> The "robotics revolution" is already happening. Presumably, as some kind of > roboticist, you would agree?
The robotics revolution has already happened. There has been a quiet revolution in some manufacturing industries with large amounts of human labour being replaced by automation. However, this isn't something which most people ever see or are aware of and it doesn't catch media attention since this is mostly dull, repetitive and unglamourous work. Much of our modern lifestyles with cheap consumer goods is actually supported and enabled by robotic labour. Cheap human labour remains competitive, but there will come a time within the next few decades when no human labour - however inexpensive - will be able to compete economically against automated factories. However, this is only one largely unseen revolution. The next robotics revolution is yet to begin, and this will see another wave of automation moving out of factories and into homes and offices. Don't be fooled by the showy humanoids that you might see strutting around or playing violins. I very much doubt that consumer robotics is going to look like this. It's going to be far more utilitarian. Think Roomba rather than ASIMO. This revolution will begin once there is some cheap and easy way of taking regular PC hardware and making it mobile by adding legs, wheels and arms. At the moment doing this involves a good deal of expertise, and we're waiting for off-the-shelf standardised systems to replace the current perpetual re-inventions of the wheel. Once you have standards and the price is right then the vast pool of IT developers who previously had no involvement with robots will be able to apply their expertise to robotics problems. If you're interested in what needs to be done before the second wave can begin see Matt Trossen's recent talk. http://www.trossenrobotics.com/tutorials/trossenroboticssystem.aspx ----- This list is sponsored by AGIRI: http://www.agiri.org/email To unsubscribe or change your options, please go to: http://v2.listbox.com/member/?member_id=8660244&id_secret=73876643-6ac08c
