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Throughout the first week of my research on 'Something More Project', I brainstormed some ideas of topic I could possibly choose and can inquire about.

Here is the list of topics I would like to research/inquire about:

The origin of alphabets and words

The history of tobacco use

Big Bang

History of Transplants

How traditional marriages have changed since the 60's

Races/Castes

The impact of women in our world history

Overpopulation

After death

The creation of education.

The history of art

Robots - how are they influencing and will influence the future.

The origin of religions and beliefs

World War I & II

Invention of Flight

Evolution of Robots

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I narrowed down the topics to Evolution of Robots. Therefore, I decided to explore/inquire the concept, 'Evolution of Robots' for my Something More topic.

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My SOI for my proposal is:

Subject:

Science

Key Concept (one):

Relationships

Related Concepts (two):

Transformation

Consequences

Global Context (one):

The impact of scientific and technological advances on communities and environments.

Final SOI:

The impact of scientific and technological advances on communities and environments can be identified when investigating the relationships and consequences faced during technological transformations.

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The presentation format I’m choosing for my final project is to write an essay. I believe writing an essay will be an appropriate choice to display and share my inquiry on ‘Something More’. Writing an essay will give me the opportunity to present most of my research in an orderly fashion. Therefore, making it easier for my audience to understand and learn about my topic.

The method that I will be using to track my progress every 2 weeks will be, ‘Padlet’. In my opinion, this method is efficient and convenient for me to work with and to track my progress. In the Padlet created, I will be adding pictures, videos, small paragraphs and more.

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A robot is a machine that performs various tasks without the help of a person. Robots are capable of carrying complex series of actions and are mostly programmed and programmable by computers.

Although robots might get misinterpreted as machines that look and act like people, they do not. Robots only do/perform tasks what a person has programmed/built them to do.

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A robot generally consists of 5 main parts/components:

1. Controller

Every robot is connected to a computer controller, which controls the components of the arm and keeps the robot functioning together. The controller also allows the robot to be networked to other systems, so it has the ability to work with other machines, processes or even other robots.

Most of the robots are pre-programmed using software and devices. In the future, controllers with artificial intelligence (AI) will allow robots to think on their own and even to program themselves. Hence, they will be more self-reliant and independent.

2. Arm

The arm is the component that positions the end-effector and sensors to do their pre-programmed operations. Most robots are built to resemble human arms, they have shoulders, elbow, wrists and fingers.

Each joint in the arm is said to give the robot 1 degree of freedom. A simple robot has 3 degrees of freedom: Up & Down, Left & Right, Forward & Backward. But, most working robots have 6 degrees of freedom which allows them to move/reach to any point of space in a working area.

3. Drive

The links (the section between the joints) are moved to their desired position by the drive. Typically, a drive is powered by pneumatic or hydraulic pressure or electricity.

4. End - Effector

The end-effector can be pictured as the ‘hand’ placed at the end of the robotic arm. There are can be several possible end-effectors such as:

Gripper

Vacuum pump

Tweezers

Scalpel

Blowtorch

Welder

Spray gun

Just about anything that helps it do its job.

Some robots can change end-effectors, and be reprogrammed for a different   set of tasks.

5. Sensor

The sensor sends information - in the form electronic signals - back to the controller. The sensors also provide the robot with information about its surroundings and lets it know the position of its arm and the state of the environment around it.

In the future, sensors are going to be developed so that they can ‘see’ in the dark. That’s really exciting! This development would fall under the field of computer vision and object recognition.

The parts also include the mechanical parts, which are:

Motors

Pistons

Grippers

Wheels

Gears

These parts make the robot move, grab, turn and lift.

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George Devol is the one who primarily invented/pioneered robots.

Although, the concept of an artificial man is found in works of fiction since the early 19th century, George Devol invented the first digitally operated and programmable robot in 1954. This ultimately led the evolution/ foundation of modern day robotics industry.

Here's a picture of George Devol:

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These are some pictures of real-life robots:

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Imagine if your job was to tighten one screw on a toaster, and you have to do this over and over again on a toaster after toaster for days, weeks or even years. How boring and tiring would that be? Hence, this kind of job is better done by robots than us, humans. Most robots today, are meant/used to perform repetitive actions or jobs considered too dangerous or tiresome for humans. A robot is ideal for going into a building that possibly has a bomb. Robots are also used in factories to manufacture cars, candies/chocolates, electronics and many other things. Today and in the future, robots are used in medicine, for military tactics, for finding objects underwater, to explore other planets and for various other tasks. Robotic technology has also helped people who have lost their legs/leg or arms/arm. Overall, robots are a great tool to help and assist mankind - though there might be some disadvantaged.

