Waiting for Robots

When machines can truly interact with humans spontaneously, will they still be called machines? When humans can relate with machines in a personal way, will this make them less human?

Androids with humanlike qualities and other robotic characters have appeared in fiction and in film but explorations on the possibilities of a machine in human form interacting with men made of flesh and bones remain in the fictional world.

Even with the rapid advance of technology, the world is still waiting for that perfect automaton which can mirror our ways and negotiate the intricacies of human surroundings.

As technology moves farther and farther away from the industrial environment and inches closer to more personal domains, the possibility of that dream robot gracing our lives one day is also getting clearer.

Experts say that in the field of robotics today, the key word is "haptic" or human interaction.

"A new field of robotics is emerging," says Prof. Oussama Khatib of the Department of Computer Science at Stanford University. "Robots today are moving closer to the human environment."

Khatib, who was in town recently for a three-day international conference on robotics, explains that in the 50-year history of robotics, scientists have succeeded in making machines not only look more human but also make actual contact with humans.

However, combining manipulation and movement in one machine, and simulating human motion at that, is computationally, a complex process.

The most advanced robots today can walk, hop, do some other repetitive motions and even mimic human activity such as cleaning the carpet, sweeping the floor or ironing clothes. But robots that make contact with humans, interact with people in a safe way and blend with the environment are still very much in the development stage.

‘Haptic interaction’

There is, however, one area in the field of robotics that is very promising – haptic interaction or as Khatib explains, "using a small robot (a machine actually) to allow a computer user to touch what is seen on screen."

Haptics, he explains, pertains to touch. So the cornerstone of this branch of robotics is physical interaction with virtual environments (in real time), interactive dynamic simulation and inter-object interaction.

Because of this technology, he says it is now possible for a surgeon, for example, to do an operation without actually touching the patient or without actually being physically present in an operating room.

"Rather than create a surgeon robot," Khatib says, "we’ve created a machine that can assist the surgeon." That is, a gadget that extends the hand of the surgeon.

Robotically aided surgery, while still in the experimental stage, is one big bold leap. "It makes surgery less invasive for the patient," he says.

Khatib, who is currently doing research on human-centered robotics, human-friendly design, dynamic simulations and haptic interactions, says other useful applications of this technology are in education where interfaces for the hearing or visually impaired are in great demand, or in virtual prototyping such as CADD assembly, sculpting and computer animation.

Robots need not be human-like to make contact with humans, he says, but the possibilities of their applications in the human environment are only starting to be discovered.

Robotics in RP

With neither government support nor funds for research and development, it is easy to dismiss the Philippines as having no future or prospect in the science of robotics. But according to Dr. Elmer Dadios, professor at the Manufacturing Engineering and Management Department of the College of Engineering of De La Salle University (DLSU), this country is actually full of young talents who can make up for this country’s lack of focus on science and technology.

"What we have been doing here at DLSU is comparable to what is also going on (elsewhere in) the world," he says proudly.

As a prelude to the three-day international conference on robotics held at the Holiday Inn Hotel in Manila recently, student projects were presented to the media and the academic community at DLSU’s Issues Café.

The exhibit, entitled "Robots for Today and the Future," showcased a broad range or robots and small machines done by 17- to 18-year-old college students who, according to Dadios, came from diverse fields as mechanical engineering, electronics engineering, computer science, manufacturing engineering and other allied fields.

Some of these impressive projects included an obstacle avoidance robot, soccer-playing micro-robots, CNC vertical milling machine, soda can retriever and an automated lateral turning bed.

If the Philippines wants to push the development of robotics, Dadios said, "We have to capitalize on these young talents and inspire them to pursue this track."

One way to do this, says the esteemed professor who has a doctoral degree in Manufacturing Engineering from Loughborough University in the United Kingdom and was a recipient of numerous international awards, is to foster links with the outside world.

This is not only for collaboration and sharing of expertise or for financial assistance but exposure to international competitions which can hone student skills.

Robotics’ relevance

Asked what is the relevance of robotics in today’s world, Dadios says that beyond their uses in education and entertainment, automation is always relevant in the manufacturing environment. In the industrial arena, the science of robotics has many applications since machines are indispensable in the assembly line.

We may be light years away from advanced robotics such as haptic interaction, but this country needs machines for mass production.

"The ultimate use of robotics," affirms Dr. Antonio Arizabal, senior adviser to the Senate committee on science and technology, "is in industries where machines are used to produce products."

At this stage of the country’s development, he says, local industries need new technology to be competitive. "Since we neither have the foreign currency to import machines and technology all the time, we need (to develop our capability)," he explains.

Khatib, however, says the decision to use technology lies with the business enterprise. "What we do in the academe is not immediately relevant. But technical education is key to developing prototypes that may have a lot of possibilities for industrial uses later on," he says.

Dadios reveals that to build a simple prototype, a student has to shell out at least P60,000. "It’s not actually very expensive as we always utilize what we have – surplus products and equipment. If we only have the support of various industries in the country, we can show that we can build prototypes that can be relevant to local industries."

According to Arizabal, Sen. Ramon Magsaysay Jr., who heads the Senate committee on science and technology, is actually crafting a bill to set up a fund at the Department of Science and Technology to be used as quick capital for technology projects.

In a speech he delivered at PCIERD’s 21st anniversary celebration at the EDSA Shangri-La Plaza recently, Magsaysay said labor costs in the Philippines are considerably higher that those of its close regional competitors such as China, Thailand and Vietnam due to the high cost of prime commodities and essential services. Bringing these basic costs down quickly is not a viable option since the government cannot afford large subsidies even if only over the medium term.

"Our only sensible developmental strategy," he said, "would be to improve the productivity of our production systems which means mechanization and relevant automation."