Living outside of our bodies has been in the realm of science fiction for a quite long time. But with the present level of technical advancements can we experience the outside world without actually being out there. This is the story of a seven-year-old who experiences being in a classroom without actually being physically present.

Seven-year-old experiences classroom education with help of avatar robot

Did you know that the world generates around 2 billion tonnes of municipal solid waste annually? According to World Bank, global solid waste could increase 70 percent by 2050. The figures are alarming, but some of the world's best minds are trying to tackle the issue. In this video, we get you the story of a Finnish firm that is using robots to minimise waste.

Robots help in the battle against global waste

China seems to have taken a massive leap in robotics as a group of scientists claimed to have built a robot that can read people's minds with 96 per cent accuracy.

The developers at China Three Gorges University’s Intelligent Manufacturing Innovation Technology Centre tested the robot at an assembly factory, reports&nbsp;Hong Kong-based newspaper South China Morning Post.

The industrial robot not only monitored the worker’s brain waves, but also collected electric signals from muscles, as it worked seamlessly together to assemble a complex product, the developers said.

The robot was able to instantly read the co-worker’s brain waves without the latter saying anything and was able to pick up a tool and put it on the workstation, according to the developers.

“In modern industrial manufacturing, assembly work accounts for 45 per cent of the total workload, and 20-30 per cent of the total production cost,” project lead scientist Dong Yuanfa and his co-researchers said in a paper published in domestic peer-reviewed journal China Mechanical Engineering.

Collaborative robots, or “cobots”, could accelerate the pace of an assembly line, but their application remained limited because “their ability to recognise human intention is often inaccurate and unstable”, the paper said.

Dong said his robot was put through “hundreds of hours of training” by volunteers, which included assembly line workers carefully putting together a product.

The robot reportedly followed commands of the workers 70 per cent of the time but did need volunteers to “concentrate very hard” for the brain message to be read.

Many of them grew too distracted due to the repetitive nature of their thoughts.

The paper noted that further tests would be needed to establish whether the technology could be used in an actual factory, as all tests so far had been conducted in a lab.

(With inputs from agencies)

China seems to have taken a massive leap in robotics as a group of scientists claimed to have built a robot that can read people's minds with 96 per cent accuracy.

China seems to have taken a massive leap in robotics as a group of scientists claimed to have built a robot that can read people's minds with 96 per cent accuracy. The developers at China Three Gorges University’s Intelligent Manufacturing Innovation Technology Centre tested the robot at an assembly factory, reports Hong Kong-based newspaper South China Morning Post. The industrial robot not only monitored the worker’s brain waves, but also collected electric signals from muscles, as it worked seamlessly together to assemble a complex product, the developers said. The robot was able to instantly read the co-worker’s brain waves without the latter saying anything and was able to pick up a tool and put it on the workstation, according to the developers. “In modern industrial manufacturing, assembly work accounts for 45 per cent of the total workload, and 20-30 per cent of the total production cost,” project lead scientist Dong Yuanfa and his co-researchers said in a paper published in domestic peer-reviewed journal China Mechanical Engineering. Collaborative robots, or “cobots”, could accelerate the pace of an assembly line, but their application remained limited because “their ability to recognise human intention is often inaccurate and unstable”, the paper said. Dong said his robot was put through “hundreds of hours of training” by volunteers, which included assembly line workers carefully putting together a product. The robot reportedly followed commands of the workers 70 per cent of the time but did need volunteers to “concentrate very hard” for the brain message to be read. Many of them grew too distracted due to the repetitive nature of their thoughts. The paper noted that further tests would be needed to establish whether the technology could be used in an actual factory, as all tests so far had been conducted in a lab. (With inputs from agencies)

Chinese scientists build robot that can read mind with 96% accuracy: Report

As the unresolved India-China border border standoff continues to brew tensions, latest media reports claim that China is sending machine gun carrying robots at the border to further fuel the conflict.

China sending killer robots with machine guns near LAC in Tibet to fuel conflict with India

Of about 2 billion tons of global waste generated each year only about 19 percentage is recovered for recycling, however AI-powered robots in Finland are helping the fight against global waste.

AI-powered robots help sort global waste in Finland

Robots were often considered a foe, fears of its inability to co-exist with humans was in the air. It was considered a revolution which looks good only in movies. The 21st century witnessed the world turn into a matrix. The sale of robots have soared to 37 percent in 2021 compared to 2020, With machines filling the voids in different sectors caused by the pandemic, also providing some entertainment along the way.

Tracing the road ahead in robotic evolution, Welcome to the Matrix!

In a bid to learn about Historical events from the minute details of the ancient frescos, scientists use machine learning and robots to study them.

Robots to study ancient frescos: Machine learning project explores possibilities

It may have seemed like an obscure United Nations conclave, but a meeting this week in Geneva was followed intently by experts in artificial intelligence, military strategy, disarmament and humanitarian law.

The reason for the interest? Killer robots — drones, guns and bombs that decide on their own, with artificial brains, whether to attack and kill — and what should be done, if anything, to regulate or ban them.

Once the domain of science fiction films like the “Terminator” series and “RoboCop,” killer robots, more technically known as Lethal Autonomous Weapons Systems, have been invented and tested at an accelerated pace with little oversight. Some prototypes have even been used in actual conflicts.

The evolution of these machines is considered a potentially seismic event in warfare, akin to the invention of gunpowder and nuclear bombs.

This year, for the first time, a majority of the 125 nations that belong to an agreement called the Convention on Certain Conventional Weapons said they wanted curbs on killer robots. But they were opposed by members that are developing these weapons, most notably the United States and Russia.

The group’s conference concluded Friday with only a vague statement about considering possible measures acceptable to all. The Campaign to Stop Killer Robots, a disarmament group, said the outcome fell “drastically short.”

What is the Convention on Certain Conventional Weapons?

Sometimes known as the Inhumane Weapons Convention, it is a framework of rules that ban or restrict weapons considered to cause unnecessary, unjustifiable and indiscriminate suffering, such as incendiary explosives, blinding lasers and booby traps that don’t distinguish between fighters and civilians. The convention has no provisions for killer robots.

What exactly are killer robots?

Opinions differ on an exact definition, but they are widely considered to be weapons that make decisions with little or no human involvement. Rapid improvements in robotics, AI and image recognition are making such armaments possible.

The drones the United States has used extensively in Afghanistan, Iraq and elsewhere are not considered robots because they are operated remotely by people, who choose targets and decide whether to shoot.

Why are they considered attractive?

To war planners, the weapons offer the promise of keeping soldiers out of harm’s way, and making faster decisions than a human would, by giving more battlefield responsibilities to autonomous systems like pilotless drones and driverless tanks that independently decide when to strike.

What are the objections?

Critics argue it is morally repugnant to assign lethal decision making to machines, regardless of technological sophistication. How does a machine differentiate an adult from a child, a fighter with a bazooka from a civilian with a broom, a hostile combatant from a wounded or surrendering soldier?

“Fundamentally, autonomous weapon systems raise ethical concerns for society about substituting human decisions about life and death with sensor, software and machine processes,” Peter Maurer, president of the International Committee of the Red Cross and an outspoken opponent of killer robots, told the Geneva conference.

In advance of the conference, Human Rights Watch and Harvard Law School’s International Human Rights Clinic called for steps toward a legally binding agreement that requires human control at all times.

“Robots lack the compassion, empathy, mercy and judgment necessary to treat humans humanely, and they cannot understand the inherent worth of human life,” the groups argued in a briefing paper to support their recommendations.

Others said autonomous weapons, rather than reducing the risk of war, could do the opposite — by providing antagonists with ways of inflicting harm that minimize risks to their own soldiers.

“Mass-produced killer robots could lower the threshold for war by taking humans out of the kill chain and unleashing machines that could engage a human target without any human at the controls,” said Phil Twyford, New Zealand’s disarmament minister.

Why was the Geneva conference important?

The conference was widely considered by disarmament experts to be the best opportunity so far to devise ways to regulate, if not prohibit, the use of killer robots under the convention.

It was the culmination of years of discussions by a group of experts who had been asked to identify the challenges and possible approaches to reducing the threats from killer robots. But the experts could not even reach agreement on basic questions.

What do opponents of a new treaty say?

Some, like Russia, insist that any decisions on limits must be unanimous — in effect giving opponents a veto.

