Two case-studies of relatively simple autonomous robot projects followed by a discussion of embodied cognition, emergent behaviour and how these concepts apply to the above robots.
1,595 words (approx. 6.4 pages), 2 sources, 2001, $ 52.95
Abstract This document is comprised of case studies of two autonomous robot projects, namely Frank Scott's Hexapod Robots, and MIT's Robot Ant Colony. Each case study describes the behaviour each robot exhibits, and technical information on how this behaviour is executed including mechanical parts, digital circuitry and programming techniques. The case studies are followed by a discussion of embodied cognition, and how the above robots' actions can be explained in terms of embodied cognition. It also discusses emergent phenomenon, both in nature and artificially intelligent robots.
From the Paper "The Rodney series of robots refers to a group of three six-legged autonomous robots whose design is based upon Rodney Brooks' subsumption architecture. Rodney 3 is the most refined and recent robot. It supersedes both Rodney 1 & 2 and for this reason will be the focus of this summary. Rodney 3 is designed to operate in an environment featuring a slightly uneven surface that may be interrupted by many small obstacles and an occasional large obstacle, e.g. a pebbled track with the odd large stone or similar obstacle. The robot's task is to climb over the smaller objects, and to avoid objects that are too large to climb over. To achieve the climbing action, all six legs must be able to operate independently of each other. The robot travels forward in a straight line until a large object is encountered. To avoid the object, it must reverse a few steps, shift its direction and continue its forward motion."
Abstract This paper examines the portrayal of robots in contemporary literature and fiction. According to the author, the image of the robot is presented in all its best and worst aspects. The paper discusses technological dystopia, focusing on the more negative issues surrounding robots and highlighting their significance. The paper addresses the questions of why robots are portrayed so often in modern culture, why their qualities cause both admiration and resentment from audiences, and what the underlying human issues are that the artists want audiences to realize.
From the Paper "In stories pertaining to robots, they are almost always endowed with a humanlike appearance. In Isaac Asimov's Robot Series ("Caves of Steel", "The Naked Sun", "Robots of Dawn", "Robots and Empire"), there's one robot character that is the most human of all robots. His name is R. Daneel Olivaw (in the books, the "R" stands for "Robot"). He is virtually indistinguishable from an ordinary human, apart from the seeming perfection of his physical appearance. He can think, talk, and move like a human. He also seems to displays emotion. The character has used this quality to disguise himself as a human, thereby deceiving the real humans and other robots. In the movie "The Terminator", the robot from the future named as "T800" was so advanced in its physical qualities that it can only be recognized as a robot by its superior strength and total lack of human emotion. In "Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines", a more advanced robot, the "T-X" (Terminatrix), has a female appearance but much more powerful than its "male" predecessors. Other movies, such as the "I, Robot", do not have "human" robots but the basic body structure used is still humanlike. In the movie "Stepford Wives", the woman robots look disturbingly real and perfect."
Tags:robotics, technological, dystopia, artificial, intelligence, terminator, naked, sun
Abstract In Steven Spielberg's film "AI", the character David is a robotic boy. David looks, walks and talks like a human child. He also loves his mother(after she programs him to do so). Yet at all times, we know that David is not a human being, he is an artificial construction with a computerized mind. This paper considers whether or not such a robot can have a mind and argues that in fact robots can have a mind.
Abstract This paper examines how in the film "AI" we see a sweet and loving boy robot which brings up an interesting philosophical question. Is it possible that a robot could have a mind's? It discusses how it is more realistic to consider real life computer technologies and what it means to have a mind. It argues that it is not possible for a robot to have a mind.
Abstract This paper studies the recording artist Prince, or the Artist formerly known as Prince, in regards to the marketing and sales of a recorded product. The paper discusses how often scandalous standards set by the recording industry towards many artists are now under attack within the business community. Many artists since the nineties including Prince have been seeking ways to get a just return on their creative output.
From the Paper "The musical career of the recording artist (formerly known as) Prince has been a central factor in understanding the power of music file sharing with the advent of Napster in the late nineties. This study will examine the success of Prince prior to the turn of the century, and why his success has slowly declined with changing technologies. By defining and understanding the technology associated with business profits and losses in regards to file sharing, Prince has played a part in his post Napster years in forging a new way for artists to sell their material online."
Abstract This paper looks at Machievelli's "The Prince," and the affect it's mass publication had on the world's impression of European society. The author examines why this work had such an affect, what actually happened, and also looks at the world's fascination with this particular work. The author presents some of the radical ideas presented, including that for the first time, instead of idealizing the prince and his position, Machiavelli looked for what made for effective governance.
From the Paper "To begin with, it would seem necessary that an attempt be made to present a basic definition of what 'idealizing'. The concept of an ideal is contestable to be sure, as there are various definitions of what constitutes an ideal determined depending upon whom the question is being asked. It is also possible though, that people may share the same or similar ideals. The ideal may refer to a maxim, an idea, or the qualities of a leader. When an ideal or idealization is mentioned therefore, it is in reference to the assigning of properties of merit or worth to one of the items mentioned above. In regards to Machiavelli, part of the argument of this paper is that what makes him unique as a political writer is that he does not idealize the role of 'prince' in society. With this very general idea of what an ideal or what idealization is, it is now possible to move on to an examination of what the 'ideal' of the prince was prior to Machiavelli's period."
