Print-your-own-robots before 2020?

Printed-on-demand robots might be a reality before the end of the decade if a US-based project achieves its goals.

Researchers aim to build a desktop technology that would allow an average person to design and print a machine within 24 hours.

The team says that making it easier to create specialised robots could have a "profound impact on society".

The effort is being funded by a $10m (£6.3m; 7.6 euro) grant from the National Science Foundation.

The Virginia-based organisation described the move as a "game changing investment".

"It has the potential to democratise and personalise automation to meet the needs of individual users - whether for search and rescue workers in remote areas of the world or educators in classrooms around the US - possibilities for social impact abound," said spokeswoman Lisa-Joy Zgorski...

Full article

3D printing is still fairly cutting-edge. But this adds a whole new dimension.

I can't help wondering whether the inherent tendency of news writers to hype a story is leading to an overstatement of what this all means. But assuming the essential facts as reported are accurate this is surely significant.

...Longer term, Prof Wood said he hoped the research would pave the way for one-stop-shop machines that can "spit out" a robot at home or at the future equivalent of a photocopy store for less than $100 a piece.

His colleague Prof Daniela Rus, from MIT's Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence Laboratory, added that this could lead to the creation of a community of users who would share designs and experiences.

"Building on our philosophy that if you can imagine it you can build it, we believe this project has enormous potential for broader impacts in education, manufacturing, healthcare, and everyday life," she said.

"Imagine a world in which printed functional objects are as common as printed paper.

"We will enable the rapid creation of tooling for manufacturing, and fast reconfiguration of assembly lines. Custom robot hands will bring a new level of flexibility to people confined to wheelchairs, allowing them to reach for objects on shelves or floors, and inexpensive project kits in the classroom. "

So what kind of a world does this lead to? Could it eventually represent a revolution on a par with the introduction of the PC? And what do you see as the downsides?

Well, that means they don't think that computers will be destroyed in 2012. They are investing on it.
Wierd. I can't figure out how it will turn out (the robot in the world). We will have to make sure that all robots recieve the 4 Laws of Asimov, though.

And what do you see as the downsides?

reply to post by pause4thought


umm...
Terminator
The Matrix
Blade Runner
etc. You see where I'm going with this...

reply to post by swan001 & boot2theface


I, Robot.

Need we say more?





But that's surely an issue for 2120 rather than the end of this decade. lol

Can anyone envisage, say, 2030 in the light of this development? What do you see?

reply to post by pause4thought


If you think this is a problem for maybe 2130 or at the least another generation then I present to you this.

The Law of Accelerating Returns

reply to post by boot2theface


Holy Cow! That's a beefy-looking article. Following a quick perusal I've decided I'm going to read it despite its length. Nice left-of-field response.

What do you see, in concrete terms? What do you see in the home, in industry, in hospitals?

I expect we may be looking at yet another massive blow to employment...

Print your own, working wrench
Probably already been covered here.

reply to post by Juggernog


That was worth pointing out for those who haven't come across this technology before.

But what we're contemplating here is a machine that does something with that wrench — according to your wishes.

(Let's hope The Mob doesn't hear about this...)

Originally posted by Juggernog
Print your own, working wrench
Probably already been covered here.

I was struggling to comprehend what the OP was actually implying, this level of technology being way beyond my understanding, it simply didn't make any sense...but that clip helped loads. Thanks. Amazing.

reply to post by pause4thought


The Law of Accelerating Returns basically says that tech not only gets more advanced. it gets more advanced faster and faster (exponentially). What that means is, If you look at that chart, that at some point in the future the line on the graph will be completely vertical. We will make advancement equivalent to all of history in a matter of seconds. What that is my friend is called a Singularity. There is no way at all to know what may happen at that point, but I have a feeling that as a whole this will be very, very bad for humanity...

reply to post by Biliverdin


Yea, I was in the same boat as you are, that clip helped me a bit too but I still have a hard time comprehending the technology involved.

Well then once humans can print robots, then robots can print robots, and then we are 100% out of the loop.

Then they will be building us to serve purposes for them, or maybe that's already whats going on.

reply to post by Moneyisgodlifeisrented


This is the crux of the situation. What will happen when a computer program can program another computer program?

Extreme food for thought.

reply to post by Juggernog


I kind of get the 3D imaging...in principle, and it is presumably using similar concepts to MRI scanning and stuff...but yeah, way, way above my head...the implications of this technology though, it is a little bit like Star Trek replicators to my mind...though not Awesome either way. Love it!

reply to post by boot2theface


I was obviously aware of Moore's law, but what you are saying goes way beyond that. And in the light of what has happened in the last 100 years alone, not to mention what we all know about current miniaturization / nanotechnology, the basic premise is sound.

I suppose I have to reluctantly concur with your pessimistic outlook in the long-term. The application of any technology is merely a reflection of the moral state of those who implement it.

Not to mention what happens once TPTB & the military get to grips with this...

If the military gets a hold of it, then it will get left on a train somewhere, and merge with a Ipod, and take over the internet and start self replicating as pop bands of the past 50 years...

Run, run for your non rick rollin life.

reply to post by pause4thought


i recentley saw a vid of a 3d printer creating intricate designs with moving interlocked parts (sorry cant remember the name but its around somewhere) it wont take long for it to be able to create machines then the next step is .... INTELLIGENT LIFE (insert dramatic music sting here)