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World Robot Population nearly tripled since 2007

RAMA

RAMA

Admiral
Admiral
According to Business Week, there will be 13 million robots in use on Earth by the end of next year, nearly tripling the 2007 total of 4.5 million...

http://images.businessweek.com/slideshows/20101105/20-small-businesses-of-the-future/slides/17

Foxconn plans on doubling the number of industrial robots all on it's own, by adding 1 million to the total (is this the real US Robots? :wtf:) They mainly build parts of Apple's i-products.

http://yelekci.com/2011/11/04/foxco...-world-industrial-robot-population-to-double/

RAMA
 
I think the definition of "robots" is pretty liberal right now. I don't consider a robot arm in a factory that does one task over and over again a "robot".
 
sojourner said:
I think the definition of "robots" is pretty liberal right now. I don't consider a robot arm in a factory that does one task over and over again a "robot".
Click to expand...

Um, that's exactly what it is...you even said it yourself. Robots until now have been made specifically to do just what you said, repeat the same task over and over again so humans don't have to...of course that will eventually change. It occurs to me this is one way SF is counterproductive, they tell us robots should walk and think; that aliens are everywhere, and when we actually have robots of a sort or when we make contact with ETs, we may feel it is so familiar as to be an ordinary, given event. Imagine what people in 1978 would have thought if we told them there were 13 million robots around.

Incidentally, there are over 5,000 robots in Iraq and Afghanistan. One was even named "Swords", like the robots in Screamers (based on the short story "Second Variety" by Philip K. Dick).

RAMA
 
RAMA said:
sojourner said:
I think the definition of "robots" is pretty liberal right now. I don't consider a robot arm in a factory that does one task over and over again a "robot".
Click to expand...

Um, that's exactly what it is...you even said it yourself. Robots until now have been made specifically do do just what you said, repeat the same task over and over again so humans don't have to...of course that will eventually change.

RAMA
Click to expand...

No, I consider a robot arm to be just that, an arm. Not a full robot in the science fiction sense. I barely consider autonomous vacuums to qualify.

Like it has been said for porn, I can't define it, but I know one when I see one.
 
sojourner said:
RAMA said:
sojourner said:
I think the definition of "robots" is pretty liberal right now. I don't consider a robot arm in a factory that does one task over and over again a "robot".
Click to expand...

Um, that's exactly what it is...you even said it yourself. Robots until now have been made specifically do do just what you said, repeat the same task over and over again so humans don't have to...of course that will eventually change.

RAMA
Click to expand...

No, I consider a robot arm to be just that, an arm. Not a full robot in the science fiction sense. I barely consider autonomous vacuums to qualify.

Like it has been said for porn, I can't define it, but I know one when I see one.
Click to expand...

So is the ability to move about, like the autonomous vacuum (which you consider a robot) part of that hard to define definition?
 
As the term "robot" comes from the Czech "robota" meaning "serf labour", I consider any machine that replaces a human labourer as a robot - so that would include robotic arms - even though Karel Čapek described the roboti as humanoid. If you disagree, you can bite my shiny metal ass.
 
sojourner said:
RAMA said:
sojourner said:
I think the definition of "robots" is pretty liberal right now. I don't consider a robot arm in a factory that does one task over and over again a "robot".
Click to expand...

Um, that's exactly what it is...you even said it yourself. Robots until now have been made specifically do do just what you said, repeat the same task over and over again so humans don't have to...of course that will eventually change.

RAMA
Click to expand...

No, I consider a robot arm to be just that, an arm. Not a full robot in the science fiction sense. I barely consider autonomous vacuums to qualify.

Like it has been said for porn, I can't define it, but I know one when I see one.
Click to expand...


Again, you are missing the point, it's NOT just a robot arm, it's everything that is controlled by the software, and anything in the future than can tie smarter AI into the process.

A robot is a mechanical or virtual intelligent agent that can perform tasks automatically or with guidance, typically by remote control. In practice a robot is usually an electro-mechanical machine that is guided by computer and electronic programming. Robots can be autonomous, semi-autonomous or remotely controlled. Robots range from humanoids such as ASIMO and TOPIO to Nano robots, Swarm robots, Industrial robots, mobile and servicing robots. By mimicking a lifelike appearance or automating movements, a robot may convey a sense that it has intent or agency of its own.
Click to expand...

http://www.popsci.com/scitech/article/2006-09/future-robots
 
No, you're missing the point. I am making a statement of opinion. I don't consider an arm to be a robot. Robotic? yes, but not a robot.
 
sojourner said:
No, you're missing the point. I am making a statement of opinion. I don't consider an arm to be a robot. Robotic? yes, but not a robot.
Click to expand...

Not really an opinion, it's a technical definition, which the fits your example exactly to the letter. But Ok...I'll take Ray Kurzweil's and other expert's "definitions" over yours.

RAMA
 
Go right ahead. I never claimed to be an expert nor espoused that my opinion should be taken over others. I merely shared it.
 
Call me when they're walking into gun shops asking for phased plasma rifles in the 40 watt range.. then i'll take notice.

Other than that.. meh
 
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