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The reason to why robots are used is because they are often cheaper to use them over human beings, certain jobs/tasks are easier for robots to perform and sometimes robots are the only objects that can perform and accomplish some tasks. Robots are capable of exploring inside gas tanks, inside volcanoes, travel and explore the surface of Mars or other dangerous places for humans to travel and explore where the temperatures are extreme and where contaminated environments exist.

Robot can also perform a task over and over again without being bored - they don't experience/have 'feelings' anyways. Robots can drill, weld, paint, they can handle hazardous situations/tasks/materials and in some situations, robots are more accurate than humans - which can prevent hazards, mistakes and can even reduce production costs; these are also benefits that can be acquired from robots. Robots don't need sleep, they never get sick - unless there are any technical problems - , don't need food, don't need a day off and best of all, they never complain! Hence, there are lots of benefits in using robots for our daily lives.

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1. The world's first robot company was founded in 1956 by George Devol and Joseph Engelberger. The company was called Unimation and they introduced the first industrial robot.

2. More that a million industrial robots are now in use, more than half in Japan.

3.  Leonardo da Vinci drew up plans for an armored humanoid machine in 1495. Engineer Mark Rosheim has created a functional miniature version for NASA to help colonize Mars.

4. The word, 'Robot', comes from the Czech 'robota' which means drudgery. The word, 'Robot' was first used in a 1921 play R.U.R (Rossum's Universal Robots).

5. The first robot homicide occurred in 1981 in a Japanese factory. A robotic arm accidentally crushed a worker.

6. The first humanoid robot was deputed in 1939, Elektro, built by Westinghouse, was 7 feet tall and could 'speak' 700 words.

7. Robots will emerge on their own (as a separate species) according to Hans Moravec, founder of Carnegie Mellon's Robotics Institute.

8. The first time robots were mentioned was when Leanardo de Vinci referenced and sketched 'mechanical knights' in 1945. NASA has since created his robot.

9. The first working robot mad cars as part of the production line at car giant, Ford, back in 1961.

10. The smallest robot is called a nanobot. It measures 10 nanometres in size or less than one thousandth of a millimeter.

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Unlike the robots we see in movies, real-life robots are unable to think or make their own decisions; they are simply only tools to help us get things done easier/ in a more efficient manner. Robots are only machines with programmed movements that allow them to move in certain directions or sequences. Artificial Intelligence (AI) has provided robots more ability to process information and to 'learn'. However, they are limited by the information that they are provided and the functions they are given to perform.

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Artificial Intelligence is also known as 'Machine Intelligence' or 'AI' for short. Some computers and robots have been given the ability to act with human - like behavior. Face recognition software, complicated scheduling software, or computer games that give players a response based on the players actions are all forms of artificial intelligence.

The goal for 'AI' was - at one time - to recreate the intelligence of a human being. At the present time, insect intelligence is the focus of research and development because insects and their behavior are easier to mimic. Nanobots could be based on insect behavior, working in swarms together to perform a function.

Some robots and computers are provided the ability to learn and utilize knowledge/information from previous activities to make future decisions. A robot that fills a box with delicious cookies might be able to then 'count' the number of cookies in the box; or a computer could determine the amount of traffic on a street in order for it to alternate/change the traffic light accordingly. This science is currently in the early stages; however, robots are constantly being developed so that they are able to make their own decisions in order to serve food, translate words from one language to another and get information form outside sources to solve certain problems.

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Nano-robots or nanobots are robots scaled down to microscopic size in order to put them into very small spaces to perform a function. Currently, nanobots are still in the developmental stage. However in the future, nanobots are being developed so that they could be placed in the blood stream to perform surgical procedures that are too delicate or too difficult for a standard surgery. Nanobots have the ability to fight bacteria by tracking down and eliminating each bacterial cell or could repair individual organ cells in the body.

Imagine if a nanobot could target cancer cells and destroy them without touching the healthy cells nearby - that would be amazing and will be a huge development and benefit to humankind. Nanobots would probably carry medication and surgical tools on board. They would need to be able to navigate the human body and then, find their way out. Tiny nanobot hears and tools allow construction of the objects at the tiniest of scale. Some of the things we only imagine in science fiction stories, could one day become a reality. Maybe, you will one day - in the future - will be a scientist who works with nanobots.

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The majority of robots or robot-like equipment today, work on manufacturing products; from automotive and the aerospace industry to electronics and medical suppliers and more.

Most manufacturing companies today use robots somewhere for in the assembly line, where the product is to be assembled, or at its end, where robots inspect merchandise and package it for delivery for its customers. These robots don't look like 'bi-pedal' robots which are typically shown in science fiction movies; but rather they look more like robotic equipment, locked in one place to complete and perform its specific task(s).

