Moral Status and Intelligent Robots

Over decades new technologies, algorithms and methods are evolved and proposed. We can witness a paradigm shift from typewriters to computers, mechanics to mechnotronics, physics to aerodynamics, chemistry to computational chemistry and so on. Such advancements are the result of continuing research; which is still a driving force of researchers. In the same way, the research in the field of artificial intelligence (Russell, Stuart & Norvig, 2003) is major thrust area of researchers. Research in AI have coined different concepts like natural language processing, expert systems, software agents, learning, knowledge management, robotics to name a few. The objective of this chapter is to highlight the research path from software agents to robotics. This chapter begins with the introduction of software agents. The chapter further progresses with the discussion on intelligent agent, autonomous agents, autonomous robots, intelligent robots in different sections. The chapter finally concluded with the fine line between intelligent agents and autonomous robots.

This research paper will present how advances in robotics and artificial intelligence affect economic and social transformation. Based on the review of the latest literature and research conducted in practice, the relationship between artificial intelligence (AI) and robots will be evolved due to rapid technological development and the increasing application of methods, techniques and tools of artificial intelligence in various spheres of life and work. Starting with a clear definition and tracing the evolution of artificial intelligence in robotics, the paper will highlight its role, importance and application in various fields. Studies show that artificial intelligence and robotics offer great opportunities for improving life and work, improving efficiency and precision, reducing costs, errors, etc. In this context, this research study presents a critical assessment of the application of the phenomenon of artificial intelligence and robots, based on successive studies of relevant literature, evaluating artificial intelligence and robots, their development, characteristic forms and application in everyday life. Due to their capabilities, robots with elements of artificial intelligence have successfully replaced humans in performing many difficult and physically demanding and dangerous jobs, as well as in mentally simple and repetitive activities, which certainly justifies their humane application. Practice indicates that the process of implementing artificial intelligence and robots requires an adequate ICT infrastructure, followed by specialized training of key users, as well as compliance with all ethical rules of use. Research results indicate that robotics and artificial intelligence have become key players in the transformation of the world, opening the door to new ways of working and optimizing existing business processes. In this sense, the application of artificial intelligence and robots opens the door to new technological innovations and potential opportunities for the improvement of the product and service sectors. Considering the topicality of the topic, there are still insufficient studies dealing with the application of artificial intelligence (AI) in robotics by researching the integration, progress and implications of intelligent robotic systems based on artificial intelligence. Practice shows that in addition to all the benefits, one should be extremely careful and not ignore the criticism of experts in this field about the exponential development of robotics and artificial intelligence and the present fear that robots will one day become a threat to human society.

The introduction of Intelligent Robot Service is the direction of library development. The application of intelligent robot technology will greatly improve the library service efficiency and service level. At present, there are still some problems in library service of intelligent robot, such as the core technology needs to be mastered skillfully, the level of intelligent service is not enough, and the construction of Corpus needs to be improved. In the era of library intelligent service, intelligent robot should pay more attention to the application of multi-purpose intelligent robot system in library, the fusion of Intelligent Library and robot technology under the background of Internet of things, and the development trend of intelligent robot providing various care services for different readers. The introduction of intelligent robot technology will greatly improve the efficiency of books on and off shelves, and expand the space-time limit of reference service. In the process of building the intelligent library, the infrastructure and service of the traditional library are reconstructed by using the automatic book access robot and the Consulting robot system, it can be concluded that Book Auto-access Technology and IM consultation system are most suitable for library management system, and Book auto-access robot technology can solve the bottleneck problem of library intelligent robot technology, promoting the transformation and upgrading of libraries to smart libraries.

