BRUSH UP YOUR ENGINEERING SKILLS (Robotics, Mechatronics, Automation). Учебное пособие

Text 2: The Evolution of Automation

capabilities to automate complex and dangerous tasks, increasing efficiency, productivity, and safety in industrial processes.

What is the evolution of home automation?

The evolution of home automation can be traced back to the early 20th century, with the development of simple automation systems such as thermostats and security systems. However, home automation as we know it today, began to take shape in the late 20th century with the advent of new technologies such as the Internet, wireless communication, and microprocessors. Here are a few key milestones in the evolution of home automation:

•1960s-70s: Simple home automation systems such as thermostats, security systems, and lighting control systems began to appear.

•1980s-90s: The development of personal computers and the Internet enabled the creation of more advanced home automation systems, such as home automation software and home automation controllers.

•2000s: The widespread adoption of wireless communication technologies such as Bluetooth and Zigbee enabled the creation of more affordable and easy- to-use home automation systems.

•2010s: The rise of the Internet of Things (IoT) and the increasing availability of smart home devices such as smart thermostats, smart lighting, and smart security systems enabled the creation of more connected and sophisticated home automation systems.

•2020s: The evolution of home automation continues with the inte-gra- tion of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning (ML) which allows for more advanced automation systems that can learn and adapt to the needs of the homeowners, and the integration of voice assistants like Alexa and Google Home.

The future of automation

The future of automation is likely to be shaped by continued advancements in technology, such as artificial intelligence (AI), machine learning (ML), and the Internet of Things (IoT). Here are a few potential developments in the future of automation:

• Autonomous systems: The integration of AI and ML into automation systems will enable machines to perform more complex tasks and make decisions autonomously. This will lead to the development of more advanced robots and

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Unit 4. Automation

autonomous vehicles, which will be able to operate in dynamic and unpredictable environments.

•Smart factories: The integration of IoT and other technologies will enable the development of smart factories, which will be highly automated, connected, and able to adapt to changing production demands. These factories will be able to sense, learn, and respond to changes in their environment, and will be able to optimize production processes in real-time.

•Predictive maintenance: The integration of sensors and other technologies will enable the development of predictive maintenance systems, which will be able to predict when a machine or equipment is likely to fail, and schedule maintenance accordingly. Thiswillhelptoreducedowntimeandincreaseefficiency.

•Smart cities: The integration of automation systems into urban infrastructure will enable the development of smart cities, which will be able to sense, learn, and respond to changes in their environment. This will include systems for transportation, energy management, and public services.

•Personalized automation: The integration of AI and ML into automation systems will enable the development of personalized automation systems, which will be able to adapt to the needs and preferences of individual users. This will include personalized home automation systems, which will be able to learn and adapt to the habits and routines of the users.

Will AI one day be integrated into robots?

Yes, AI is likely to be integrated into robots in the future. The integration of AI and robotics has the potential to greatly enhance the capabilities and functionality of robots, allowing them to perform a wider range of tasks with more precision and autonomy.

If all Robots in the future have AI built into hem, could they destroy all humans to protect themselves?

No, it is unlikely that robots with AI will destroy all humans. AI systems, including those integrated into robots, are designed and programmed by humans to perform specific tasks and follow certain ethical and moral guidelines. While AI systems may exhibit unexpected or undesirable behavior, it is the responsibility of the designers and developers to ensure that the systems they create are safe and aligned with human values and interests. The potential dangers of AI can be mitigated by implementing robust safety measures, transparency, and accountability in the development and deployment of AI systems. (9)

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Text 2: The Evolution of Automation

1.Разделить текст на смысловые части и озаглавить каждую

часть.

2.В каждой части найти и выписать предложения, которые передают основную идею.

3.Расположить предложения в последовательности, которая соответствует содержанию текста:

a) Computers and Automation. b) Home Automation.

c) Artificial intelligence. d) Spinning jenny.

e) Personalized automation.

4.Пересказать текст, используя диаграмму:

5.Ответить на вопросы по тексту:

1.What did Henry Ford organize?

2.What is the connection between computers and automation?

3.What are the fields of application of automation?

6.Высказать свое мнение о тексте.

7.Написать аннотацию текста, используя данные выражения:

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Unit 4. Automation

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Text 2: The Evolution of Automation

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Text 1: Meet Robodog

to licence elements of the RoboDog technology to companies in fields as diverse as industrial automation, special effects, security and military services. Mark Oates adds, "For companies struggling with the limitations of current robotics technology, this is - quite literally – tomorrow's world today! This RoboDog also proves that legged robots can now have the size and power to perform in highrisk environments, whether that is a power station or a minefield. After all, the loss of a robot is an inconvenience; the death of a human being is a tragedy."TheRobodog has been designed and developed in a remarkably short space of time. Nick Wirth says, "This is breakthrough technology created at breakneck speed." (10)

1. Match synonyms or definitions:

2. Say if it is TRUE, FALSE or MAYBE:

a)The RoboDog has the size of a puppy Labrador.

b)Formula One is connected with cars.

c)Formula One is co-founder of RoboScience.

d)The RoboDog has not a limited edition.

e)The RoboDog is remotely controlled.

f)The RoboDogcan work in high-risk environment.

g)The RoboDog can recognize more than 60 oral commands.

h)Nobody knows the name of the RoboDog’ designer.

