1. Presented by: Shipra Gupta CSC 650
The World of Androids
Presented by:
Shipra Gupta
CSC 650

2. Overview Brief introduction of robots & their history
Advent of androids
Issues and challenges
Dealing with challenges
Approach of their working
Detailed examples
Some in-process android projects
Popular androids and main industries using them
Advantages of androids
Future and fears of androids

3. What is a Robot?
Common Definition: A programmable machine that imitates the
actions or appearance of an intelligent creature – usually a human.
Should be able to do two things:
Get information from its surroundings
Do something physical
Modern industrial robots have been around for less than 50 years.
First programmable Robot was developed in 1954 by George Devol
- Coined the name of the first Robot Company, “Unimation”.
Since then they are:
- Painting cars at Ford plants
- Assembling Milano cookies for Pepperidge Farms
- Driving trains in Paris
- Defusing bombs in Northern Ireland

4. The RUR Robot
Robot comes from the Czech word “robota”
Described fabricated workers in a fictional 1920s play called Rossum’s Universal Robots
During early studies of literature and fiction, Asimov stated 3 laws:
A robot may not injure a human being, or, through inaction, allow a
human being to come to harm
A robot must obey the orders given it by human beings except where
such orders would conflict with the First Law
A robot must protect its own existence as long as such protection does
not conflict with the First or Second Law
(A zeroth law was added later as an extension of Law 1)

5. The World of Androids Basis of Androids
High demand to do tedious and dangerous tasks
Advent of faster and cheaper processors
Make robots move and "think" to look more like humans
Psycological factors
These facts have gave birth to ANDROIDS.
Definition: An android is an anthropomorphic robot
- Looks like a human
- Known as "humanoids"

6. The World of Androids - contd.
First Android: WABOT-1 by Waseda University (1973)
Had a limb control system, a vision system, and a conversation system.
Could communicate in Japanese.
Measured distances and directions
Walked with his lower limbs
Gripped and transported objects

7. Operational Challenges
Development Issues
Design challenges
The need to coordinate sensors and artificial muscle
Intelligent programming
Efficient use of power
Operational Challenges
Need to create complex robot step-by-step
- Develop separate technologies and integrate them together
Not foolproof to operate
Difficult to program a robot to walk
To rely upon built-in operating systems to run
To be designed for a novice user
Lack of sufficient funds

8. Dealing with the Challenges
Severe shortcomings of contemporary approach leads to:
Inventions of newer concepts of development
Used to “fight the establishment”
Solve many serious problems
Gains followers
General ideas followed to deal with the challenges are:
More software innovations required
Move to cell manufacturing systems
Develop new programming language
Design new operating system if required

9. Approach towards their Working
Use of rule-based logic in robotic "brains” (eg. Aibo, the pet dog)
- Program vast amounts of information
Neural networks is another approach to artificial intelligence (eg. Kismet)
- Work more like human brain
- Can handle ambiguity better than rule-based systems.
- Feature of "learning" - a helpful tool to add more human-like behaviors.
Stimulus-response mechanism (also known as subsumption architecture, eg. Cog)
- No memory or logical decision making
- Hard-wired responses to stimulation

10. Example of an Android Design
Taking the example of KISMET, an android with facial expressions
and emotions built at MIT, by Dr Cynthia Brenzeal.
Had head with jaws
Eyes had color CCD camera
Small motors to move facial features
A network of 3 integrated circuits:
- Control
- Perception
- Attention
Required special software. 3 drives are:
- Social drive
- Stimulation drive
- Fatigue drive

11. Kismet’s Expressions
Calm Interest Angry
Happy Sad Surprise

12. Another example of an Android being built by a company
“Asimo” is built by Honda (2 years old).
Stands for Advanced Step in Innovative
Mobility
Small and light weight
Walks naturally
Arms move dynamically
Fingers are delicate
Walk up & down the stairs
Flexible body parts
Make registered gestures
High-tech control processor
- Developed on its own
- 3 times better than current PCs
processors
“Asimo” and friend

13. Another example of an Android being built by a company – contd.
Latest version of “Asimo” can:
Turn its head to follow moves
Recognizes preprogrammed faces
Respond with vocal welcome
Respond to couple of gestures

14. Some In-Process Android Projects
“Robonaut” - NASA’s
space android (2.5 years old)
“Johnie”- Institute for Applied “Coco”, a baby gorilla project
Mechanics at the Technical at MIT
University of Munich (TUM)

15. Popular Androids & their Developers
Cog, built at MIT, can learn to recognize and grasp objects
Working as tour guides
Toy companies have started selling pet animals like robots
Dante, a spider-like robot serves geologists
Industries using Androids
Defense
Underwater and Geological Explorations
Space Projects of NASA
Nuclear and Chemical Laboratories
Hospitals
Tourism and Entertainment
Toys

16. Advantages of Androids
In general:
Perform automated tasks to save on labor
One of the factors contributing to higher levels of productivity
Personalization and Ease of Use:
Not only an appliance/machine
Better acceptance by humans
Provides personal touch
Can be used for domestic mundane tasks
Self explanatory repair mechanism

17. Future of Androids & Fears
Can build itself - cost effectiveness
Can rapidly become super intelligent
Can become a rival to automobile industry
Estimation:
- 10% US homes will have android within 12 years
- 50% will within 20 years
Will androids be dangerous as portrayed in Hollywood Movies?
Though nothing can be sure unless we work with them. But positive
assumptions state that:
- Androids will have built in (software) protection (Asimov's first law)
- Androids don't need money or food or possessions or clothes which can
drive them to hurt
- They are designed to serve humans & not hurt them

18. References www.androidworld.com www.thetech.org
kismet/kismet.html
Journals on “Artificial Intelligence: Androids” in Reinert Library Database