
Tales from a Robotic World
How Intelligent Machines Will Shape Our Future
- English
- ePUB (mobile friendly)
- Available on iOS & Android
Tales from a Robotic World
How Intelligent Machines Will Shape Our Future
About this book
Tech prognosticators promised us robotsâautonomous humanoids that could carry out any number of tasks. Instead, we have robot vacuum cleaners. But, as Dario Floreano and Nicola Nosengo report, advances in robotics could bring those rosy predictions closer to reality. A new generation of robots, directly inspired by the intelligence and bodies of living organisms, will be able not only to process data but to interact physically with humans and the environment. In this book, Floreano, a roboticist, and Nosengo, a science writer, bring us tales from the future of intelligent machinesâfrom rescue drones to robot spousesâalong with accounts of the cutting-edge research that could make it all possible.
These stories from the not-so-distant future show us robots that can be used for mitigating effects of climate change, providing healthcare, working with humans on the factory floor, and more. Floreano and Nosengo tell us how an application of swarm robotics could protect Venice from flooding, how drones could reduce traffic on the congested streets of mega-cities like Hong Kong, and how a "long-term relationship model" robot could supply sex, love, and companionship. After each fictional scenario, they explain the technologies that underlie it, describing advances in such areas as soft robotics, swarm robotics, aerial and mobile robotics, humanoid robots, wearable robots, and even biohybrid robots based on living cells. Robotics technology is no silver bullet for all the world's problemsâbut it can help us tackle some of the most pressing challenges we face.
Frequently asked questions
- Essential is ideal for learners and professionals who enjoy exploring a wide range of subjects. Access the Essential Library with 800,000+ trusted titles and best-sellers across business, personal growth, and the humanities. Includes unlimited reading time and Standard Read Aloud voice.
- Complete: Perfect for advanced learners and researchers needing full, unrestricted access. Unlock 1.4M+ books across hundreds of subjects, including academic and specialized titles. The Complete Plan also includes advanced features like Premium Read Aloud and Research Assistant.
Please note we cannot support devices running on iOS 13 and Android 7 or earlier. Learn more about using the app.
Information
Table of contents
- Cover
- Contents
- Introduction
- 1âRobots in the Lagoon
- 2âThe Really Big One
- 3âOur First Martian Homes
- 4âDrones and the City
- 5âLove and Sex with Robots
- 6âA Day in the Factory of the Future
- 7âThe First Nobel for Robotics
- 8âMicrosurgeonsâ Fantastic Voyage
- 9âLife as It Could Be
- 10âHow to Compete with Robots
- 11âInventing an Industry
- Epilogue: What Could Go Wrong, OR The Ethics of Robotics
- Acknowledgments
- Notes
- Index