But what if the robot has a biological brain made up of brain cells (neurons), possibly even human neurons? In all these cases we regard the robot simply as a machine. Whatever the physical appearance, our thoughts tend to be that the robot might be operated remotely by a human, as in the case of a bomb disposal robot, or it may be controlled by a simple computer programme, or may even be able to learn with a microprocessor as its technological brain. When one first thinks of a robot it may be a little wheeled device that springs to mind (Bekey 2005) or perhaps a metallic head that looks roughly human-like (Brooks 2002). Initially when one thinks of linking a brain with technology then it is probably in terms of a brain already functioning and settled within its own body - could there possibly be any other way? Well in fact there can be! Here we consider the possibility of a fresh merger where a brain is firstly grown and then given its own body in which to operate. We start by taking a look at an area that might not immediately be at all familiar to the reader.
It has not been the case of an attempt here to present a fully packaged conclusive document the aim has rather been to open up the range of research being carried out, to see what is actually involved and to look at some of its implications. Points have been raised with a view to near term future technical advances and what these might mean in a practical scenario. Following a description of each investigation, some pertinent issues on the topic are therefore discussed. Whilst there is a distinct overlap between the sections, they each throw up individual considerations. Where a brain is involved, which surely it is, it must not be seen as a stand-alone entity but rather as part of an overall system, adapting to the system’s needs: the overall combined cybernetic creature is the system of importance.Įach experiment is described in its own section. Key to this is that it is the overall final system that is important. What we consider here are several different experiments in linking biology and technology together in a cybernetic fashion, essentially ultimately combining humans and machines in a relatively permanent merger. Now, however, science has not only done a catching-up exercise but, in bringing about some of the ideas thrown up by science fiction, it has introduced practicalities that the original story lines did not appear to extend to (and in some cases have still not extended to).
However, until the last decade any consideration of what this might actually mean in the future real world was not necessary because it was all science fiction and not scientific reality. Science fiction has, for many years, looked to a future in which robots are intelligent and cyborgs - human/machine amalgams - are commonplace: The Terminator, The Matrix, Blade Runner and I, Robot are all good examples of this. Should they, then, have the same rights as us? Introduction It won't be long before we also have robots with brains created with human neurons that have the same types of skills as human brains. In this fascinating article, Warwick explains the various steps that have been taken to grow neurons in a laboratory that can then be used to control robots, and how chips implanted in our brains can also move muscles in our body at will. If you could improve by implanting a chip in your brain to expand your nervous system through the Internet, 'update yourself' and partially become a machine, would you? What Kevin Warwick, professor of cybernetics at the University of Reading, poses may sound like science fiction but it is not he has several implanted chips, which makes him a cyborg: half man, half machine.
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