Universal Robots: The History and Workings of Robotics
http://www.thetech.org/exhibits/online/robotics/universal/index.html
This article provides a brief history and future glimpses with regards to robots and robotics. It is true mankind has been fascinated with the concept of robots. Even Leonard da Vinci had plans for a mechanical robot as far back as 1495! In 1926, Westinghouse Electric Corporation created Televox, the first robot put to practical use. The first truly modern robot, that could be programmed, was the Unimate, invented by George Devol in 1954.
To some people, robots represent the ultimate in luxury, providing people with robotic maids and even used for sex (which is repulsive to me, but believe me those people are out there and wishing for the day). Some futurists contend that advances in artificial intelligence will produce robots capable of conversation and thought. I am skeptical of this idea, but do believe remarkable machines will someday be produced.
Today we have robots in the factories and small commercial versions in the home. The robotic vacuum cleaner is the best example of the latter.
And mankind does have the fear. The fear that someday these machines will take over. Perhaps people have seen the Terminator too many times, I do no know. People do fear what they do not understand.
The future will more than likely be more mundane with robots created to relieve us of household duties including cooking. The elimination or the subservience of the human race will have to remain in the minds of science fiction writers.
The Future of Robots
http://www.popsci.com/scitech/article/2006-09/future-robots?page=1
Robots: The future is now
http://www.cnn.com/2006/TECH/science/04/14/fs.roboticsprofile/
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