The United States argues that existing international laws are sufficient and that banning autonomous weapons technology would be premature. The chief U.S. delegate to the conference, Joshua Dorosin, proposed a nonbinding “code of conduct” for use of killer robots — an idea that disarmament advocates dismissed as a delaying tactic.

The U.S. military has invested heavily in AI, working with the biggest defense contractors, including Lockheed Martin, Boeing, Raytheon and Northrop Grumman. The work has included projects to develop long-range missiles that detect moving targets based on radio frequency, swarm drones that can identify and attack a target, and automated missile defense systems, according to research by opponents of the weapons systems.

The complexity and varying uses of AI make it more difficult to regulate than nuclear weapons or land mines, said Maaike Verbruggen, an expert on emerging military security technology at the Center for Security, Diplomacy and Strategy in Brussels. She said lack of transparency about what different countries are building has created “fear and concern” among military leaders that they must keep up.

“It’s very hard to get a sense of what another country is doing,” said Verbruggen, who is working toward a doctorate on the topic. “There is a lot of uncertainty and that drives military innovation.”

Franz-Stefan Gady, a research fellow at the International Institute for Strategic Studies, said the “arms race for autonomous weapons systems is already underway and won’t be called off anytime soon.”

Is there conflict in the defense establishment about killer robots?

Yes. Even as the technology becomes more advanced, there has been reluctance to use autonomous weapons in combat because of fears of mistakes, Gady said.

“Can military commanders trust the judgment of autonomous weapon systems? Here the answer at the moment is clearly ‘no’ and will remain so for the near future,” he said.

The debate over autonomous weapons has spilled into Silicon Valley. In 2018, Google said it would not renew a contract with the Pentagon after thousands of its employees signed a letter protesting the company’s work on a program using AI to interpret images that could be used to choose drone targets. The company also created new ethical guidelines prohibiting the use of its technology for weapons and surveillance.

Others believe the United States is not going far enough to compete with rivals.

In October, the former chief software officer for the Air Force, Nicolas Chaillan, told the Financial Times that he had resigned because of what he saw as weak technological progress inside the U.S. military, particularly the use of AI. He said policymakers are slowed down by questions about ethics, while countries like China press ahead.

Where have autonomous weapons been used?

There are not many verified battlefield examples, but critics point to a few incidents that show the technology’s potential.

In March, U.N. investigators said a “lethal autonomous weapons system” had been used by government-backed forces in Libya against militia fighters. A drone called Kargu-2, made by a Turkish defense contractor, tracked and attacked the fighters as they fled a rocket attack, according to the report, which left unclear whether any human controlled the drones.

In the 2020 war in Nagorno-Karabakh, Azerbaijan fought Armenia with attack drones and missiles that loiter in the air until detecting the signal of an assigned target.

What happens now?

Many disarmament advocates said the outcome of the conference had hardened what they described as a resolve to push for a new treaty in the next few years, like those that prohibit land mines and cluster munitions.

Daan Kayser, an autonomous weapons expert at PAX, a Netherlands-based peace advocacy group, said the conference’s failure to agree to even negotiate on killer robots was “a really plain signal that the CCW isn’t up to the job.”

Noel Sharkey, an AI expert and chair of the International Committee for Robot Arms Control, said the meeting had demonstrated that a new treaty was preferable to further convention deliberations.

“There was a sense of urgency in the room,” he said, that “if there’s no movement, we’re not prepared to stay on this treadmill.”

It may have seemed like an obscure United Nations conclave, but a meeting this week in Geneva was followed intently by experts in artificial intelligence, military strategy, disarmament and humanitarian law.

It may have seemed like an obscure United Nations conclave, but a meeting this week in Geneva was followed intently by experts in artificial intelligence, military strategy, disarmament and humanitarian law. The reason for the interest? Killer robots — drones, guns and bombs that decide on their own, with artificial brains, whether to attack and kill — and what should be done, if anything, to regulate or ban them. Once the domain of science fiction films like the “Terminator” series and “RoboCop,” killer robots, more technically known as Lethal Autonomous Weapons Systems, have been invented and tested at an accelerated pace with little oversight. Some prototypes have even been used in actual conflicts. The evolution of these machines is considered a potentially seismic event in warfare, akin to the invention of gunpowder and nuclear bombs. This year, for the first time, a majority of the 125 nations that belong to an agreement called the Convention on Certain Conventional Weapons said they wanted curbs on killer robots. But they were opposed by members that are developing these weapons, most notably the United States and Russia. The group’s conference concluded Friday with only a vague statement about considering possible measures acceptable to all. The Campaign to Stop Killer Robots, a disarmament group, said the outcome fell “drastically short.” What is the Convention on Certain Conventional Weapons? Sometimes known as the Inhumane Weapons Convention, it is a framework of rules that ban or restrict weapons considered to cause unnecessary, unjustifiable and indiscriminate suffering, such as incendiary explosives, blinding lasers and booby traps that don’t distinguish between fighters and civilians. The convention has no provisions for killer robots. What exactly are killer robots? Opinions differ on an exact definition, but they are widely considered to be weapons that make decisions with little or no human involvement. Rapid improvements in robotics, AI and image recognition are making such armaments possible. The drones the United States has used extensively in Afghanistan, Iraq and elsewhere are not considered robots because they are operated remotely by people, who choose targets and decide whether to shoot. Why are they considered attractive? To war planners, the weapons offer the promise of keeping soldiers out of harm’s way, and making faster decisions than a human would, by giving more battlefield responsibilities to autonomous systems like pilotless drones and driverless tanks that independently decide when to strike. What are the objections? Critics argue it is morally repugnant to assign lethal decision making to machines, regardless of technological sophistication. How does a machine differentiate an adult from a child, a fighter with a bazooka from a civilian with a broom, a hostile combatant from a wounded or surrendering soldier? “Fundamentally, autonomous weapon systems raise ethical concerns for society about substituting human decisions about life and death with sensor, software and machine processes,” Peter Maurer, president of the International Committee of the Red Cross and an outspoken opponent of killer robots, told the Geneva conference. In advance of the conference, Human Rights Watch and Harvard Law School’s International Human Rights Clinic called for steps toward a legally binding agreement that requires human control at all times. “Robots lack the compassion, empathy, mercy and judgment necessary to treat humans humanely, and they cannot understand the inherent worth of human life,” the groups argued in a briefing paper to support their recommendations. Others said autonomous weapons, rather than reducing the risk of war, could do the opposite — by providing antagonists with ways of inflicting harm that minimize risks to their own soldiers. “Mass-produced killer robots could lower the threshold for war by taking humans out of the kill chain and unleashing machines that could engage a human target without any human at the controls,” said Phil Twyford, New Zealand’s disarmament minister. Why was the Geneva conference important? The conference was widely considered by disarmament experts to be the best opportunity so far to devise ways to regulate, if not prohibit, the use of killer robots under the convention. It was the culmination of years of discussions by a group of experts who had been asked to identify the challenges and possible approaches to reducing the threats from killer robots. But the experts could not even reach agreement on basic questions. What do opponents of a new treaty say? Some, like Russia, insist that any decisions on limits must be unanimous — in effect giving opponents a veto. The United States argues that existing international laws are sufficient and that banning autonomous weapons technology would be premature. The chief U.S. delegate to the conference, Joshua Dorosin, proposed a nonbinding “code of conduct” for use of killer robots — an idea that disarmament advocates dismissed as a delaying tactic. The U.S. military has invested heavily in AI, working with the biggest defense contractors, including Lockheed Martin, Boeing, Raytheon and Northrop Grumman. The work has included projects to develop long-range missiles that detect moving targets based on radio frequency, swarm drones that can identify and attack a target, and automated missile defense systems, according to research by opponents of the weapons systems. The complexity and varying uses of AI make it more difficult to regulate than nuclear weapons or land mines, said Maaike Verbruggen, an expert on emerging military security technology at the Center for Security, Diplomacy and Strategy in Brussels. She said lack of transparency about what different countries are building has created “fear and concern” among military leaders that they must keep up. “It’s very hard to get a sense of what another country is doing,” said Verbruggen, who is working toward a doctorate on the topic. “There is a lot of uncertainty and that drives military innovation.” Franz-Stefan Gady, a research fellow at the International Institute for Strategic Studies, said the “arms race for autonomous weapons systems is already underway and won’t be called off anytime soon.” Is there conflict in the defense establishment about killer robots? Yes. Even as the technology becomes more advanced, there has been reluctance to use autonomous weapons in combat because of fears of mistakes, Gady said. “Can military commanders trust the judgment of autonomous weapon systems? Here the answer at the moment is clearly ‘no’ and will remain so for the near future,” he said. The debate over autonomous weapons has spilled into Silicon Valley. In 2018, Google said it would not renew a contract with the Pentagon after thousands of its employees signed a letter protesting the company’s work on a program using AI to interpret images that could be used to choose drone targets. The company also created new ethical guidelines prohibiting the use of its technology for weapons and surveillance. Others believe the United States is not going far enough to compete with rivals. In October, the former chief software officer for the Air Force, Nicolas Chaillan, told the Financial Times that he had resigned because of what he saw as weak technological progress inside the U.S. military, particularly the use of AI. He said policymakers are slowed down by questions about ethics, while countries like China press ahead. Where have autonomous weapons been used? There are not many verified battlefield examples, but critics point to a few incidents that show the technology’s potential. In March, U.N. investigators said a “lethal autonomous weapons system” had been used by government-backed forces in Libya against militia fighters. A drone called Kargu-2, made by a Turkish defense contractor, tracked and attacked the fighters as they fled a rocket attack, according to the report, which left unclear whether any human controlled the drones. In the 2020 war in Nagorno-Karabakh, Azerbaijan fought Armenia with attack drones and missiles that loiter in the air until detecting the signal of an assigned target. What happens now? Many disarmament advocates said the outcome of the conference had hardened what they described as a resolve to push for a new treaty in the next few years, like those that prohibit land mines and cluster munitions. Daan Kayser, an autonomous weapons expert at PAX, a Netherlands-based peace advocacy group, said the conference’s failure to agree to even negotiate on killer robots was “a really plain signal that the CCW isn’t up to the job.” Noel Sharkey, an AI expert and chair of the International Committee for Robot Arms Control, said the meeting had demonstrated that a new treaty was preferable to further convention deliberations. “There was a sense of urgency in the room,” he said, that “if there’s no movement, we’re not prepared to stay on this treadmill.”