Due to the emergence of technological solutions that allow creating systems based on strong artificial intelligence (AI), and the high probability of developing super-strong AI in the near future, special презумпцию невиновности человека attention has recently been paid to the legal problems of regulating the interaction of humans and society with new intelligent agents. The purpose of the research is to analyze modern legal principles of interaction between humans and artificial intelligence, neural networks and intelligent robots, which are the necessary basis for forming modern legislation in this area in Russia and foreign countries. Methods: empirical methods of comparison, description, interpretation; theoretical methods of formal and dialectical logic are used. Special scientific methods are used: comparative-legal, legal-dogmatic. Results: the study allows us to determine a number of relevant legal principles of human interaction with AI as well as with robots and other objects of robotics, based on a comparative legal analysis of the current legislation. They are the principle of humanism; the principle of justice; the prohibition of discrimination when using AI, robots and objects of robotics; the presumption of human innocence; the principle of human innocence; the principle of respect for human dignity; the principle of confidentiality; the principle of disclosure of information on the development, production and use of robots and artificial intelligence; the principle of autonomy of will when using systems equipped with AI; the principle of the presumption of consent; the principle of informed consent to the use (impact) of systems equipped with AI.

In 2013 the Editor of Journal of Vibration and Control and SAGE became aware of a peer review ring involving assumed and fabricated identities that appeared to centre around Peter Chen at National Pingtung University of Education, Taiwan (NPUE). SAGE and the Editor then began a complex investigation into the case during the rest of 2013 and 2014. Following an unsatisfactory response from Peter Chen, NPUE was notified. NPUE were serious in addressing the Journal and SAGE’s concerns. NPUE confirmed that the institution was investigating Peter Chen. SAGE subsequently uncovered a citation ring involving the above mentioned author and others. We regret that individual authors have compromised the academic record by perverting the peer review process and apologise to readers. On uncovering problems with peer review and citation SAGE immediately put steps in place to avoid similar vulnerability of the Journal to exploitation in the future. More information may be found at www.sagepub.co.uk/JVC_Statement_2014 . The Journal and SAGE understand from NPUE that Peter Chen has resigned his post at NPUE. The following articles are retracted because after thorough investigation evidence points towards them having at least one author or being reviewed by at least one reviewer who has been implicated in the peer review ring and/or citation ring. All authors have had an opportunity to respond to the allegations and proposed actions. OnlineFirst articles (these articles will not be published in an issue) Chen CY, Chen T-H, Chen Y-H, Yu S-E and Chung P-Y (2013) Information technology system modeling an integrated C-TAM-TPB model to the validation of ocean tidal analyses Journal of Vibration and Control Epub ahead of print 7 May 2013. doi: 10.1177/1077546312472924 Chang R-F, Chen CY, Su F-P and Lin H-C (2013) A two-step approach for broadband digital signal processing technique Journal of Vibration and Control Epub ahead of print 26 April 2013. doi: 