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Robots have already changed our lives, and are set to play an even larger role in our future, but are there limits to what they can do for us? Join us as we take a look at research pushing robot use to extremes, from robots designed to explore environments too dangerous for us, to how we might care for artificial life with a sense of purpose. Please note that this event takes places on the first floor and is not accessible for those with impaired mobility.
What Turing Missed: Purpose in the Machine
Dr. Warren Mansell
(Reader in the Division of Psychology & Mental Health)
Alan Turing believed that a 'spiritual' sense of purpose marked out human beings from machines. Yet can a simple thermostat be said to have a purpose - to keep a room at 20 degrees? What if a sense of purpose can be programmed into a computer but no one has ever tried? If robots of the future are purposeful, should we expect them to need human care to learn, and psychotherapy when they are unhappy? Dr Mansell shares his insights and research on using a theory of purpose - perceptual control theory - to understand people's behaviour, practice therapy... and build artificial life.
Robots for Extreme Environments
Dr Simon Watson
(Lecturer in Robotics Systems)
Mankind has conquered the world and reached for the stars, but despite this, there are still lots of places we can’t go, because the environments are too dangerous. Can we use robots to explore these hazardous and extreme locations to help open up a world of new possibilities?
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