Welcoming our new robotic overlords
Reigning Grand Challenge champion Stanford has been getting the lion’s share of the Urban Challenge press, but there are lots of other teams out there working to win some recognition. This recent story shows how the Challenge is helping to spawn new ventures like Blacksburg’s TORC Technologies, who are earning their chops as sub-contractors for Virginia Tech’s robot team.
For those just tuning in, the San Jose Mercury News has a nice capsule reviewing the history of the Grand Challenge events.
While the DARPA Grand Challenge (and upcoming Urban Challenge) are both fascinating tests of engineering skill, there hasn’t been much focus on the ultimate use of the resulting technology. DARPA, after all, is the research and development branch of the US Department of Defense. Alternative blog Infoshop is featuring a 2-part analysis of the ethics of using robots for warfighting. No matter what your views on the subject, this is a well-thought-out document; Part 1 leads off with Asimov’s First Law of Robotics.
Infoshop News – Social and Ethical Implications of Warfare Robotics
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