For some they are an example of scientific progress, for others they are potential killers. Recent polls show that a third of UK residents are afraid of too smart cars.
They say the truth is more incredible than fiction. In the case of robots, this seems to be true. The robotics zone at Imperial College London presents the latest developments in this field. There are many interactive exhibits for visitors to explore.
Dr. Mirko Kovacs, Director of the Aerial Robotics Laboratory, is presenting the next generation drone robot at the exhibition.
“Conventional drones can fly and take pictures. But we make robots one step higher: they can interact with the environment,”he says.
According to Dr. Kovacs, in the near future, people will no longer be wary of the advanced technologies presented at the exhibition, as they will soon enter everyday life.
“Robotics is gradually moving into the consumer market. For example, everyone has mobile phones today. But soon we will not be surrounded by static mobile phones, but moving robotic devices. This technological revolution will be one of the largest in this century, and the consumer market is driving it forward. In my opinion, this is good,”he said.
But the results of recent polls show that there are many phobias in society. So, for example, every third resident of Great Britain is afraid of a machine uprising. 46% of respondents believe that technology is developing too fast. Many fear that they may lose their jobs because of this. However, while 17% of respondents said they were ready to have an intimate relationship with an android.
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In the coming days, Professor Noel Sharkey will take part in a UN meeting, at which he will speak out against giving drones the function to kill. But, he said, in general, you should not be afraid of innovation. You just need to be careful in some aspects.
“Robots are great, but they shouldn't kill people. At the very least, they should not make such decisions or follow such instructions. This is the only thing we don't like. Sometimes people don't understand this: they think that such a ban will slow down progress. We hope that it will only slow down such innovations as the possibility of murder, but not other areas of progress,”said the professor, a specialist in computer technology.
Not everyone accepts robotics, but it is already a huge part of our lives - it is used in mobile phones, computers, cars. And the prospects for the future contribution of robots to our lives are simply immense.