10.1177/1077546312472925 Chen TH, Chang CJ, Yu SE, Chung PY and Liu C-K (2013) Nonlinear information analysis and system management technique: the influence of design experience and control complexity Journal of Vibration and Control Epub ahead of print 12 April 2013. doi: 10.1177/1077546312473321 Chen CY, Shih BY, Chen YH, Yu SE and Liu YC (2013) The exploration of a 3T flow model using vibrating NXT: II. Model validation Journal of Vibration and Control Epub ahead of print 10 April 2013. doi: 10.1177/1077546312470481 Chen CY, Shih BY, Chen YH, Yu SE and Liu YC (2013) The exploration of 3T flow model using vibrating NXT: I. model formulation Journal of Vibration and Control Epub ahead of print 6 February 2013. doi: 10.1177/1077546312467360 Lin M-L and Chen C-W (2013) Stability analysis of fuzzy-based NN modeling for ecosystems using fuzzy Lyapunov methods Journal of Vibration and Control Epub ahead of print 6 February 2013. doi: 10.1177/1077546312466687 Chen CY, Chen TH, Chen YH and Chiu J (2012) A multi-stage method for deterministic-statistical analysis: a mathematical case and measurement studies Journal of Vibration and Control Epub ahead of print 20 December 2012. doi: 10.1177/1077546312466579 Shih BY, Lin MC and Chen CY (2012) Autonomous navigation system for radiofrequency identification mobile robot e-book reader Journal of Vibration and Control Epub ahead of print 13 December 2012. doi: 10.1177/1077546312466578 Chang RF, Chen CY, Su FP, Lin HC and Lu C-K (2012) Multiphase SUMO robot based on an agile modeling-driven process for a small mobile robot Journal of Vibration and Control Epub ahead of print 13 December 2012. doi: 10.1177/1077546312464993 Shih B-Y, Lin Y-K, Cheng M-H, Chen C-Y and Chiu C-P (2012) The development of an application program interactive game-based information system Journal of Vibration and Control Epub ahead of print 12 December 2012. doi: 10.1177/1077546312464682 Chen C-Y, Chang C-J and Lin C-H (2012) On dynamic access control in web 2.0 and cloud interactive information hub: technologies Journal of Vibration and Control Epub ahead of print 12 December 2012. doi: 10.1177/1077546312464992 Shin BY, Chen CY and Hsu KH (2012) Robot cross platform system using innovative interactive theory and selection algorithms for Android application Journal of Vibration and Control Epub ahead of print 13 November 2012. doi: 10.1177/1077546312463757 Articles published in an issue Chen C-W (2014) Applications of neural-network-based fuzzy logic control to a nonlinear time-delay chaotic system Journal of Vibration and Control 20 (4): 589-605. Epub ahead of print 5 November 2012. doi: 10.1177/1077546312461370 Chen C-W (2014) A review of intelligent algorithm approaches and neural-fuzzy stability criteria for time-delay tension leg platform systems Journal of Vibration and Control 20 (4): 561-575. Epub ahead of print 5 November 2012. doi: 10.1177/1077546312463759 Chen C-Y, Chang C-J and Lin C-H (2014) On dynamic access control in web 2.0 and cloud interactive information hub: trends and theories Journal of Vibration and Control 20 (4): 548-560. Epub ahead of print 5 November 2012. doi: 10.1177/1077546312463762 Lin M-L and Chen C-W (2014) Stability conditions for ecosystem modeling using the fuzzy Lyapunov method Journal of Vibration and Control 20 (2): 290-302. Epub ahead of print 23 October 2012. doi: 10.1177/1077546312451301 Chen C-H, Kuo C-M, Hsieh S-H and Chen C-Y (2014) Highly efficient very-large-scale integration (VLSI) implementation of probabilistic neural network image interpolator Journal of Vibration and Control 20 (2): 218-224. Epub ahead of print 22 October 2012. doi: 10.1177/1077546312458822 