From Roombas to drones, scientists are developing machines to be more and more self-sufficient. But even if they’re programmed to do good—what happens when something goes wrong? If a robot ‘accidentally’ kills someone, who’s to blame? Josh Zepps interviews the following guests:
Peter Asaro @PeterAsaro (New York, NY) Professor at The New School
David Hanson (Dallas, TX) Robotics Designer
Noel Sharkey @StopTheRobotWar (Sheffield, United Kingdom) Professor of Artificial Intelligence and Robotics
Rachel Vanlandingham (St. Petersburg, FL) Assistant Professor of Law
Mary Wareham @marywareham (Washington, DC) Director of the Arms division of Human Rights Watch
Robots clean rivers and sort waste, monitor ecosystems, and inspect renewable-energy infrastructure. But even the greenest robot has an environmental footprint.
EPFL engineers have designed acoustic cavities that convert sound waves into thrust, propelling small robots and ultralight aerial vehicles without on-board actuators or electronics.