They look like us. They move like us. And very soon they will live among us. They are humanoid robots. Meet an astonishing group of humanoids, among them: iCub, the world's first baby robot, and REEM, the Service Robot, ready to be launched as a guide in public spaces. Get to know humanoids!
In the future will we spend our leisure time with smart and sophisticated machines designed for fun - Entertainment Robots? Marvel at Mantis, a two ton insect and Tradinno, a giant fire-spitting dragon. Then take a seat and watch a mechanical actor and a robotic pianist perform.
By the year 2050, three quarters of the world’s population will live in urban areas. Looking at robotic systems being developed worldwide we can take a glimpse at the city life of the future. Private transportation with self-driving cars, our homes with automated systems - robots are in our future.
Inhospitable environments that would normally be unreachable become accessible thanks to a new class of robot - Robot Explorers. Robots can help us in difficult tasks like search and rescue operations. Is there any danger in letting machines handle so many tasks that used to belong to us?
In 2050, demand for agricultural products will have increased by at least 70%. To meet these needs, we will have to produce more, but also more cleanly and using less energy. New technologies will help farmers meet these challenges. Connected robots will support them in their daily tasks self-sufficiently.
From brains to eyes, hands to legs, and deep down to the internal organs; implants, prosthesis and rehabilitation are entering a new era potentially creating a new type of human being - The Bionic Man- in reality, not on retro TV. But what ethical concerns arise as we mix technology with biology?
Mankind has always looked at nature to solve problems, taking a cue from the solutions that biological systems have refined through natural selection. In this episode we look at a robotic plant that mimics the mechanics of plant roots, and dive underwater to see robots inspired by fish.
In 2050, there will be seven billion workers and five generations working together. Beyond the nature itself of future professions, it’s our relationship with work that new technologies will reshape and force us to rethink.
In just a few years, technology will merge with our bodies in unimaginable ways and push the boundaries of what it is to be human. While medical technology still aims at remediating disabilities, cyborgs strive to something else: a merging of man and machine with the goal of enhancing human capabilities.
Everything that develops and changes in nature is folded: mountains, blossoms, the brain...Life is an unending series of folding and unfolding. Researchers in robotics, medicine, nanotechnologies, are embracing this "origami philosophy", trying to understand and duplicate nature's folding principles.
An industrial revolution is under way. Super-intelligent robots are carrying out ever more complex tasks. In Saudi Arabia, some have evolved so much that they have acquired the status of citizen! But workers are struggling to find their place in this new world and even the creators suspect that robots are destroying more jobs than they create. Is society prepared for such upheavals?
Everything that develops and changes in nature is folded: mountains, blossoms, the brain...Life is an unending series of folding and unfolding. Researchers in robotics, medicine, nanotechnologies, are embracing this "origami philosophy", trying to understand and duplicate nature's folding principles.