Abstract This paper analyzes "The Prince" by Nicolo Machiavelli focusing on the how the author addressed the duty of a prince to win the allegiance of his subjects.
Abstract This paper presents a character analysis of Prince Hal from Shakespeare's play "Henry IV", explaining that Shakespeare introduces Prince Hal as an individual that is mischievous and irresponsible, carousing with others at the Boar's Head Tavern that in modern society would be considered the wrong crowd. These individuals include Poins, Falstaff, Bardolph and Francis the Page. The paper further explains that the escapades of Hal and his comrades include the staging of a play at the tavern that is intended to degrade the English court, and the theft of a knight's ring. The acts of Hal during this period of the play further include schemes intended to embarrass his friends, who are continuously manipulated into aiding Hal's efforts. The paper also notes that the presentation of the character in this manner leads to an initial impression that Hal holds no true concern for others, and that the crown will never be an issue of priority within his life.
Abstract The paper looks at Machiavelli's "The Prince" and discusses what was written as a handbook for political leaders. The paper explains Machiavelli's conceptions of political effectiveness, including what makes for a strong or weak leader and examines its continuing relevance today.
From the Paper "Machiavelli's "The Prince" Introduction: Machiavelli's "The Prince" is often regarded as the beginning of political science as we now understand the term. Political theory is much older, at least as old as Plato, but it was static, seeking an ideal of the state based for example on a conception of happiness. Machiavelli introduced a way of thinking about political dynamics, how political leaders can respond to ever-changing circumstances in the real world."
Abstract Have you ever had a problem that you could not solve? Maybe if you presented the problem to a team this would help. This paper examines the advantages of building a team, team members responsibilities, and the expectation of the team. It shows how important it is to ensure that the team for any specific task is comprised of members who are knowledgeable and possess the required skills needed to carry out the task.
I - Team Building
II - Is a Team Needed?
III - The Benefits of Organization
IV - Selecting Team Players
V - Team Expectations
VI - Problems with Teams
From the Paper "Striving to meet organizational goals enables a team to reach their goals. Performance of a team in any organization is largely dependent on its members, their visions and goals, their individual performance, their willingness to work with each other and their desire to make the project a success. This is sometimes referred to as a group process and can be defined in teams to three maintenance behaviors - open communication, supportiveness, and conflict (Bottom & Baloff, 1994)."
Abstract The concept of the work team has grown in its application in the past decade. This discussion analyzes the use of work teams at Texas Instruments (TI). All TI employees receive team training to prepare them for work as team members. However, teams are only developed when they are the most appropriate solution to the problem-at-hand. Most importantly, TI is committed to self-directed work teams not simply work teams.
Abstract This paper considers training and development for a virtual team concept for a beer company expanding operations in Italy and Germany, noting how the team concept has become more common in recent years. It looks at how it has been used with problem-solving teams, cross-functional planning teams, sales teams, technology integration teams, with teams serving to improve coordination and cooperation, empower people, direct creativity and innovation and cut costs.
From the Paper "The move by this beer company to expand operations in Italy and Germany will follow the virtual team concept and requires particular emphasis on training and development, especially with reference to the creation of virtual teams. Italy and Germany are selected for their particularly advanced status as countries with strong brewing culture and so with an already-trained workforce for this sort of expansion. Longenecker and Neubert (2000) note how the use of teams has become more common in recent years and has been seen with problem-solving teams, cross-functional planning teams, sales teams, technology integration teams, and so on. Teams serve to improve coordination and cooperation, empower people, direct creativity and innovation, and cut costs. "
Abstract This paper reviews what it means to be part of a group or a team in a business environment and how the individuals in the group or team work together, as well as how that group or team functions and coordinates with other groups and/or teams within the business as a whole. This paper discusses the necessary actions when building a team that will function well collectively, and with other teams in the organization.
From the Paper "In business, it is not enough to have a group, or even groups, of employees. To have a successful organization, it is necessary for those groups to operate as part of the whole. These groups must work toward the same goal, both with the group members they are assembled with, and also with the other groups within the organization. This paper is intended to discuss the process of building a team that will function well both internally and externally, with other teams in the organization. Groups and Teams Defined What is the difference between a group and a team? Both words are used to describe a collection of people, after all. According to Dictionary.com, the word "group" is defined as "an assemblage of persons or objects gathered or located together; an aggregation," of which may or may not be related to each other in some way (2005a)."
Abstract This paper focuses on the trend of team projects in the business environment. The author examines the belief that employees working as a team enhances problem solving and performance. The paper describes a team environment.
From the Paper "Sanjib Chowdhur, Megan Endres and Thomas W. Lanis in "Journal of Managerial Issues" suggest that teams are becoming increasingly common as the preferred method of managing business operations and resolving business problems in modern organizations. As a result, managers must learn techniques to lead teams and to accommodate the special needs of employees working in a team environment. The philosophy behind a team approach involves the belief that performance and problem solving are enhanced when employees in a group take ownership of an ..."
Tags: management, team building, teams, high performance teams, cultural diversity
Abstract This paper examines how the membership and involvement of groups is a primary element in almost every aspect of life, both positively and negatively influencing individuals. It looks at how individuals come together to form groups for a variety of reasons, both personal and professional and how these groups include the formation and function of sports teams. It focuses on groups and their relationship with amateur sports teams. First, the sports team as an effective group is discussed, followed by team leadership development and a discussion on team morale.
