4 ms·

I love project and it's a great implementation of novel ideas all slapped into one package, but I do take some issues with how they describe it. It might make

I love project and it's a great implementation of novel ideas all slapped into one package, but I do take some issues with how they describe it. It might make it under a liberal definition of 'robot', but it certainly doesn't fit under what people think of as robots in a modern society. Also, it's just an oscillator in a novel implementation, not 'autonomous'. It's like saying my oscillating fan is autonomous. Awesome progress, look forward to future development, but a little to hyped up for my tastes.

beambot 10y ago
Even among experts, there is no consistent, widely-accepted definition of "robot"...
- fgGAMI 10y ago
  Perhaps it is easier to agree on what is not a robot. I am not a robot. Wait, am I?
- slowmovintarget 10y ago
  The term is actually very well defined: >> a machine capable of carrying out a complex series of actions automatically, especially one programmable by a computer. The Mars rovers... robots. Squishybot here is a technology platform demonstrator. It shows that you could build one with these techniques.
  - beambot 10y ago
    So... your dishwasher, printer, washing machine, oven, and thermostat? All carry out "complex actions automatically" and are controlled by computers. No one would consider these "robots". With all due respect, there is no agreed-upon definition. (As someone with a PhD in robotics, CEO of a robotics company, & robotics journalist for 10+ years. Even my old academic advisor and I had contention around 3D printers.) If that's not enough, here's a proper source: http://robohub.org/robohub-roundtable-why-is-it-so-difficult-to-define-robot/ http://robohub.org/robohub-roundtable-why-is-it-so-difficult... The best definition I've ever heard: A robot is a device that doesn't work (yet); as soon as it works, it is renamed (Vacuum robot => Roomba; clothes cleaning robot => washing machine; etc.)
    - _0ffh 10y ago
      So, same definition as AI?
    - Namrog84 10y ago
      I might be in minority but I always considered most them robots. (depending of course the model and complexity) But then again, I am no one
    - sndean 10y ago
      > washing machine, oven, and thermostat? ... No one would consider these "robots". > clothes cleaning robot => washing machine; etc. So do you think a washing machine is a robot?
      - beambot 10y ago
        Nope. It already works.
        sndean 10y ago
        But that would mean that washing machines were at one time considered robots, but now they aren't ... Ohh, okay, I like that definition too.
    - jayjay71 10y ago
      "A robot is a device that doesn't work (yet); as soon as it works, it is renamed" I love this definition.
    - speleding 10y ago
      By that definition a card board mock up would be a robot too. I agree with the grandparent that a squishy thing that just flails its arms is not what most people would consider a "robot", experts included.
- themihai 10y ago
  I think 'autonomous' is the more problematic term in the article because implies some kind of `intelligence`. AFAIU this `robot` doesn't do much to be considered intelligent in any way.
erikpukinskis 10y ago
What makes any robot not "just an oscillator"? Aren't CPUs just oscillators in a novel implementation? Does it have to be made of semiconductor? Metal?
- themgt 10y ago
  While it might not be perfectly encompassing, I would generally consider a "robot" to necessarily use some form of Turing Machine executing software to control its movement.

beambot 10y ago

Even among experts, there is no consistent, widely-accepted definition of "robot"...

fgGAMI 10y ago
Perhaps it is easier to agree on what is not a robot. I am not a robot. Wait, am I?
slowmovintarget 10y ago
The term is actually very well defined: >> a machine capable of carrying out a complex series of actions automatically, especially one programmable by a computer. The Mars rovers... robots. Squishybot here is a technology platform demonstrator. It shows that you could build one with these techniques.
- beambot 10y ago
  So... your dishwasher, printer, washing machine, oven, and thermostat? All carry out "complex actions automatically" and are controlled by computers. No one would consider these "robots". With all due respect, there is no agreed-upon definition. (As someone with a PhD in robotics, CEO of a robotics company, & robotics journalist for 10+ years. Even my old academic advisor and I had contention around 3D printers.) If that's not enough, here's a proper source: http://robohub.org/robohub-roundtable-why-is-it-so-difficult-to-define-robot/ http://robohub.org/robohub-roundtable-why-is-it-so-difficult... The best definition I've ever heard: A robot is a device that doesn't work (yet); as soon as it works, it is renamed (Vacuum robot => Roomba; clothes cleaning robot => washing machine; etc.)
  - _0ffh 10y ago
    So, same definition as AI?
  - Namrog84 10y ago
    I might be in minority but I always considered most them robots. (depending of course the model and complexity) But then again, I am no one
  - sndean 10y ago
    > washing machine, oven, and thermostat? ... No one would consider these "robots". > clothes cleaning robot => washing machine; etc. So do you think a washing machine is a robot?
    - beambot 10y ago
      Nope. It already works.
      - sndean 10y ago
        But that would mean that washing machines were at one time considered robots, but now they aren't ... Ohh, okay, I like that definition too.
  - jayjay71 10y ago
    "A robot is a device that doesn't work (yet); as soon as it works, it is renamed" I love this definition.
  - speleding 10y ago
    By that definition a card board mock up would be a robot too. I agree with the grandparent that a squishy thing that just flails its arms is not what most people would consider a "robot", experts included.
themihai 10y ago
I think 'autonomous' is the more problematic term in the article because implies some kind of `intelligence`. AFAIU this `robot` doesn't do much to be considered intelligent in any way.

erikpukinskis 10y ago

What makes any robot not "just an oscillator"? Aren't CPUs just oscillators in a novel implementation? Does it have to be made of semiconductor? Metal?

themgt 10y ago
While it might not be perfectly encompassing, I would generally consider a "robot" to necessarily use some form of Turing Machine executing software to control its movement.