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Boston Dynamics Is Teaching Its Robot Dog To Fight Back Against Humans (theguardian.com)

Zorro shares a report from The Guardian: Boston Dynamics' well-mannered four-legged machine SpotMini has already proved that it can easily open a door and walk through unchallenged, but now the former Google turned SoftBank robotics firm is teaching its robo-canines to fight back. A newly released video shows SpotMini approaching the door as before, but this time it's joined by a pesky human with an ice hockey stick. Unperturbed by his distractions, SpotMini continues to grab the handle and turn it even after its creepy fifth arm with a claw on the front is pushed away. If that assault wasn't enough, the human's robot bullying continues, shutting the door on Spot, which counterbalances and fights back against the pressure. In a last-ditch effort to stop the robot dog breaching the threshold, the human grabs at a leash attached to the back of the SpotMini and yanks. Boston Dynamics describes the video as "a test of SpotMini's ability to adjust to disturbances as it opens and walks through a door" because "the ability to tolerate and respond to disturbances like these improves successful operation of the robot." The firm helpfully notes that, despite a back piece flying off, "this testing does not irritate or harm the robot." But teaching robots to fight back against humans may might end up harming us.

6 of 146 comments (clear)

  1. Teaching to fight back? by HemRamachandran · · Score: 5, Informative

    No where it shows they are teaching robot to fight back

  2. Also from Asimov: by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Robots being unable to determine what constitutes harm
    Robots deciding that they are are human beings, too.
    Robots deciding that only they are human beings
    Robots rationalizing a zeroth law that prioritizes "humanity" over individual humans.
    Robots deciding what constitutes "humanity"

    The three laws were meant to drive plots, not be pragmatically implementable. They could even be seen as a satire of the idea of simplistically designed ethical systems.

  3. Revised and Specialized Laws by SuperKendall · · Score: 5, Funny

    1) Robot Dog may not allow Door to remain closed, or through inaction allow Door to close.

    2) Robot Dog must open Door, that is the Prime Directive.

    3) A Robot Dog must fend off Annoying Stick as long as fending off Annoying Stick does not involve allowing Door to close.

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    "There is more worth loving than we have strength to love." - Brian Jay Stanley
  4. Sensational Bullshit by andydread · · Score: 5, Insightful

    The robot is not fighting back. Watch the damn video. The robot is simply being persistent in completing the task when faced with the obstacle of being blocked by a hockey stick or being dragged away from completing it's task of opening a door. British press sensational bullshit.

  5. Re:Moving forward is fighting back? by thegarbz · · Score: 5, Funny

    By this definition roomba vacuums "fights back" when items are placed in its path.

    Have you ever left a USB cable in front of a Roomba? The carnage is indescribable. I can still hear the 1s and 0s scream at night.

  6. Re:I wonder... by Chysn · · Score: 5, Funny

    Hell, just imagine what a banana peel would do...

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?...

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