Share

What will the next 50 years bring in robotics research?

Would a conscious robot need the same rights as a human being? Could robots one day take over the care of our ageing population? Will robots be our soldiers of the future? When will robots be able to do all the housework?

These are just some of the questions being tackled at the ‘Rights for Robots’ public debate taking place in London this evening (7pm, Tuesday 24th April).

The speakers are all experts from the ‘Walking with Robots’ network, which is funded by the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council.

The network brings together key researchers in intelligent robotics and leading science communicators. Their aim is highlight the ethical implications of robotics research.

A recent study commissioned by the UK Office of Science and Innovation's Horizon Scanning Centre entitled ‘Utopian dream or rise of the machines?’ looked at future developments in artificial intelligence over the next 20 to 50 years.

The Walking with Robots network is using this study as a starting point to explore the wide range of surrounding issues, including current technological limitations, conscious robots, robot licensing, and safety critical testing.

The speakers at the debate are Professor Owen Holland (University of Essex), Dr Tony Hirst (the Open University), Professor Murray Shanahan (Imperial College London) and Professor Alan Winfield (University of the West of England, Bristol) The discussion will be facilitated by Professor Noel Sharkey from the University of Sheffield.

"Robot technology is accelerating with applications in the home, in the workplace and in the military. It is hard to keep up and we are at a point where the public need to make some informed decisions about our future," says Professor Noel Sharkey.

"Some researchers believe that robots will have consciousness on a timescale of 50+ years while others believe this is a fairytale. The problem is that robots may be required to make decisions that could affect our lives much sooner. While some governments are beginning to draw up ethical guidelines, we need to initiate proper public consultation and informed public debate now."

Notes for Editors and Event details:

Date: Thursday 24th April, 7.00pm
Location: Dana Centre, London
Admission: Call 020 7942 4040
Contact: Claire Rocks
Visit: http://www.danacentre.org.uk/

Walking with Robots is led by the Universities of the West of England, Essex and Sheffield, and is coordinated from the Science Communication Unit (formerly Graphic Science) at UWE in Bristol.

For more information visit: http://www.walkingwithrobots.org/intro/index.php

There are many misconceptions about what intelligent robots are and what they can do. The Walking with Robots network brings key intelligent robotics researchers together with leading science communicators to promote a wider public engagement with the reality of contemporary robotics research and with the people who do that research. The network comprehensively covers the most exciting areas of intelligent robotics research in the UK, including artificial consciousness, bio mimetic (animal-like) robots, evolutionary and adaptive robots, climbing and walking robots, space and planetary robotics, swarm robotics and socially interactive robots.

This network is taking robots into schools, science centres and public spaces; and bringing school children and adults into robot labs and workshops. Working across the extraordinary range of robotics research, from space exploration to artificial consciousness, the aim is to reach out and inspire audiences with innovative ideas that could change their lives. The intention is to increase awareness, especially amongst the young, of where robotics research is heading and how they can themselves contribute, either as engineers or as informed citizens making choices about the world they wish to live in.

Contacts:

For more information on the debate contact Claire Rocks at the Dana Centre on 020 7942 4040

Images of Professor Noel Sharkey (noel1.jpg, noel2.jpg, noel3.jpg) are available from the EPSRC Press Office, contact Natasha Richardson, tel: 01793 444404, e-mail: natasha.richardson@epsrc.ac.uk

Share

AAAS and EurekAlert! are not responsible for the accuracy of news releases posted to EurekAlert! by contributing institutions or for the use of any information through the EurekAlert! system.