Killer robots aren’t science fiction. A push to ban them is growing.

You may have seen droids that look like cats and dogs, but ever wondered why innovators are taking design cues from the animal kingdom? Watch how and why mechanical creatures are being created to mimic their flesh-and-blood counterparts.

Tech It Out: Robots that imitate animals

Forget losing your job to robots, Scientists have created robots that can reproduce. 'Xenobots' are capable of 'self-replicating' themselves. They are made up of stem cells taken from frogs. Astounded? Watch this report by Palki Sharma for the details.

Gravitas: These robots can produce babies; Xenobots capable of self-replicating

Northern American businesses are ordering robots to meet consumer demands amid a labour shortage in the country. But are robots coming after the jobs of humans? Palki Sharma tells you more.

Gravitas: US companies hire robots to fill jobs amid labour shortage

When Florida gave restaurants the green light to reopen indoor dining earlier this year, restaurateurs like Carlos Gazitua were euphoric. They hoped it would resuscitate their businesses, many of which were on life-support after the shutdown. But they quickly learned it was tough to coax workers back.

“It was a crisis,"&nbsp;said Gazitua, owner and CEO of the Sergio’s Restaurant chain in Florida. “We couldn’t find anyone.” Even a major job fair, drawing dozens of restaurant and hotel owners offering more than 1,000 jobs in May, was disastrous.

“We had 40 employers and only four people showed up!” he said. “It was bizarre — all the employers thought we were on ‘Candid Camera’.”

So, Gazitua turned to robotics, bringing in the Servi robot in July at one of his restaurants. Servi uses cameras and laser sensors to carry plates of food from the kitchen to tables in the dining room, where the waiter then transfers the plates to the customer’s table. The robot costs $999 a month, including installation and support.

Servi saved wait staff and bussers from having to run back and forth to the kitchen and gave overworked servers more time to schmooze with customers and serve more tables, which led to higher tips.

“In the first two hours, the servers were amazed!” he said, adding that Servis have now been added to the company’s five other full-service restaurants.

Gazitua is among a growing number of restaurant and hotel owners who are turning to robotics during this labour shortage. Robots don’t call in sick, don’t request raises and do jobs, like frying and cleaning, that workers don’t like.

Indeed, many robotics companies, like Miso Robotics, Bear Robotics, Peanut Robotics, Knightscope, SoftBank Robotics and Makr Shakr, say they have seen huge spikes in inquiries for their robots since the pandemic hit.

Miso is getting 150 inquiries a week for its Flippy robot, said Mike Bell, CEO of Miso. Flippy uses artificial intelligence, sensors, computer vision and robotic arms to fry fast food, like French fries and chicken wings. The robot, which costs about $3,000 per month, including maintenance, identifies the food, senses the oil temperature, and monitors the cook time.

The CDC estimates 48 million people get sick, 128,000 are hospitalized, and 3,000 die each year from foodborne illnesses. Using robots like Flippy improves a kitchen’s cooking accuracy and consistency, reducing human error that could lead to food contamination issues, Bell said.

White Castle started testing Flippy at its Merrillville, Indiana, restaurant in late 2020.

“This is the toughest labour market we’ve encountered since World War II,” said Jamie Richardson, vice president of marketing at White Castle, founded in 1921. The test went so well that it plans to add Flippy to 10 more locations. Michael J. Hicks, professor of economics and director of the Center for Business and Economic Research at Ball State University in Muncie, Indiana, echoed Richardson’s view of the job situation.

“The leisure and hospitality industry saw a 50% drop in employment in 2020, a dip of 8.3 million workers,” he said. “That is far and away the worst shock to the industry on record, dating back to the Great Depression.”

Bear Robotics, which makes the Servi robot, has seen demand skyrocket, said Juan Higueros, co-founder and chief operating officer. Aside from Sergio’s restaurants, he has fielded inquiries from casinos, restaurant chains, arenas and even senior living residences, desperate to assist overworked staff.

“Burnout is becoming a very big problem for restaurant staff,” he said.

Peanut Robotics, a startup, makes a robot that cleans and sanitizes restrooms, and SoftBank Robotics makes Whiz, which vacuums floors.

Although Peanut is still in the prototype phase, this hasn’t stopped hotel chains, offices and restaurants from requesting the robot. “We’re not actively marketing, but people keep finding us,” said Joe Augenbraun, the company’s CEO. “I have demand for hundreds of them right now.”

Knightscope makes robots that use artificial intelligence, video and two-way audio to patrol outdoor or indoor areas. It uses thermal imaging, license plate recognition and other software. There is also an alert button on the robot that allows the caller to speak directly to someone. Demand has been particularly high lately from casinos and office buildings, said Stacy Stephens, co-founder and chief client officer at Knightscope.

Makr Shakr, based in Italy, makes robotic bartenders, whose arms can measure, mix, shake, pour and even garnish cocktails. Over the past three months, inquiries have jumped 50% from pre-pandemic levels, said Carlo Ratti, a founding partner and a professor the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

The Tipsy Robot, a bar that opened in Las Vegas in 2017, uses Makr Shakr’s robotic arms. Its general manager, Victor Reza Valanejad, said the robot was a godsend when COVID hit. “I was getting about 120 applications a day in 2019 for bartenders,” he said. But in April 2021, the same ad took three weeks to get only 14 applications. “And of those 14, no one showed up for the interviews,” he said.

While robots don’t call in sick or ask for raises, they can break down. As a result, a restaurant is at the mercy of the robotics company to respond quickly. Sometimes, a software glitch can be fixed remotely, but a hardware issue usually requires an on-site repair. Most of the companies said they could make repairs within 24 hours, but not always.

Robots have had some highly publicized missteps.

In 2019, a Knightscope 5 robot made headlines when a fight broke out in Huntington Park, California, where the robot was patrolling. When a woman ran to the robot for assistance and pushed its emergency alert button, the robot repeatedly barked “Get out of the way” and proceeded to roll past her — and the ongoing fight — while playing a little tune. A bystander ended up calling 911.