When manufacturing, robots are able to perform the task in a higher level of precision and quality beyond what humans are capable of performing. Robots don't get tired or sick and can complete their jobs in the SAME way for every single time they do it - adding a level of quality to products which simply humans can deliver. For example, humans can't do a job in the SAME WAY every single time they do it. Also, it is more likely for errors to occur.
Manufacturers prefer to 'employ' robots because of their consistent efficiencies and quality; and because they are capable of performing dangerous and unsafe tasks for humans to do.

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At this moment in time, existing software in a company called, 'Arterys' has the ability to complete an analysis of a magnetic imaging resonance readout of its heart and its blood flow in just 15 seconds; whereas, a radiologist requires 45 minutes to complete the same task.
Also, a Smart Tissue Autonomous Robot outdid surgeons in repairing the intestines of a pig during a test between the two.

As robotics makes inroads to into health industry, they are also replacing contract reviewers in the legal field; while others are learning to fly airplanes (like the 737), pick stocks in the investment world and even fight as robot warriors. These aren't really the robots of the future; some of these advancements are occurring right now.

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We, humans, stand on the verge of a massive change as technology is being improved & advanced exponentially almost every day. This statement is agreed by Klaus Schwab, Chairman of the World Economic Forum. As he writes in an article for the World Economic Forum , "it's 'a fusion of technologies that is blurring the lines between physical, digital and biological spheres", characterizing the fourth industrial revolution, and that its transformation won't be like anything humankind has ever experienced before. He's talking about emerging technology in fields of robotics, artificial intelligence (AI), nanotechnology and so much more.

Due to the fact that the technological revolution progresses exponentially, advancements have been occurring more rapidly since the advent of the information and electronic age than at any other time on Earth. By year 2021 (which is not too far from current time), researchers predict that robots will take over - steal - 6% of the jobs in U.S.; with the largest impacts expected to include consumer and customer services, transportation and logistics. But not to fear, the World Economic Forum predicts that 65% of the children studying in school right now, will hold jobs that don't even exist today.

The author of "Rise of the Robots: Technology and the Threat of a Jobless Future," Martin Ford, believes that robots and the ability of machines to learn doesn't provide humans with "new machines to replace old machines, pushing human employees from one industry to another," he believes that instead that these learned machines – robots – can follow people into whatever field or industry they go into.
Author Alex Williams, in a "New York Times" article published in December 2017 called "Will Robots Take Our Children's Jobs," learnt that young children of the current generation who constantly read about robots as their bedtime stories and who play with miniature robot toy figures, aren't afraid of robots at all. When he asked his son why, he replied, "Because robots work for you."

While technology advancements seem on the surface to take away jobs, they usually bring new jobs with them. An Oxford University analysis predicts that about half the jobs that we, humans, work at, will be done by robots in the next 25 years; however, many more 'new' jobs - that don't even exist currently - will arise.

Such future jobs might include:

Data Detectives

AI (artificial intelligence) business managers and developers

AI - assisted health care workers

Cyber Analysts

Robot Managers

And, a whole host of new and more rewarding & exciting jobs

Therefore, we shall not worry about unemployment as 'new' jobs will arise; though, initially the revolution/change might cause some difficulties/troubles to some people. However, we will receive the many benefits; awards can't be achieved without struggle.

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What People do when Robots do Everything?

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What People do when Robots do Everything?

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Gainful employment means more than just making a living; it can offer self-fulfillment, a sense of accomplishment and in some cases the ability to help others. A lot of people who win the lottery - even though they have all the money they require to survive and live -, often continue to work because it gives them a sense of purpose. While some people live to work, others work to live.

Currently, many of the jobs people compete for, didn't even exist 5 to 10 years ago; and, that's only going to speed up as scientists and researchers make more discoveries in nanotechnology, artificial intelligence and robotics. In a job market that changes so rapidly, gaining a good & firm grip on the future, can help a person foresee the kind of employment the future holds and plan an education around the skills needed to obtain them. In the past, each iteration of the industrial revolution led to increased affluence, company productivity and has led to the creation of new jobs.

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The Pros & Cons of Having Robots Take Over Jobs

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The Pros & Cons of Having Robots Take Over Jobs

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Pros:

Robots are much cheaper than humans.

Robots are more effective than humans. Robots are capable of doing much more. They also never get tired.

Robots are more precise than humans, they are also faster and stronger than humans.

Robots come in any shape and size; depending upon the need of the task.

Robots are programmed by humans; therefore, they can’t say no to anything.

Robots can be used in situations which can pose a major health concern to a human.

Cons:

Robots increase the unemployment rate.

Robots can’t handle unexpected situations which might not be programmed into his software.

Robots may have AI but they aren’t smarter than humans.

Robots installed in workplaces still require manual labour attached to them.

Robots have no emotions or conscience.

Robots operate from the basic information programmed to them through a chip.

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I've decided to change my presentation format to 'Google Slides' instead of an essay because I believed it would be more efficient and I also enjoy presenting my inquiries and research in such format.