Radical Robots! Trivia Quiz

Answer: Leonardo da Vinci

The robot (although it was not called that at the time) was designed in the form of a knight using a coat of medieval armor. When da Vinci's drawings were found in the 1950s, his design was faithfully constructed, and proved to be fully functional.

Answer: Boat

While Tesla saw great military potential in his invention, military leaders at the time did not share his view, and the idea was forgotten for several decades. The first major use of remote controlled vehicles in warfare was in World War II, when the Soviet army used two battalions of "teletanks" in the fight against Finland.

Answer: Rossum's Universal Robots

The play begins with the story of the founding of Rossum's Universal Robots. At first, the robots are happy to do the bidding of mankind, and they are able to greatly improve the world's economy and lower the prices of goods. The play then skips ahead ten years at which point the world's economy has been dominated by robots and the human race has begun to decline. Eventually, the robots revolt and kill every human except one.

In the end, the last remaining human peacefully relinquishes control of the world to the new race of robots.

While it made a strong philosophical statement, the play is mostly remembered for the introduction of the term, "robot."

Answer: Isaac Asimov

The three laws appear in the short story, "Runaround", and are as follows:

1. A robot may not injure a human being, or, through inaction, allow a human being to come to harm.
2. A robot must obey the orders given it by human beings except where such orders would conflict with the First Law.
3. A robot must protect its own existence as long as such protection does not conflict with the First or Second Laws.

For many years, these laws have been part of the philosophical debate regarding the ever increasing intelligence and autonomy of robots. The story itself centers on a robot that is forced into indecision because of the way in which the laws are programmed. The robot, Robot SPD-13 ("Speedy"), is unable to decide whether to follow the orders of a human (2nd law) or avoid a potentially destructive hazard (3rd law). In the end, one of the humans must risk his life, forcing the 1st law to override the others.

Answer: Automotive

Designed by George Devol and produced by the company, Unimation, Unimate worked on a General Motors assembly line, and, like many modern robots, it was designed for tasks that would be dangerous or impossible for humans. While Unimate was programmed to perform one specific set of movements, today's industrial robots are capable of adapting to their environments and performing a variety of complex tasks.

Answer: Shakey

While not the most visually appealing robot, with a body made from a box of electronics and a head made of cameras and sensors, Shakey represented a major milestone in the fields of robotics and artificial intelligence. The robot was able to receive a loosely defined, typed command from an operator, break it down into individual tasks, determine the optimal method for accomplishing these tasks and successfully execute them to complete its mission.

Answer: Voyager 1 and 2

Voyager 2 was launched first, on August 20th, and took advantage of a convenient alignment of planets to visit Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune. Voyager 1 was launched sixteen days later and flew past Jupiter and Saturn. As of 2011, both probes are still operational and taking important data on the outer edges of the solar system. Also, Voyager 1, which is travelling at a higher velocity than Voyager 2, is the farthest man-made object from earth.

Answer: Patients are comforted by the presence of robots in the operating room since they know the surgery will be performed well.

Unfortunately, current surgical robots, such as the da Vinci System, are very large and can make it difficult for doctors to access the patient. The system also costs well over one million dollars, meaning it is not necessarily cost effective. Future medical robots will be smaller, cheaper, and more effective, making their use much more common and practical.

Answer: ASIMO

ASIMO (Advanced Step in Innovative Mobility) looks like a small astronaut, can walk up and down stairs and slopes, and is able to run at up to six kilometers per hour. It can also recognize voices, faces, hand gestures, and objects in its environment. ASIMO's humanoid form allows it to operate effectively in a home or office and makes it ideal for interacting with humans.

Answer: Roomba

Unlike the Trilobite, the Roomba does not need a map of the room for navigation. It simply relies on bump and infrared sensors and a few simple algorithms to cover an entire room while avoiding obstacles. Similar domestic robots have been made to iron clothes, care for pets, and even mow lawns.

As technology advances and prices drop, robots could be designed to assist with all aspects of daily life. Someday, families may be able to purchase a robot maid just like Rosie.