Stephens blamed the mishap on a robot that had been deployed before its software had been fully installed and its line to 911 had been hooked up. Since then, he said, the city has credited the robot for lowering crime and has extended its contract for two more years.

SoftBank Robotics’s Pepper, which is touted as a robot that can read people’s emotions, remember faces and interact with people, has probably received the most negative publicity.

A Scottish grocery store, Margiotta, hired the robot to give directions to customers looking for items in the store, but fired Pepper when it kept giving vague answers, like “It’s in the alcohol section” when asked where to find beer.

Then there was Pepper’s stint at a Japanese nursing home, where it was hired to lead singalongs and hold exercise classes for seniors. But it kept malfunctioning.

Its biggest blemish came when a 2018 Swedish university research report said Pepper’s technology had serious security flaws. It said a breach would allow a hacker to spy on people through Pepper’s cameras and microphones and even take control of Pepper’s arms. SoftBank said the security flaw has since been patched.

“Most Peppers have now been fired,” said Dina Marie Zemke, associate professor at Ball State University and author of a 2020 report on robotics. “Either you loved them or you were completely creeped out by them.”

Pepper wasn’t cheap, retailing for $20,000 to $25,000.

SoftBank recently stopped production of Pepper, sold off its majority stake in Boston Dynamics, and laid off about half of its 330-member team in France. But Kass Dawson, SoftBank Robotics’ vice president of brand strategy, insists Pepper’s production is only temporarily halted and that its robotics division remains a company priority.

Industry experts believe the labour shortages stemming from the pandemic accelerated the acceptance of robots in the workplace.

“We’ve all gotten more comfortable with dealing with robots — that’s one of the legacies of the pandemic,” said Craig Le Clair, vice president and principal analyst at Forrester. “We’re able to trade off the creepiness of robots with the improved help characteristics.”

When Florida gave restaurants the green light to reopen indoor dining earlier this year, restaurateurs like Carlos Gazitua were euphoric. They hoped it would resuscitate their businesses, many of which were on life-support after the shutdown.

When Florida gave restaurants the green light to reopen indoor dining earlier this year, restaurateurs like Carlos Gazitua were euphoric. They hoped it would resuscitate their businesses, many of which were on life-support after the shutdown. But they quickly learned it was tough to coax workers back. “It was a crisis," said Gazitua, owner and CEO of the Sergio’s Restaurant chain in Florida. “We couldn’t find anyone.” Even a major job fair, drawing dozens of restaurant and hotel owners offering more than 1,000 jobs in May, was disastrous. “We had 40 employers and only four people showed up!” he said. “It was bizarre — all the employers thought we were on ‘Candid Camera’.” So, Gazitua turned to robotics, bringing in the Servi robot in July at one of his restaurants. Servi uses cameras and laser sensors to carry plates of food from the kitchen to tables in the dining room, where the waiter then transfers the plates to the customer’s table. The robot costs $999 a month, including installation and support. Servi saved wait staff and bussers from having to run back and forth to the kitchen and gave overworked servers more time to schmooze with customers and serve more tables, which led to higher tips. “In the first two hours, the servers were amazed!” he said, adding that Servis have now been added to the company’s five other full-service restaurants. Gazitua is among a growing number of restaurant and hotel owners who are turning to robotics during this labour shortage. Robots don’t call in sick, don’t request raises and do jobs, like frying and cleaning, that workers don’t like. Indeed, many robotics companies, like Miso Robotics, Bear Robotics, Peanut Robotics, Knightscope, SoftBank Robotics and Makr Shakr, say they have seen huge spikes in inquiries for their robots since the pandemic hit. Miso is getting 150 inquiries a week for its Flippy robot, said Mike Bell, CEO of Miso. Flippy uses artificial intelligence, sensors, computer vision and robotic arms to fry fast food, like French fries and chicken wings. The robot, which costs about $3,000 per month, including maintenance, identifies the food, senses the oil temperature, and monitors the cook time. The CDC estimates 48 million people get sick, 128,000 are hospitalized, and 3,000 die each year from foodborne illnesses. Using robots like Flippy improves a kitchen’s cooking accuracy and consistency, reducing human error that could lead to food contamination issues, Bell said. White Castle started testing Flippy at its Merrillville, Indiana, restaurant in late 2020. “This is the toughest labour market we’ve encountered since World War II,” said Jamie Richardson, vice president of marketing at White Castle, founded in 1921. The test went so well that it plans to add Flippy to 10 more locations. Michael J. Hicks, professor of economics and director of the Center for Business and Economic Research at Ball State University in Muncie, Indiana, echoed Richardson’s view of the job situation. “The leisure and hospitality industry saw a 50% drop in employment in 2020, a dip of 8.3 million workers,” he said. “That is far and away the worst shock to the industry on record, dating back to the Great Depression.” Bear Robotics, which makes the Servi robot, has seen demand skyrocket, said Juan Higueros, co-founder and chief operating officer. Aside from Sergio’s restaurants, he has fielded inquiries from casinos, restaurant chains, arenas and even senior living residences, desperate to assist overworked staff. “Burnout is becoming a very big problem for restaurant staff,” he said. Peanut Robotics, a startup, makes a robot that cleans and sanitizes restrooms, and SoftBank Robotics makes Whiz, which vacuums floors. Although Peanut is still in the prototype phase, this hasn’t stopped hotel chains, offices and restaurants from requesting the robot. “We’re not actively marketing, but people keep finding us,” said Joe Augenbraun, the company’s CEO. “I have demand for hundreds of them right now.” Knightscope makes robots that use artificial intelligence, video and two-way audio to patrol outdoor or indoor areas. It uses thermal imaging, license plate recognition and other software. There is also an alert button on the robot that allows the caller to speak directly to someone. Demand has been particularly high lately from casinos and office buildings, said Stacy Stephens, co-founder and chief client officer at Knightscope. Makr Shakr, based in Italy, makes robotic bartenders, whose arms can measure, mix, shake, pour and even garnish cocktails. Over the past three months, inquiries have jumped 50% from pre-pandemic levels, said Carlo Ratti, a founding partner and a professor the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. The Tipsy Robot, a bar that opened in Las Vegas in 2017, uses Makr Shakr’s robotic arms. Its general manager, Victor Reza Valanejad, said the robot was a godsend when COVID hit. “I was getting about 120 applications a day in 2019 for bartenders,” he said. But in April 2021, the same ad took three weeks to get only 14 applications. “And of those 14, no one showed up for the interviews,” he said. While robots don’t call in sick or ask for raises, they can break down. As a result, a restaurant is at the mercy of the robotics company to respond quickly. Sometimes, a software glitch can be fixed remotely, but a hardware issue usually requires an on-site repair. Most of the companies said they could make repairs within 24 hours, but not always. Robots have had some highly publicized missteps. In 2019, a Knightscope 5 robot made headlines when a fight broke out in Huntington Park, California, where the robot was patrolling. When a woman ran to the robot for assistance and pushed its emergency alert button, the robot repeatedly barked “Get out of the way” and proceeded to roll past her — and the ongoing fight — while playing a little tune. A bystander ended up calling 911. Stephens blamed the mishap on a robot that had been deployed before its software had been fully installed and its line to 911 had been hooked up. Since then, he said, the city has credited the robot for lowering crime and has extended its contract for two more years. SoftBank Robotics’s Pepper, which is touted as a robot that can read people’s emotions, remember faces and interact with people, has probably received the most negative publicity. A Scottish grocery store, Margiotta, hired the robot to give directions to customers looking for items in the store, but fired Pepper when it kept giving vague answers, like “It’s in the alcohol section” when asked where to find beer. Then there was Pepper’s stint at a Japanese nursing home, where it was hired to lead singalongs and hold exercise classes for seniors. But it kept malfunctioning. Its biggest blemish came when a 2018 Swedish university research report said Pepper’s technology had serious security flaws. It said a breach would allow a hacker to spy on people through Pepper’s cameras and microphones and even take control of Pepper’s arms. SoftBank said the security flaw has since been patched. “Most Peppers have now been fired,” said Dina Marie Zemke, associate professor at Ball State University and author of a 2020 report on robotics. “Either you loved them or you were completely creeped out by them.” Pepper wasn’t cheap, retailing for $20,000 to $25,000. SoftBank recently stopped production of Pepper, sold off its majority stake in Boston Dynamics, and laid off about half of its 330-member team in France. But Kass Dawson, SoftBank Robotics’ vice president of brand strategy, insists Pepper’s production is only temporarily halted and that its robotics division remains a company priority. Industry experts believe the labour shortages stemming from the pandemic accelerated the acceptance of robots in the workplace. “We’ve all gotten more comfortable with dealing with robots — that’s one of the legacies of the pandemic,” said Craig Le Clair, vice president and principal analyst at Forrester. “We’re able to trade off the creepiness of robots with the improved help characteristics.”

