Europe's Robots "Electronic Persons" Draft | Olli, First 3D Printed Self-Driving Bus Now in DC
"Europe's Robots to Become "Electronic Persons" Under Draft Plan", Reuters, June 21, 2016.
Europe's growing army of robot workers could be classed as "electronic persons" and their owners liable to paying social security for them if the European Union adopts a draft plan to address the realities of a new industrial revolution.
Robots are being deployed in ever-greater numbers in factories and also taking on tasks such as personal care or surgery, raising fears over unemployment, wealth inequality and alienation.
Their growing intelligence, pervasiveness and autonomy requires rethinking everything from taxation to legal liability, a draft European Parliament motion, dated May 31, suggests.
Some robots are even taking on a human form. Visitors to the world's biggest travel show in March were greeted by a lifelike robot developed by Japan's Toshiba and were helped by another made by France's Aldebaran Robotics.
However, Germany's VDMA, which represents companies such as automation giant Siemens and robot maker Kuka , says the proposals are too complicated and too early.
German robotics and automation turnover rose 7 percent to 12.2 billion euros ($13.8 billion) last year and the country is keen to keep its edge in the latest industrial technology. Kuka is the target of a takeover bid by China's Midea.
The draft motion called on the European Commission to consider "that at least the most sophisticated autonomous robots could be established as having the status of electronic persons with specific rights and obligations". It also suggested the creation of a register for smart autonomous robots, which would link each one to funds established to cover its legal liabilities. Patrick Schwarzkopf, managing director of the VDMA's robotic and automation department, said: "That we would create a legal framework with electronic persons - that's something that could happen in 50 years but not in 10 years."
"We think it would be very bureaucratic and would stunt the development of robotics," he told reporters at the Automatica robotics trade fair in Munich, while acknowledging that a legal framework for self-driving cars would be needed soon.
The report added that robotics and artificial intelligence may result in a large part of the work now done by humans being taken over by robots, raising concerns about the future of employment and the viability of social security systems.
More, http://www.msn.com/en-us/news/technology/europes-robots-to-become-electronic-persons-under-draft-plan/ar-AAhoLDd?ocid=spartandhp
Olli, First 3D Printed Self-Driving Bus with IBM Watson in DC, next trials in Las Vegas, Miami, then Europe. June 16, 2016.
IBM’s first real venture into the automated driving space comes in the form of Olli, a 3D printed autonomous bus.
Olli isn’t 100 percent 3D printed, but the majority of its components are. It seats 12, is electric and its brains are based on Watson, courtesy of IBM. The bus itself has been designed and built by Arizona-based Local Motors and they worked with IBM to make the bus autonomous. The IBM Watson integration means that the bus can process natural language queries and answer random questions, just like Alexa.
You can say, “Take me home” or “Why are you taking that route?” or even the dreaded “Are we there yet?” In fact, the latter capability needs to be present in every single automated car. Cognitive computing provides incredible opportunities to create unparalleled, customized experiences for customers, taking advantage of the massive amounts of streaming data from all devices connected to the Internet of Things, including an automobile’s myriad sensors and systems,” said IBM’s Harriet Green in a statement.
The bus accepts data from around 30 sensors and streams relevant data to and from IBM’s cloud.
Olli will only be tested in Washington DC for now, but later, trials will expand to Miami, Las Vegas and eventually, Europe. John Rogers, CEO and founder of Local Motors said that he’s been in talks with the governments of over 50 countries, all of which are interested in alternative transport. Rogers envisions a future where Olli will only be a tap away, a future where the bus can be 3D printed in micro-factories in under 10 hours. He also adds that the vehicle can easily be tailor-made to suit market conditions as most of it is 3D printed.
