Rise of the Robots

    Most robots working today aren’t like the ones you see in the movies. These robots are just machines. They are controlled by a computer. They do work without help from people. These robots are used to do simple jobs efficiently. They do the same task over and over. And they mostly work behind the scenes. 

    The first robot to work in a factory is a good example of this. It was a metal arm. This robot weighed 2,700 pounds. It was called Unimate. This giant arm helped build cars in the 1960s. It picked up hot metal parts. Then it joined them together. 

    Since then, robots have taken millions of jobs from people. Robots pull up weeds at farms. A robotic arm called Flippy cooks fast-food burgers. And the SAM100 helps build walls. It lays nearly 400 bricks an hour. 

    The majority of robots working today aren’t the walking, talking robots you see in science fiction movies. Instead, they’re just machines that perform tasks without human help. Usually they are controlled by a computer and are used to efficiently carry out simple jobs. They perform repetitive tasks, working behind the scenes. 

    The first robot ever to work in a factory fit that description. It was a 2,700-pound metal arm called Unimate that helped build cars at General Motors in the 1960s. The giant arm picked up hot metal parts and joined them together. 

    Since then, robots have replaced humans in millions of jobs. Farming robots pull up weeds around lettuce plants. Flippy, a robotic arm, cooks fast-food burgers. And SAM100, a truck-like robot, helps build walls by laying almost 400 bricks an hour. 

    Robots like Flippy and Unimate have useful skills. But the newer robots will make them look simple. 

    Scientists are developing robots with artificial intelligence. That means the robots can learn and think like humans do. Some robots can recognize our speech. They can talk back. Other robots can see. They see using lasers and cameras. 

    Robots that can see or hear have already been put to work. They bring medicine to people in hospitals. They measure crops on farms. Do you shop at a Schnucks grocery store in St. Louis, Missouri? If so, watch out for Tally. It’s a 6-foot-tall robot. It moves around the store. It counts items on the shelves.

    Robots like Unimate, Flippy, and SAM100 have useful skills. However, the next generation of robots will make them look basic. 

    In laboratories around the world, scientists are developing robots with artificial intelligence—the ability to learn and think like humans do. Some machines can recognize our speech and respond. Others see by using lasers and cameras. 

    Robots that can see or hear are already performing more complicated tasks, such as delivering medicine in hospitals and measuring how well farmers’ crops are growing. And if you shop at a Schnucks grocery store in St. Louis, Missouri, watch out for Tally. This 6-foot-tall robot roams the aisles, counting items on the shelves.

    Robots aren’t just acting like us. They’re also looking more like us. Why? Some scientists say that people are more likely to trust robots that look like people. So a British company is making robots that almost look human. How? Engineers use tiny motors. The motors control smiles. The engineers make plastic skin too. It has wrinkles and hair. 

    Robots that look like humans aren’t very common yet. But you’ll probably see many of them in the future. They already help people check in at hotels in Japan. Soon, they may even help care for sick people.

    In addition to acting like us, machines are also looking more human. Because some scientists believe people are more likely to trust robots that look like humans, one British company is making humanlike robots that almost look real. The company’s engineers use tiny motors to control smiles and winks. They create plastic skin that has wrinkles and hair.

    Humanlike robots aren’t commonplace yet. But in your lifetime, you’ll probably encounter many of them. They already assist visitors with checking in at hotels in Japan. In the future, they may even help care for sick people.