Desperate for workers, restaurants turn to robots

The trial of patrol robots has sparked privacy concerns in Singapore. These robots are designed to blast warnings at people who are seen engaging in "undesirable social behaviour". &nbsp;

Singapore is seeing an explosion of tools to track inhabitants. These include CCTV cameras to lampposts kitted out with facial recognition tech.

Officials have long pushed for a vision of a hyper-efficient, tech-driven "smart nation". But this approach has drawn criticism from activists who say that privacy is being sacrificed&nbsp;and people have little control over what happens to their data.

Also Read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/cosmic-music-check-out-nasa-post-on-heavenly-sounds-from-galaxys-centre-418128">'Cosmic Music': Check out NASA post on 'heavenly' sounds from galaxy's centre</a>

Singapore is frequently criticised for curbing civil liberties and people are accustomed to tight controls, but there is still growing unease at intrusive tech.

The government's latest surveillance devices are robots on wheels, with seven cameras, that issue warnings to the public and detect "undesirable social behaviour".

This includes smoking in prohibited areas, improperly parking bicycles, and breaching coronavirus social-distancing rules.

Also Read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/before-chickens-early-humans-reared-one-of-the-most-dangerous-birds-study-417744">Before chickens, early humans reared one of the most dangerous birds: Study</a>

During a recent patrol, one of the "Xavier" robots wove its way through a housing estate and stopped in front of a group of elderly residents watching a chess match.

"Please keep one-metre distancing, please keep to five persons per group," a robotic voice blared out, as a camera on top of the machine trained its gaze on them.

Also Read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/nasa-has-captured-image-of-eye-in-the-sky-418294">NASA has captured image of 'eye in the sky'</a>

During a three-week trial in September, two robots were deployed to patrol the housing estate and a shopping centre.

"It reminds me of Robocop," said Frannie Teo, a 34-year-old research assistant, who was walking through the mall.

It brings to mind a "dystopian world of robots... I'm just a bit hesitant about that kind of concept", she added.

(With inputs from agencies) 
&nbsp;

The trial of patrol robots has sparked privacy concerns in Singapore. These robots are designed to blast warnings at people who are seen engaging in "undesirable social behaviour".

The trial of patrol robots has sparked privacy concerns in Singapore. These robots are designed to blast warnings at people who are seen engaging in "undesirable social behaviour". Singapore is seeing an explosion of tools to track inhabitants. These include CCTV cameras to lampposts kitted out with facial recognition tech. Officials have long pushed for a vision of a hyper-efficient, tech-driven "smart nation". But this approach has drawn criticism from activists who say that privacy is being sacrificed and people have little control over what happens to their data. Also Read | 'Cosmic Music': Check out NASA post on 'heavenly' sounds from galaxy's centre Singapore is frequently criticised for curbing civil liberties and people are accustomed to tight controls, but there is still growing unease at intrusive tech. The government's latest surveillance devices are robots on wheels, with seven cameras, that issue warnings to the public and detect "undesirable social behaviour". This includes smoking in prohibited areas, improperly parking bicycles, and breaching coronavirus social-distancing rules. Also Read | Before chickens, early humans reared one of the most dangerous birds: Study During a recent patrol, one of the "Xavier" robots wove its way through a housing estate and stopped in front of a group of elderly residents watching a chess match. "Please keep one-metre distancing, please keep to five persons per group," a robotic voice blared out, as a camera on top of the machine trained its gaze on them. Also Read | NASA has captured image of 'eye in the sky' During a three-week trial in September, two robots were deployed to patrol the housing estate and a shopping centre. "It reminds me of Robocop," said Frannie Teo, a 34-year-old research assistant, who was walking through the mall. It brings to mind a "dystopian world of robots... I'm just a bit hesitant about that kind of concept", she added. (With inputs from agencies)

Singapore: Patrol robots seeking 'undesirable social behaviour' spark privacy concerns

Designed with the help of a group of Indonesian university lecturers to entertain a village, a homemade robot has found a new use during the pandemic - bringing food, and hopefully a smile, to self-isolating residents who have contracted COVID-19.

Robot delivers food, "get well soon" messages to Indonesians in COVID-19 isolation

Methodically inspecting this farmer's field for weeds and pests, this labourer doesn't complain or even break a sweat. That's because it's a four-wheel robot, dubbed "Tom", that uses GPS and artificial intelligence to digitally map the field. Tom's creator, Small Robot Company, is part of a wave of "agri-tech" startups working to transform production in a sector that's under economic strain, due to market pressures to keep food cheap, a rising global population and uncertainties over climate change

Rise of the Robots: British startup launches crop-monitoring bot

Google's parent Alphabet unveiled a new "moonshot" project to develop software for robotics which could be used in a wide range of industries.

To expand beyond its main search and advertising business,&nbsp;Google&nbsp;in 2015 established Alphabet as a holding company overseeing various "other bets", ranging from its autonomous vehicle unit to helium balloons that provide solar-powered internet services in remote areas.

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/gravitas-37-american-states-sue-google-396829/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

Intrinsic develops software tools designed to make industrial robots that can be used to make everything from solar panels to cars and has been incubating its technology at&nbsp;Google's research unit, X, for over five years.

The new unit, dubbed Intrinsic, will "become an independent Alphabet company," and seek industrial partners to advance their work helping to make everything from solar panels to cars,&nbsp;the new unit's chief, Wendy Tan-White,&nbsp;said in a blog post.

"Intrinsic&nbsp;is working to unlock the creative and economic potential of industrial robotics for millions more businesses, entrepreneurs, and developers," she said.

"We're developing software tools designed to make industrial robots ... easier to use, less costly and more flexible, so that more people can use them to make new products, businesses and services."

Intrinsic emerged from Alphabet X, the so-called "moonshot" project that launched self-driving car division Waymo and life sciences group Verily.

"We are currently looking for partners in the automotive, electronics, and health care industries who are already using industrial robotics and want to learn together," said Tan-White, who founded the website-building platform Moonfruit.

Intrinsic also may help "support a shift towards a more sustainable and equitable way" of manufacturing by facilitating low-cost production, she said.

"Currently only 10 countries&nbsp;manufacture 70 percent of the world's goods," she said. "This means most things are made far away from their end consumers, which drives&nbsp; global transport emissions, and many countries and businesses miss out on economic opportunities."

Known as Alphabet's "Moonshot Factory", X is a research and development unit that acts as a nursery for the company's many offshoot projects, such as Waymo, Wing, Makani, Loon and others, helping them take root as viable separate entities.

(With inputs from agencies)

Google's parent Alphabet unveiled a new "moonshot" project to develop software for robotics which could be used in a wide range of industries. To expand beyond its main search and advertising business, Google in 2015 established Alphabet as a holding company overseeing various "other bets", ranging from its autonomous vehicle unit to helium balloons that provide solar-powered internet services in remote areas.