Chen C-Y (2014) Wave vibration and simulation in dissipative media described by irregular boundary surfaces: a mathematical formulation Journal of Vibration and Control 20 (2): 191-203. Epub ahead of print 22 October 2012. doi: 10.1177/1077546312464258 Chen C-H, Yao T-K, Dai J-H and Chen C-Y (2014) A pipelined multiprocessor system- on-a-chip (SoC) design methodology for streaming signal processing Journal of Vibration and Control 20 (2): 163-178. Epub ahead of print 16 October 2012. doi: 10.1177/1077546312458821 Lin M-L and Chen C-W (2014) Fuzzy neural modeling for n-degree ecosystems using the linear matrix inequality approach Journal of Vibration and Control 20 (1): 82-93. Epub ahead of print 8 October 2012. doi: 10.1177/1077546312458533 Chen C-H, Wu W-X and Chen C-Y (2013) Ant-inspired collective problem-solving systems Journal of Vibration and Control 19 (16): 2481-2490. Epub ahead of print 18 September 2012. doi: 10.1177/1077546312456231 Chen C-H, Yao T-K, Kuo C-M and Chen C-Y (2013) Evolutionary design of constructive multilayer feedforward neural network Journal of Vibration and Control 19 (16): 2413-2420. Epub ahead of print 12 September 2012. doi: 10.1177/1077546312456726 Chen C-W (2013) Applications of the fuzzy-neural Lyapunov criterion to multiple time-delay systems Journal of Vibration and Control 19 (13): 2054-2067. Epub ahead of print 16 August 2012. doi: 10.1177/1077546312451034 Chung P-Y, Chen Y-H, Walter L and Chen C-Y (2013) Influence and dynamics of a mobile robot control on mechanical components Journal of Vibration and Control 19 (13): 1923-1935. Epub ahead of print 20 July 2012. doi: 10.1177/1077546312452184 Chen C-W (2013) Neural network-based fuzzy logic parallel distributed compensation controller for structural system Journal of Vibration and Control 19 (11): 1709-1727. Epub ahead of print 22 June 2012. doi: 10.1177/1077546312442233 Chen C-W, Yeh K, Yang H-C, Liu KFR and Liu C-C (2013) A critical review of structural system control by the large-scaled neural network linear-deferential-inclusion-based criterion Journal of Vibration and Control 19 (11): 1658-1673. Epub ahead of print 18 June 2012. doi: 10.1177/1077546312443377 Chen C-H, Kuo C-M, Chen C-Y and Dai J-H (2013) The design and synthesis using hierarchical robotic discrete-event modeling Journal of Vibration and Control 19 (11): 1603-1613. Epub ahead of print 27 June 2012. doi: 10.1177/1077546312449645 Chang CJ, Chen CY and Chou I-T (2013) The design of information and communication technologies: telecom MOD strength machines Journal of Vibration and Control 19 (10): 1499-1513. Epub ahead of print 27 June 2012. doi: 10.1177/1077546312449644 Shih B-Y, Chen C-Y, Li K-H, Wu T-Y, Chen G-Y (2013) A novel NXT control method for implementing force sensing and recycling in a training robot Journal of Vibration and Control 19 (10): 1443-1459. Epub ahead of print 1 June 2012. doi: 10.1177/1077546312446361 Chen C-W, Chen P-C and Chiang W-L (2013) Modified intelligent genetic algorithm-based adaptive neural network control for uncertain structural systems Journal of Vibration and Control 19 (9): 1333-1347. Epub ahead of print 31 May 2012. doi: 10.1177/1077546312442232 Chen C-Y, Shih B-Y, Shih C-H and Wang L-H (2013) Enhancing robust and stability control of a humanoid biped robot: system identification approach. Journal of Vibration and Control 19 (8): 1199-1207. Epub ahead of print 26 April 2012. doi: 10.1177/1077546312442947 Chang C-J, Chen C-Y and Huang C-W (2013) Applications for medical recovery using wireless control of a bluetooth ball with a hybrid G-sensor and human-computer interface technology Journal of Vi

