Chapter 6. Robotics and Other Technologies in the Cybernetic Revolution. Pp. 116-133. The Cybernetic Revolution (original) (raw)

The concept of robot is very uncertain since today computer programs, manipulators, and other mechanisms, as well as human-like autonomous devices can be called a robot. But despite such a variety, a number of the main characteristics of robots of all types can be defined. It is of special importance for us that these characteristics coincide to a large extent with the characteristics of the Cybernetic Revolution and its technologies. First of all, an ideal robot (which can move, work and solve problems depending on the situation, as well as to meaningfully communicate) is a good example of a self-regulating system. It also visually reflects concrete manifestations of the main cybernetic categories, namely: active information processing (its receiving, analysis, distribution, transformation, etc.), management of the whole system (and of other objects) by means of information, flexible interaction with environment, existing contours of direct, and feedback links that allow fulfilling various functions. Many definitions also emphasize the aspiration to treat robot as a self-regulating system. For example, robot is a device capable to move independently in space, to cope with tasks of picture recognition and analysis, possessing a large mobility, able to analyze a situation by means of feedback and also to predict situations, relying on its own experience and available information (definition by Professor Shigeru Vataat, see Nakano 1988: 26).