Google's parent Alphabet unveiled a new "moonshot" project to develop software for robotics which could be used in a wide range of industries. To expand beyond its main search and advertising business, Google in 2015 established Alphabet as a holding company overseeing various "other bets", ranging from its autonomous vehicle unit to helium balloons that provide solar-powered internet services in remote areas. Intrinsic develops software tools designed to make industrial robots that can be used to make everything from solar panels to cars and has been incubating its technology at Google's research unit, X, for over five years. The new unit, dubbed Intrinsic, will "become an independent Alphabet company," and seek industrial partners to advance their work helping to make everything from solar panels to cars, the new unit's chief, Wendy Tan-White, said in a blog post. "Intrinsic is working to unlock the creative and economic potential of industrial robotics for millions more businesses, entrepreneurs, and developers," she said. "We're developing software tools designed to make industrial robots ... easier to use, less costly and more flexible, so that more people can use them to make new products, businesses and services." Intrinsic emerged from Alphabet X, the so-called "moonshot" project that launched self-driving car division Waymo and life sciences group Verily. "We are currently looking for partners in the automotive, electronics, and health care industries who are already using industrial robotics and want to learn together," said Tan-White, who founded the website-building platform Moonfruit. Intrinsic also may help "support a shift towards a more sustainable and equitable way" of manufacturing by facilitating low-cost production, she said. "Currently only 10 countries manufacture 70 percent of the world's goods," she said. "This means most things are made far away from their end consumers, which drives global transport emissions, and many countries and businesses miss out on economic opportunities." Known as Alphabet's "Moonshot Factory", X is a research and development unit that acts as a nursery for the company's many offshoot projects, such as Waymo, Wing, Makani, Loon and others, helping them take root as viable separate entities. (With inputs from agencies)

Google's parent Alphabet launches new robotics software company Intrinsic

A new kind of pizzeria opened in the Beaubourg district of central Paris, and it comes with a twist: the service, from order-taking to cutting slices and putting the pizzas in boxes, is provided by robots. After "eight years of research and development, we managed to create this technology of the first pizza-making robot in the world," explains inventor Sébastien Roverso.

Paris gets a taste of pizza-making robots

Robots will now be able to sense nearby objects, courtesy of researchers in Singapore who have developed a “smart foam” material.

The artificially innervated foam, or “AiFoam”, allows robots to repair itself when damaged, in a mechanism similar to how human skin repairs itself.

What is AiFoam?

The artificially innervated foam is a highly elastic polymer which scientists created using a mixture of fluoropolymer and a compound which enables low surface tension.

Owing to this, the material fuses into one piece when it is cut, as stated&nbsp;by researchers at the National University of Singapore.

<img alt="robot" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="11a4dce9-fb5f-423d-9e6b-98c3f47d9d78" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/3_46.jpg" />

"There are many applications for such a material, especially in&nbsp;robotics and prosthetic devices, where&nbsp;robots need to be a lot more intelligent when working around humans," lead researcher Benjamin Tee told Reuters.

But replicating human sensory characterises wasn’t simple. To attain this goal, scientists layered the material with microscopic metal particles. Later, they added small electrodes underneath the foam’s surface.

When pressure is exerted on the surface of the material, metal particles are drawn closer, which changes their electrical properties.

<img alt="lol" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="eafb39b0-f612-4442-adb3-e570c4fd1915" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/1_71.jpg" />

Researchers were able to witness these changes on a computer connected to electrodes. Based on this, the robot decides what to do.

"When I move my finger near the sensor, you can see the sensor is measuring the changes of my electrical field and responds accordingly to my touch," Tee added.

<img alt="heh" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="68a2e6bb-2329-4ff4-9ec0-2664ed10554f" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/2_57.jpg" />

What does this mean?

This implies that robots could be made more intelligent and responsive using similar methods and materials.

The scientists witnessed something game-changing in the process: Not only was the robotic hand able to process the amount of force, but also the direction of any applied force.

According to Tee, AiFoam is the first of its kind for it combines self-healing characteristics with distance and the ability to sense pressure.

<img alt="robot" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="10c05c7d-3c89-4b7b-9e31-a59c4c1af3a1" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/4_16.jpg" />

The team has spent the last two years working on the material, and they hope for it to be of practical use within five years.

But what about its human value? The technology could help people with prosthetics to use their robotic arms more intuitively.

(With inputs from agencies)

Robots will now be able to sense nearby objects, courtesy of researchers in Singapore who have developed a “smart foam” material. The artificially innervated foam, or “AiFoam”, allows robots to repair itself when damaged, in a mechanism similar to how human skin repairs itself.

Robots will now be able to sense nearby objects, courtesy of researchers in Singapore who have developed a “smart foam” material. The artificially innervated foam, or “AiFoam”, allows robots to repair itself when damaged, in a mechanism similar to how human skin repairs itself. What is AiFoam? The artificially innervated foam is a highly elastic polymer which scientists created using a mixture of fluoropolymer and a compound which enables low surface tension. Owing to this, the material fuses into one piece when it is cut, as stated by researchers at the National University of Singapore. "There are many applications for such a material, especially in robotics and prosthetic devices, where robots need to be a lot more intelligent when working around humans," lead researcher Benjamin Tee told Reuters. But replicating human sensory characterises wasn’t simple. To attain this goal, scientists layered the material with microscopic metal particles. Later, they added small electrodes underneath the foam’s surface. When pressure is exerted on the surface of the material, metal particles are drawn closer, which changes their electrical properties. Researchers were able to witness these changes on a computer connected to electrodes. Based on this, the robot decides what to do. "When I move my finger near the sensor, you can see the sensor is measuring the changes of my electrical field and responds accordingly to my touch," Tee added. What does this mean? This implies that robots could be made more intelligent and responsive using similar methods and materials. The scientists witnessed something game-changing in the process: Not only was the robotic hand able to process the amount of force, but also the direction of any applied force. According to Tee, AiFoam is the first of its kind for it combines self-healing characteristics with distance and the ability to sense pressure. The team has spent the last two years working on the material, and they hope for it to be of practical use within five years. But what about its human value? The technology could help people with prosthetics to use their robotic arms more intuitively. (With inputs from agencies)

In pics: 'Smart foam' helps robotic arm sense nearby objects and repair self

The Hong Kong team behind celebrity humanoid robot Sophia is launching a new prototype, Grace, targeted at the healthcare market and designed to interact with the elderly and those isolated by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Meet Grace, the healthcare robot COVID-19 created

Are killer robots the next threat faced by humanity? A United Nations report claims that a killer drone trailed and attacked&nbsp;a human being without directives to do the same.

In 2018, the United Nations had urged countries to ban killer robots. But the plea was shot down. &nbsp;The recent&nbsp;report by UN Security Council’s Panel of Experts on Libya claims that “an autonomous weaponized drone&nbsp;hunted down a human target last year”.

The report was published in March 2021 in the&nbsp;New Scientist and foretells the dangers posed by militarised technology capable of making autonomous decisions. The attack in question was perpetrated by "Kargu-2", a quadcopter drone made by STM, a Turkish military technology company.

How did the robot attack humans?

The mishap occurred during a conflict between the government forces of Libya and a faction led by Khalifa Haftar, the commander of Libyan National Army, The Star reported.

Reportedly, the Kargu-2 is in-built with an explosive charge and can be used for kamikaze attacks.

The drones were running on an autonomous mode which required no human moderation, for such weapons system do not require data connectivity between the “operator&nbsp;and the munition”. This essentially implies that the killer robots made the decision to attack independently.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="http://13.235.153.162/world/30-countries-support-explicit-ban-on-killer-robots-report-319636" hreflang="en">30 countries support explicit ban on 'killer robots': Report</a>

What does the world say?

But many experts believe that the drone’s ability to attack humans points to the dangers posed by such autonomous weapon technology. In 2020, Human Rights Watch urged caution with such technology and implored countries to legislate against killer robots.&nbsp;30 countries backed the plan to fully ban autonomous weapons, or as they’re more commonly called - “killer robots”, a report by Human Rights Watch released in August 2020 revealed.

According to the report titled "Stopping Killer Robots: Country Positions on Banning Fully Autonomous Weapons and Retaining Human Control”, more and more countries are acknowledging the need to stop “killer robots”, formally categorised as lethal autonomous weapon system.

A coalition of 161 non-governmental organisations including the HRW has been pleading for a complete ban on such weapons since 2013.

"Weapons&nbsp;systems that select and engage targets without meaningful human control are unacceptable and need to be prevented," HRW said.

Are killer robots the next threat faced by humanity? A United Nations report claims that a killer drone trailed and attacked a human being without directives to do the same.