Retraction notice

Many bridges in Taiwan have been in use from the period that Taiwan was governed by the Japanese, over 50 years ago, which is the average ultimate usable lifetime of such structures. Three-quarters of the bridges on major highways have been in use for more than 20 years and numerous bridges on country roads have also been in use for more than 20 years. In other words, most of the bridges in Taiwan are aging and may require repair or replacement. Ambient vibration tests are utilized to measure the response of old bridges, which are difficult to equip with accelerometers. The Fourier transform method is traditionally used to gain important information about ambient vibration records. However, the development of information technology over the last 20 years has meant that there are more kinds of signal management technologies, including the wavelet and Hilbert—Huang transform (HHT) methods. In this study we investigate the characteristics of aging bridges by comparison with their structural properties. We analyze their ambient vibration, and discuss the possible influence of the frequency function. Long-term environmental impacts create many structural problems, but with traditional methods examination of bridge health is difficult. Therefore, in our HHT management system, we examine destroyed bridges. The characteristics and behavior of bridges subjected to random loading can be understood by analysis with the random decrement technique and the frequency response function method.

Retraction notice

Within the methodologically diverse interdisciplinary research on the minimal self, we identify two movements with seemingly disparate research agendas – cognitive science and cognitive (developmental) robotics. Cognitive science, on the one hand, devises rather abstract models which can predict and explain human experimental data related to the minimal self. Incorporating the established models of cognitive science and ideas from artificial intelligence, cognitive robotics, on the other hand, aims to build embodied learning machines capable of developing a self “from scratch” similar to human infants. The epistemic promise of the latter approach is that, at some point, robotic models can serve as a testbed for directly investigating the mechanisms that lead to the emergence of the minimal self. While both approaches can be productive for creating causal mechanistic models of the minimal self, we argue that building a minimal self is different from understanding the human minimal self. Thus, one should be cautious when drawing conclusions about the human minimal self based on robotic model implementations and vice versa. We further point out that incorporating constraints arising from different levels of analysis will be crucial for creating models that can predict, generate, and causally explain behavior in the real world.

Machine ethics has received increasing attention over the past few years because of the need to ensure safe and reliable artificial intelligence (AI). The two dominantly used theories in machine ethics are deontological and utilitarian ethics. Virtue ethics, on the other hand, has often been mentioned as an alternative ethical theory. While this interesting approach has certain advantages over popular ethical theories, little effort has been put into engineering artificial virtuous agents due to challenges in their formalization, codifiability, and the resolution of ethical dilemmas to train virtuous agents. We propose to bridge this gap by using role-playing games riddled with moral dilemmas. There are several such games in existence, such as Papers, Please and Life is Strange, where the main character encounters situations where they must choose the right course of action by giving up something else dear to them. We draw inspiration from such games to show how a systemic role-playing game can be designed to develop virtues within an artificial agent. Using modern day AI techniques, such as affinity-based reinforcement learning and explainable AI, we motivate the implementation of virtuous agents that play such role-playing games, and the examination of their decisions through a virtue ethical lens. The development of such agents and environments is a first step towards practically formalizing and demonstrating the value of virtue ethics in the development of ethical agents.

Artificial Intelligence (AI) will have a major social impact in the coming years, affecting today’s professions and our daily routines. In the short-term, education is one of the most impacted areas. The autonomous decision making that can be achieved with tools based on AI implies that some of the traditional methodologies associated with the fundamentals of the learning process in students, must be reviewed. Consequently, the role of teachers in the classroom may change, as they will have to deal with such AI tools performing parts of their work, and with students making a common use of them. In this scope, the AI in Education (AIEd) community agrees on the key relevance of developing AI literacies to train teachers and students of all educational levels in the fundamentals of this new technological discipline, so they can understand how these tools based on AI work and pilot the adaptation in an informed way. This implies teaching students about the fundamentals of topics like perception, representation, reasoning, learning, and the impact of AI, with the aim of delivering a solid formation in this area. To support them, formal teaching and learning resources must be developed and tested with students, properly adapted to different educational levels. The main contribution of this proposal lies in the presentation of the Robobo Project, a technological tool based on intelligent robotics that supports such formal AI literacy training for a wide range of ages, from secondary school to higher education. The core part of this paper is focused on showing the possibilities the Robobo Project offers to teachers in a simple way, and how it can be adapted to different levels and skills, leading to a long-term educational proposal. Validation results that support the feasibility of this technology in the education about AI, obtained with students and teachers in different educational levels during a period of six years, are presented and discussed.

