a dire social problem: although life expectancy is increasing, time spent living independently is not, meaning that the eldercare sector is experiencing a worrying shortfall of nursing staff - a problem which is only getting worse. Robots designed for caring purposes – carebots – present a possible solution: they can perform some of the work which has been hitherto undertaken by human nurses. But their introduction is not without problems. This thesis examines some pertinent questions relating to the introduction of carebots into residential homes for elderly people. Chapter 1 examines what robots are, and provides a way in which we can differentiate between robots of different types, helping us to understand what ethical issues are at stake for different types of robot. Chapter 2 focuses on what deception consists of, and discusses why deception and lying are often seen as impermissible. Chapter 3 discusses different types of robo-deception, and analyses both the likelihood and the normative significance of their occurring. Chapter 4 is a study of a particular form of robo-deception, which I call fake compassion. This is when robots appear to care for patients when in fact they do not: I examine the extent to which this is morally problematic. Chapter 5 examines dignity: what it is, and why it is important. Chapter 6 focuses on consent: its importance in different spheres, and how consent-seeking can promote autonomy, bodily integrity, dignity, and trust. Chapter 7 builds on the previous two chapters, and demonstrates that it is ethically essential that carebots (and human nurses) obtain patients' consent prior to providing care, because failing to do so can reduce their dignity, and these reductions can be cumulative and devastating. This thesis is not merely an interesting thought experiment or a work of science fiction; rather, it is a real-world necessity that carebots take appropriate actions which promote the dignity and best interests of patients: our grandparents, parents, and in time, us and our descendants