| Honda has been advancing well in the area of robotic | | | | 3) A robot must protect its own existence as long as |
| research in recent years, their signature robot being | | | | such protection does not conflict with the First or |
| the Asimo. | | | | Second Law. |
| The Asimo Robot developed by Honda. | | | | The Asimo has come a long way, overcoming various |
| Interestingly, the name "Asimo", is very similar to the | | | | obstacles such as walking up a staircase while |
| name "Asimov". Asimov, being the last name of the | | | | maintaining its balance. Showcases of its abilities has |
| Russia born science fiction writer, Issac Asimov. He | | | | awed many robotic fanatics, but at the same time |
| was well known for his science fiction writings. The | | | | has caused many people to be uncomfortable with |
| robots in his writings always obey the three laws | | | | the rapid development of robotics. |
| that he has come up with (Taken from Wikipedia): | | | | Workers are afraid of being replaced by robots and |
| Three Laws of Robotics are a set of three rules | | | | automations. People are worried that one day, with |
| written by Isaac Asimov, which almost all positronic | | | | advanced artificial intelligence, robots might overrun |
| robots appearing in his fiction must obey. Introduced | | | | the world, as depicted in the "Terminator" series. |
| in his 1942 short story "Runaround", although | | | | Lack of knowledge breeds doubt. Doubt in turn gives |
| foreshadowed in a few earlier stories, the Laws | | | | birth to fear. Scientists and engineers are facing moral |
| state the following: | | | | issues while trying to push robotic technology to the |
| 1) A robot may not injure a human being or, through | | | | next envelope. |
| inaction, allow a human being to come to harm. | | | | As such engineers and scientists have to tackle the |
| 2) A robot must obey any orders given to it by | | | | emotional aspect of people before they can |
| human beings, except where such orders would | | | | assimilate such technology into daily lives. |
| conflict with the First Law. | | | | |