Purpose– The purpose of this paper is to design intelligent robots operating in such dynamic environments like the RoboCup Middle-Size League (MSL). In the RoboCup MSL, two teams of five autonomous robots play on an 18- × 12-m field. Equipped with sensors and on-board computers, each robot should be able to perceive the environment, make decision and control itself to play the soccer game autonomously.Design/methodology/approach– This paper presents the design of our soccer robots, participating in RoboCup MSL. The mechanical platform, electrical architecture and software framework are discussed separately. The mechanical platform is designed modularly, so easy maintainability is achieved; the electronic architecture is built on industrial standards using PC-based control technique, which results in high robustness and reliability during the intensive and fierce MSL games; the software is developed upon the open-source Robot Operating System (ROS); thus, the advantages of ROS such as modularity, portability and expansibility are inherited.Findings– Based on this paper and the open-source hardware and software, the MSL robots can be re-developed easily to participate in the RoboCup MSL. The robots can also be used in other research and education fields, especially for multi-robot systems and distributed artificial intelligence. Furthermore, the main designing ideas proposed in the paper, i.e. using a modular mechanical structure, an industrial electronic system and ROS-based software, provide a common solution for designing general intelligent robots.Originality/value– The methodology of the intelligent robot design for highly competitive and dynamic RoboCup MSL environments is proposed.

The contemporary robotics technology is broadening its applications from factory to more general-purpose applications in domestic and public use, e.g., partner to the elderly, rehabilitations, search and rescue, etc. If robotics technology is to be successful in such complex, unstructured, dynamic environments with high level of uncertainties, it will need to meet new levels of robustness, physical dexterity and cognitive capability. This presentation discusses an emerging field called cognitive robotics. The one solution for building cognitive robots in order to cope with imprecise, incomplete, and inconsistent information that arises in complex technical systems, is computational intelligence that uses biologically inspired soft-computing techniques, like artificial neural networks, evolutionary approaches, and swarm intelligence. Research topics, features and challenges of cognitive robotics will be introduced. Key challenges in constructing these robots include the systematic treatment of uncertainties, the modeling of the environmental state, the coordination of teams of cooperating robots in dynamic environments, the interaction with humans, development, and learning. It is important to notice that in order to realize cognitive robots many overlapping disciplines are needed, e.g. robotics, artificial intelligence, cognitive science, neuroscience, biology, psychology, and cybernetics. Some important research topics from this area will be specially analyzed: Advanced perception (vision, tactile sensing, haptic sensing, multi-sensor fusion), Advanced locomotion and manipulation, SLAM, Learning including imitation learning, reinforcement learning, supervised learning, Human-robot interaction, Reasoning and Making Decisions, Intelligent planning and navigation, Swarm intelligence, etc. A case study of cognitive methods applied for humanoid and service mobile robots will be introduced.

But for me, these questions are much too big for one person’s life pursuit. I like knowing the answer to problems, and these questions are too complex to be answered easily. Instead, what if we study a “simpler” life form – a robot – and try to answer these questions in that context? How can we give robots the capability to solve problems in a way that is as “natural” for the robot as it seems to be for us as humans? And, why not develop these answers by applying robots to real-world problems that can help make our complex human lives a bit easier (and perhaps even more interesting)? Then, we can have answers to these fascinating questions while at the same time applying our work to benefit human society. To me, this is a great motivation for my research in artificial intelligence and autonomous robotics, and what makes this work very satisfying to me.

As a significant part of the smart home, intelligent home robots can provide a variety of convenient home services such as automatic cleaning, elderly care, entertainment interaction, etc., which are highly valued and favoured by the majority of home users, and the market scale is expanding. However, the design and optimization of the control system represents a crucial technical challenge to truly realize the intelligence and autonomy of home robots. This paper presents a comprehensive analysis of the design and optimization of automatic control systems for intelligent home robots, which aims to improve the performance and user experience of intelligent home robots and better meet the needs of families. Through collection and analysis of the research on domestic robots and their control technology ,the core technical elements of the control system are summarized and refined, and the hardware structure and software framework of the control system are analyzed. The research results provide valuable insights for improving the performance and capabilities of home robot control systems to better meet the diverse needs and expectations of home users. These innovations provide a solid foundation for advancing the development of intelligent robots in the home. Future trends in control systems may include enhanced perceptual capabilities and decision-making intelligence to enable robots to better understand and meet the needs of home users.