Are killer robots the next threat faced by humanity? A United Nations report claims that a killer drone trailed and attacked a human being without directives to do the same. In 2018, the United Nations had urged countries to ban killer robots. But the plea was shot down. The recent report by UN Security Council’s Panel of Experts on Libya claims that “an autonomous weaponized drone hunted down a human target last year”. The report was published in March 2021 in the New Scientist and foretells the dangers posed by militarised technology capable of making autonomous decisions. The attack in question was perpetrated by "Kargu-2", a quadcopter drone made by STM, a Turkish military technology company. How did the robot attack humans? The mishap occurred during a conflict between the government forces of Libya and a faction led by Khalifa Haftar, the commander of Libyan National Army, The Star reported. Reportedly, the Kargu-2 is in-built with an explosive charge and can be used for kamikaze attacks. The drones were running on an autonomous mode which required no human moderation, for such weapons system do not require data connectivity between the “operator and the munition”. This essentially implies that the killer robots made the decision to attack independently. Also read: 30 countries support explicit ban on 'killer robots': Report What does the world say? But many experts believe that the drone’s ability to attack humans points to the dangers posed by such autonomous weapon technology. In 2020, Human Rights Watch urged caution with such technology and implored countries to legislate against killer robots. 30 countries backed the plan to fully ban autonomous weapons, or as they’re more commonly called - “killer robots”, a report by Human Rights Watch released in August 2020 revealed. According to the report titled "Stopping Killer Robots: Country Positions on Banning Fully Autonomous Weapons and Retaining Human Control”, more and more countries are acknowledging the need to stop “killer robots”, formally categorised as lethal autonomous weapon system. A coalition of 161 non-governmental organisations including the HRW has been pleading for a complete ban on such weapons since 2013. "Weapons systems that select and engage targets without meaningful human control are unacceptable and need to be prevented," HRW said.

First instance of 'killer robot' attacking human without orders recorded in Libya: UN report

Will you accept a robot for a President? People in 30 countries - including China, US, and UK want to replace lawmakers with Artificial Intelligence. What does this tell us about our future? Palki Sharma brings you a report.

Gravitas | Study: People want to replace lawmakers with A.I.

North American companies boosted spending on industrial robots in the first quarter as they scrambled to keep up with surging demand in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. 
 
Companies ordered 9,098 robots in the first quarter, a 19.6% increase over a year ago, according to the Association for Advancing Automation, an industry group based in Ann Arbor, Michigan. The orders were valued at over $466 million in total. 
 
Robots were once concentrated in the auto industry but are now moving into more corners of the economy, from e-commerce warehouses to food processing plants. For the first time last year, most of the robots ordered by companies in North America weren’t destined for auto factories or their parts suppliers. 
 
The strongest growth in the latest quarter was to metal producers, where orders surged 86%. Orders to life science, pharmaceutical and biomedical companies rose 72%, while orders to consumer goods companies increased 32%. 
 
“The strong economy obviously helps,” said Jeff Burnstein, president of the Association for Advancing Automation, “It gives companies the confidence to invest in more things -- including in more automation.” 
 
Burnstein said the pandemic froze many businesses, as operations shut down to protect human health. “But ultimately it accelerated the adoption of automation, because companies recognized if they were going to do it, now would be the time.” 
 
Tyson Foods Inc, the U.S. meat company, is among those looking to use more robots on its production lines. In 2019, the company opened a 26,000 square foot automation research centre near its headquarters in Springdale, Arkansas. 
 
“For the most part, it’s still too soon for some of the really innovative and proprietary systems we’re developing,” said Marty Linn, the centre’s director of engineering. Automating jobs such as deboning chickens is extremely difficult, he noted, because the size and shape of each chicken can vary greatly. Robots work best when they can handle uniform items. 
 
With that in mind, Linn said, Tyson has already started installing at its plants' robots that sit at the end of production lines and automatically stack and wrap boxes on pallets - a process that involves standard shapes and the repetition of precise movements.

North American companies boosted spending on industrial robots in the first quarter as they scrambled to keep up with surging demand in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic.

North American companies boosted spending on industrial robots in the first quarter as they scrambled to keep up with surging demand in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. Companies ordered 9,098 robots in the first quarter, a 19.6% increase over a year ago, according to the Association for Advancing Automation, an industry group based in Ann Arbor, Michigan. The orders were valued at over $466 million in total. Robots were once concentrated in the auto industry but are now moving into more corners of the economy, from e-commerce warehouses to food processing plants. For the first time last year, most of the robots ordered by companies in North America weren’t destined for auto factories or their parts suppliers. The strongest growth in the latest quarter was to metal producers, where orders surged 86%. Orders to life science, pharmaceutical and biomedical companies rose 72%, while orders to consumer goods companies increased 32%. “The strong economy obviously helps,” said Jeff Burnstein, president of the Association for Advancing Automation, “It gives companies the confidence to invest in more things -- including in more automation.” Burnstein said the pandemic froze many businesses, as operations shut down to protect human health. “But ultimately it accelerated the adoption of automation, because companies recognized if they were going to do it, now would be the time.” Tyson Foods Inc, the U.S. meat company, is among those looking to use more robots on its production lines. In 2019, the company opened a 26,000 square foot automation research centre near its headquarters in Springdale, Arkansas. “For the most part, it’s still too soon for some of the really innovative and proprietary systems we’re developing,” said Marty Linn, the centre’s director of engineering. Automating jobs such as deboning chickens is extremely difficult, he noted, because the size and shape of each chicken can vary greatly. Robots work best when they can handle uniform items. With that in mind, Linn said, Tyson has already started installing at its plants' robots that sit at the end of production lines and automatically stack and wrap boxes on pallets - a process that involves standard shapes and the repetition of precise movements.

North American companies buying more robots to keep up with demand

In France, soldiers recently trained to fight with robots when cadets ran drills with robot dogs and tanks at a military school

Inside a building, this robot leads a group of cadets to the rooftop. As soon as the robot senses the presence of a grenade, it lies down.

In March this year, cadets from the French combined arms military schools trained alongside real robots. They tested them in various combat situations using the robots for reconnaissance, support, cover and as mules.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/technology/new-normal-robots-being-used-for-home-deliveries-due-to-surge-in-covid-cases-377223">New normal? Robots being used for home deliveries due to surge in COVID cases</a>

A soldier was seen surveilling the scene with a screen that looks a lot like a gaming device. This tablet could prove to be a powerful tool in the hands of a soldier.

These robots came equipped with cameras, allowing troops on the ground to sweep the scene, before a potential invasion.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/gravitas-in-france-soldiers-conduct-drills-with-robots-377623">Watch |</a>

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/gravitas-in-france-soldiers-conduct-drills-with-robots-377623/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

The robot that looks like a dog is called Spot which was sent into this room for a recce where a grenade exploded.

There is also the Nexter Optio robot which resembles a real tank and comes equipped with a gun. Soldiers can take cover behind it and attack targets.

Another robot with big rotating cameras used for scanning the area is also available now.

The French cadets didn't just test robots for combat but also tried a machine for moving injured soldiers from a battleground. To test this, they placed a dummy on it and practised what looked like an evacuation.

The French military isn't the only one that's testing robots for the battlefield. Other defence forces, too, have access to a number of drones that can be operated by soldiers sitting miles away from the combat.

In France, soldiers recently trained to fight with robots when cadets ran drills with robot dogs and tanks at a military school Inside a building, this robot leads a group of cadets to the rooftop.

In France, soldiers recently trained to fight with robots when cadets ran drills with robot dogs and tanks at a military school Inside a building, this robot leads a group of cadets to the rooftop. As soon as the robot senses the presence of a grenade, it lies down. In March this year, cadets from the French combined arms military schools trained alongside real robots. They tested them in various combat situations using the robots for reconnaissance, support, cover and as mules. Also read | New normal? Robots being used for home deliveries due to surge in COVID cases A soldier was seen surveilling the scene with a screen that looks a lot like a gaming device. This tablet could prove to be a powerful tool in the hands of a soldier. These robots came equipped with cameras, allowing troops on the ground to sweep the scene, before a potential invasion. Watch | The robot that looks like a dog is called Spot which was sent into this room for a recce where a grenade exploded. There is also the Nexter Optio robot which resembles a real tank and comes equipped with a gun. Soldiers can take cover behind it and attack targets. Another robot with big rotating cameras used for scanning the area is also available now. The French cadets didn't just test robots for combat but also tried a machine for moving injured soldiers from a battleground. To test this, they placed a dummy on it and practised what looked like an evacuation. The French military isn't the only one that's testing robots for the battlefield. Other defence forces, too, have access to a number of drones that can be operated by soldiers sitting miles away from the combat.

Robot soldiers are the new combat weapons in age of technology

"Camello", the autonomous delivery robots created by local technology company OTSAW are giving a helping hand to around 700 households in a residential area for a trial, one-year period. They will bring shoppers items they've bought online from a nearby supermarket as well as online shopping parcels, at no extra cost.

