Scientist Warns Of Explosion Of Robot Population

An English scientist is warning that the population of robots is growing at such a rapid rate that it’s time to set international guidelines for their military, industrial, and commercial uses.

 SHEFFIELD, England – An English scientist is warning that the population of robots is growing at such a rapid rate that it’s time to set international guidelines for their military, industrial, and commercial uses.

Professor Noel Sharkey of the University of Sheffield said last fall that there are almost six million robots used in the private business sector; and most of the funding for their creation has come from the military.

Before robots become more commercially available, the top robotics expert stressed that legislators ought to consider the possible psychological issues on humanity.

Sharkey said: “Research into service robots has demonstrated close bonding and attachment by children, who, in most cases, prefer a robot to a teddy bear. Short-term exposure can provide an enjoyable and entertaining experience that creates interest and curiosity.

“However, because of the physical safety that robot minders provide, children could be left without human contact for many hours a day or perhaps for several days, and the possible psychological impact of the varying degrees of social isolation on development is unknown.

Sharkey noted that with the price of robot manufacturing falling, robots will be more readily available for consumption; robots were 80-percent cheaper in 2006 than in 1990.

And robots are already able to be controlled through wireless communication technology via a mobile phone or from a PC.

IFR Statistics has estimated that in the next two years, the robot population will almost double to 11.5 million.