In Brief

Publications Pictures of the Future Fall 2002

Robots

By the end of 2005, it is estimated that there will be 39,500 service robots working in professional applications worldwide, some 2,900 of which will be involved in areas like floor and window cleaning. Mobile machines are already being used today to clean floors in places such as supermarkets. They are guided by Siemens' SINAS, the world's most advanced navigation system for autonomous service robots. Whereas today's robots work independently, in the future they will do large-surface cleaning jobs as teams. Siemens is developing and testing the navigation systems that will be required for this
In 20 to 30 years, service robots will become a part of the home environment. These machines will conduct their work after receiving spoken orders from their owners. Among other things, such robots will make it possible for elderly people to live at home longer
Although today's industrial robots are not much more intelligent than those of 15 years ago, they cost only one-fourth as much. This has made them affordable for more and more small- and medium-sized companies. Experts believe that humans will disappear from factories over the long term, with robots taking on all the strenuous work
Until now, scientists have had little luck in developing human-like intelligence for machines. Siemens researchers are now developing networks containing millions of artificial nerve cells that function in the same manner as human nerve cells. Today, such networks are often simulated with software, which means object-recognition processes remain relatively slow. Tomorrow's networks, however, are expected to be able to recognize patterns in real time
The Robotic User Interface project is designed to create better human-machine interfaces, including robots and computer avatars that show more emotion. This will facilitate human interaction with machines
Some experts predict it will be possible in the future to transfer feelings from a human brain to an artificial one. Conversely, it might be possible to install nanorobots in human brains as a means of expanding consciousness