While it’s technically the second time I have seen a Reprap in the flesh (I saw one in Boston last year) today was the first time I saw one running. A seriously cool piece of technology.
A little while ago I posted a video of the robotic arm that has been created by Dean Kamen and his team. Ryan from hawaiigeek.tv forwarded a segment from a presentation Dean Kamen made in the last couple of days:
A robot may not injure a human being or, through inaction, allow a human being to come to harm.
A robot must obey orders given it by human beings except where such orders would conflict with the First Law.
A robot must protect its own existence as long as such protection does not conflict with the First or Second Law.
Later stories saw the introduction of the Zeroth Law:
“A robot may not harm humanity, or, by inaction, allow humanity to come to harm.”
For me this is really interesting because it is an example of the sorts of ideas put forward by Bill Joy many years ago. Poo-poo’d at the time I am very confident that these are ideas that will gain a lot more currency - not taking responsibility has been shown to be a failed business strategy (when judged on metrics like longevity and sustainability).
Other than the fact that it is a robot with bits that glow (which in itself is very cool) it is Lego. I was really surprised how enjoyable I found it… that childhood delight of hunting and pecking for the right pieces in the lolly-scramble of plastic. This time around I had the added “educated” joy of being able to appreciate the engineering and the instruction manual.
It is seriously impressive to see the thought and design that has gone into this little fellow. Fiendishly complex things like making him stand up-right, posable AND allowing for it to be constructed by kids are rendered artfully in a simple package. As a kid I had a surface appreciation for the instruction manuals… now they kind of blow my mind. Again it is the complex rendered simple… all the while avoiding written words! The use of color, shape and thoughtful steps create an articulate visual language which the reader “gets” quickly. Simply amazing!
The robot has now been banished to the computer desk because the coffee table has been designated, by the Missus, as the sole domain of the dragon. A dragon v. robot battle has also been declared, in no uncertain terms, a non-starter as well. Honestly though, I would have problems pitting the two against one another… the dragon is too cute for the battle arena.
