Robots Punch Humans For Science

Anyone else feel a chill down their spine?

Oct 14 2010, 11:04am CDT | by Robert Evans

Scientists at the University of Ljubljana are teaching robots how to cause human beings pain. They've set up a giant industrial robot and are ordering it to punch participants in the arm in order to assess the discomfort caused by each strike. It sounds like boot-camp for the robot apocalypse, but the researchers actually have a sane reason for this wacky experiment. (NewScientist)

When you have robots controlling heavy machinery, the occasional collision with a human is inevitable. This research will help researchers program robots to limit their speed around humans in order to minimize the damage caused by accidental impact.

Yeah, it all seems pretty reasonable. We'll be telling ourselves that right up to the point where the Punch Bots start their manic purge.

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Robert Evans
The excitement about new smartphones, tablets and anything mobile drive Robert to unearth the latest rumors and developments in this fast moving space. He adopted 4G as soon as it become available and knows where the mobile market is going.
Robert can be contacted directly at robert@i4u.com.