Too tired to carry groceries? Singapore robots will bring them to you

This the most common theme in sci-fi movies, but in Russia robots has already started to replace human in offices to do simple task and robot developer feel that we are just a decade away from having all robot offices. It already has started that a Robot verifies documents at a Russian passport office.

Robot verifies documents at a Russian passport office

The company that has become a viral sensation for its eery dog-like robots is out with an update to its latest creation. Boston Dynamics announced it has added a human-like arm to its "Spot" robot. A video released by the company shows the robot opening doors, flipping light switches and even digging a hole to plant a tree. They even taught a group of Spots how to play jump rope.

Have you seen robot playing jump rope? This dog-like robot gets human-like arm

Robots help students in Manila, Philippines attend graduation remotely. Watch this video to know more.

Robots help students attend graduation remotely

A team of friendly robots is giving a much-needed boost to both staff and residents at a German care centre for the elderly, including by helping to enforce coronavirus hygiene measures.

Robots boost morale and help with hygiene at a German care home

Robots will destroy 85 million jobs at mid-sized to large businesses over the next five years as the COVID-19 pandemic quickens changes in the workplace likely to exaggerate inequalities. Watch report.

COVID-19 pandemic speeds labour shift from Humans to robots

The future is near, they say? In one of the most uncanny sights of 2020, a rickshaw could be seen getting pulled by a robot!&nbsp;

The video, which has gone viral online is nothing like you have ever seen. In the footage, one can see American television personality and special effects designer Adam Savage toying with a robo-dog. The robot is pulling a three-wheel passenger carriage.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="http://13.235.153.162/technology/insect-inspired-robots-are-almost-here-they-can-jump-and-fly-330428" hreflang="en">Insect-inspired robots are almost here. They can jump and fly</a>

The timestamp on the video is not recent, meaning it was filmed in February 2020. But all good things in life, this one took its own time to surface as well.

After being posted by an IAS officer - Surpiya Sahu, the video has gained major traction online, and has bamboozled thousands alike.

The three-wheel passenger carriage, or what it is more commonly known as - a rickshaw in India, being pulled by a robot is not what one ever expected to see.&nbsp;

Watch the video below:

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
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Future Rickshaws 😳! See this amazing prototype of a robot-driven Rickshaw carriage 
 
Credits - Adam Savage- Boston Dynamics <a href="https://t.co/YAN3YAjQoJ">pic.twitter.com/YAN3YAjQoJ</a>
— Supriya Sahu IAS (@supriyasahuias) <a href="https://twitter.com/supriyasahuias/status/1318048694881538048?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 19, 2020</a></blockquote>
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Adam Savage climbed onto the carriage, after which the robo-dog called “Spot” began pulling it down a pathway.&nbsp;

Boston Dynamics, an American engineering and robotics design company is behind Spot - an agile and mobile robot. Their website claims that the robot can navigate terrain with “unprecedented mobility”.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="http://13.235.153.162/india-news/meet-mitra-the-friendly-robot-connecting-coronavirus-patients-with-loved-ones-in-india-327937" hreflang="en">Meet Mitra, the friendly robot connecting coronavirus patients with loved ones in India</a>

The clip was shared by Sahu saying “Future Rickshaws!”, which does not sound too far fetched. In many areas of India, where rickshaws are still pulled manually, the robots may provide relief to humans, and also make the mode of transport more humane.

Twitter went wild after the video went public. While many went along the general lines of appreciating the robot, many wished the robot could be repurposed to achieve other human goals in life - like going to office.

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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
waiting for someone to design a Robot who will go to office on bahalf of me...!!
— #FarmersWithModi (@Shree263534) <a href="https://twitter.com/Shree263534/status/1318136297362317313?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 19, 2020</a></blockquote>
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According to The Verge, Spot was loaned to Savage by Boston Dynamics in February.

The future is near, they say? In one of the most uncanny sights of 2020, a rickshaw could be seen getting pulled by a robot! The video, which has gone viral online is nothing like you have ever seen.

The future is near, they say? In one of the most uncanny sights of 2020, a rickshaw could be seen getting pulled by a robot! The video, which has gone viral online is nothing like you have ever seen. In the footage, one can see American television personality and special effects designer Adam Savage toying with a robo-dog. The robot is pulling a three-wheel passenger carriage. Also read: Insect-inspired robots are almost here. They can jump and fly The timestamp on the video is not recent, meaning it was filmed in February 2020. But all good things in life, this one took its own time to surface as well. After being posted by an IAS officer - Surpiya Sahu, the video has gained major traction online, and has bamboozled thousands alike. The three-wheel passenger carriage, or what it is more commonly known as - a rickshaw in India, being pulled by a robot is not what one ever expected to see. Watch the video below: Future Rickshaws 😳! See this amazing prototype of a robot-driven Rickshaw carriage Credits - Adam Savage- Boston Dynamics pic.twitter.com/YAN3YAjQoJ — Supriya Sahu IAS (@supriyasahuias) October 19, 2020 × Adam Savage climbed onto the carriage, after which the robo-dog called “Spot” began pulling it down a pathway. Boston Dynamics, an American engineering and robotics design company is behind Spot - an agile and mobile robot. Their website claims that the robot can navigate terrain with “unprecedented mobility”. Also read: Meet Mitra, the friendly robot connecting coronavirus patients with loved ones in India The clip was shared by Sahu saying “Future Rickshaws!”, which does not sound too far fetched. In many areas of India, where rickshaws are still pulled manually, the robots may provide relief to humans, and also make the mode of transport more humane. Twitter went wild after the video went public. While many went along the general lines of appreciating the robot, many wished the robot could be repurposed to achieve other human goals in life - like going to office. waiting for someone to design a Robot who will go to office on bahalf of me...!! — #FarmersWithModi (@Shree263534) October 19, 2020 × According to The Verge, Spot was loaned to Savage by Boston Dynamics in February.

Watch a robot dog 'Spot' pulling a rickshaw effortlessly in this viral video

A new class of robots is almost out.

This class would not be massive -- as traditional robots are -- but would be the size of a bug.

A whole arm of robotics is focussing on bug-size bots.

These bots will be able to glide, flip and hover. And will be adept at performing many complex functions.

They are being developed at Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh.

These tiny robots would be useful in medical applications -- for targetted drug delivery or simple surgeries without incisions. Miniature robots could also save lives in dangerous places like minefields, or during search and rescue.

Small robots that can work together, like ants or bees do, would also be ideal for exploring other planets like Mars, again keeping humans away from risky, unexplored situations:

Ants have been their inspiration.

In the natural world, trap-jaw ants do all the ant things — and they can also snap their powerful jaws at the incredible speed of 90 miles per hour to jump away from predators.&nbsp;

Same mechanics have been used to help give the robots a variety of movements, including "vertical jumping for height, horizontal jumping for distance, somersault jumping to clear obstacles, walking on textured terrain and crawling on flat surfaces," according to the paper's abstract.

Each unit is completely autonomous, but they can communicate and thereby work together via a simple transmitter.

A new class of robots is almost out. This class would not be massive -- as traditional robots are -- but would be the size of a bug. A whole arm of robotics is focussing on bug-size bots.

A new class of robots is almost out. This class would not be massive -- as traditional robots are -- but would be the size of a bug. A whole arm of robotics is focussing on bug-size bots. These bots will be able to glide, flip and hover. And will be adept at performing many complex functions. They are being developed at Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh. These tiny robots would be useful in medical applications -- for targetted drug delivery or simple surgeries without incisions. Miniature robots could also save lives in dangerous places like minefields, or during search and rescue. Small robots that can work together, like ants or bees do, would also be ideal for exploring other planets like Mars, again keeping humans away from risky, unexplored situations: Ants have been their inspiration. In the natural world, trap-jaw ants do all the ant things — and they can also snap their powerful jaws at the incredible speed of 90 miles per hour to jump away from predators. Same mechanics have been used to help give the robots a variety of movements, including "vertical jumping for height, horizontal jumping for distance, somersault jumping to clear obstacles, walking on textured terrain and crawling on flat surfaces," according to the paper's abstract. Each unit is completely autonomous, but they can communicate and thereby work together via a simple transmitter.

Insect-inspired robots are almost here. They can jump and fly

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