3. Try to explain the following terms:

a)human involvement;

b)commercialrobotic technology;

c)breakneck speed;

d)color detection sensors;

e)hand-made limited edition.

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Extra Reading Texts

Text 2: News Reading Robot

Read the text and do the tasks:

Japanese scientists have created the world’s first news-reading robots. They really look and act like human beings. The android newscaster even sounded human and had a sense of humour. The scientists showed two robots to reporters in

Tokyo. One of them is called “Kodomoroid”. This word joins the Japanese for child, “kodomo,” with the English word “android”. The other robot is called “Otonoaroid” – the combination of the Japanese word for adult with “android”.

The first pieces of news read by the robots were on an imaginary earthquake in Tokyo and a raid by the FBI. The robots’ creator is a leading robotics professor,

Hiroshi Ishiguro. He did not say when robots would read the news for real. Robots are big business in Japan. Many companies spend a lot of money

on research and development to make robots better and better. The Japanese have a very positive image of robots. They think they are both helpful and cute. In the West, people think of them as a little scary. They worry that robots will take over the world one day and control us. Professor Ishiguro told reporters that robots are very important. He said: “We will have more and more robots in our lives in the future.” He added that robots are now not so expensive and so are increasinglybecoming a part of everyday life in Japan: “Robots are now becoming affordable – no different from owning a laptop,” he said. (11)

1. Say if it is TRUE, FALSE or MAYBE:

a)One of robots was called Kodomoroyd.

b)“Otonoaroid”is a combination of the Japanese word for a man with “an-

droid”.

c)Robots are easy to buy nowadays.

d)Some people suppose robots can control us.

e)At present robots act like people.

2. Choose the correct variant:

a)Companies spend a lot of (time, money, resources) to make robots.

b)People (worry, happy, suppose) that robots will control us.

c)Professor told (teachers, colleagues, reporters) that robots are very important.

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Text 3: Robot Teachers

d)The first (news making, news reading, news keeping) robots were created in Japan.

e)Robots are big(interest, business, importance) in Japan.

Text 3: Robot Teachers

Read the text and do the tasks:

If you think of the jobs robots could never do, you would probably put doctors and teachers at the top of the list. It's easy to imagine robot cleaners and factory workers, but some jobs need human connection and creativity. But are we underestimating what robots can do? In some cases, they already perform better than doctors at diagnosing illness. Also, some patients might feel more comfortable sharing personal information with a machine than a person. Could there be a place for robots in education after all? British education expert Anthony Seldon thinks so. And he even has a date for the robot takeover of the classroom: 2027. He predicts robots will do the main job of transferring information and teachers will be like assistants. Intelligent robots will read students' faces, movements and maybe even brain signals. Then they will adapt the information to each student.

It's not a popular opinion and it's unlikely robots will ever have empathy and the ability to really connect with humans like another human can. One thing is certain, though. A robot teacher is better than no teacher at all. In some parts of the world, there aren't enough teachers and 9–16 per cent of children under the age of 14 don't go to school. That problem could be partly solved by robots because they can teach anywhere and won't get stressed, or tired, or move somewhere for an easier, higher-paid job. Those negative aspects of teaching are something everyone agrees on. Teachers all over the world are leaving because it is a difficult job and they feel overworked. Perhaps the question is not 'Will robots replace teachers?' but 'How can robots help teachers?' Office workers can use software to do things like organise and answer emails, arrange meetings and update calendars. Teachers waste a lot of time doing non-teaching work, including more than 11 hours a week marking homework. If robots could cut the time teachers spend marking homework and writing reports, teachers would have more time and energy for the parts of the job humans do best. (12)

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Extra Reading Texts

Text 4: An Unusual Teacher

Read the text and do the tasks:

Yuki Ishito’s new sixth-grade teacher, Sava, is like most teachers in Japan. This morning, she is calling the attendance list and asking the students in the back of the room to please be quiet. Sava smiles at the students and looks happy. “Thank you,” she says. Sometimes she looks sad or angry. Other times, she can look surprised or scared. Sava doesn’t really look different from Yuki’s other teachers, but she is. Sava is a robot.

Hiroshi Kobayashi is a professor at the Tokyo University of Science. He developed Sava. “Robots that look like people are a big hit with young children,” he said. Of course, Sava cannot really teach the students. She is remote controlled by a person through a camera inside the robot.

Japan and other countries hope that in the future robots will do a lot of the work that people do today. However, some scientists don’t believe that a robot can replace a teacher. Professor Kobayashi says, “Sava is just meant to help people. The robot has no intelligence. It has no ability to learn. It’s just a tool.” Although

Sava is not ready to be a real teacher, the children enjoy her visits. (13)

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