Robots Rolling Toward Farm Revolution
New Scientist (06/01/09) Simonite, Tom
http://www.newscientist.com/article/dn17224-robots-rolling-towards-farm-revolution.html
(Noticed in ACM Tech News this afternoon)
----- Original Message -----
From: "Mark Montgomery" <[email protected]>
To: "The Friday Morning Applied Complexity Coffee Group" <[email protected]>
Sent: Monday, June 01, 2009 7:13 AM
Subject: Re: [FRIAM] Robots reason for being (WAS "Turtles with trousers
"etc]
On the topic of robots more generally, I come more from the theory of
practicability, particularly given the new light (albeit not unexpected)
of severely diminished earthly resources.
I've reviewed quite a few ventures attempting to emerge from the lab in
robotics, including full and partial.
If we voyage to the core mission of the robot, suppose automation for
manufacturing has been the most significant reason for being, relative to
economics and resource management. What has been missing in most I have
reviewed has been a productive purpose on the hardware side.
Some exceptions:
Defense: We all know of the common type- one uncommon proposal I reviewed
was for location and destruction of mines for non-military applications.
Medical: I expect that we have a long way to go yet in surgical
procedures, for example. We looked at many interesting medical devices
applying IP sourced from robotic R&D.
Transportation: One of my favorites given the potential, but public policy
is still struggling with sensors. I for one am ready for auto pilot for
commuting.
Agriculture: The first wave of the tractor displaced millions of farm
workers. The second wave could displace farmers.
The investment banker CEO might be the most valuable purpose for a robot,
but given the failure of the algorithms in 45-1 leverage for mortgages, a
close second might be their dep heads for risk management.
Seriously though, I've found that focusing on improving the productivity
of humans through higher functioning software and communications,
particularly in the area of learning and innovation, to provide the most
bang for the buck- intellectual and financial. We have vast areas of
potential in the wake of the proliferation of networked computing that
have been ignored, or avoided, but must be addressed.
Of course the argument for seeding human compatible planets with organic
robots is still valid, particularly given our track record for
self-destructive behavior, but then maybe we've already been down that
path- highly speculative.
.02- MM
Mark Montgomery
Santa Fe, NM
Founder- Kyield
http://www.kyield.com
[email protected]
----- Original Message -----
From: "James Steiner" <[email protected]>
To: <[email protected]>; "The Friday Morning Applied Complexity
Coffee Group" <[email protected]>
Sent: Monday, June 01, 2009 6:20 AM
Subject: Re: [FRIAM] Turtles with trousers (WAS "robots forming, "etc]
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