Stories from the future of intelligent machines—from rescue drones to robot spouses—and
accounts of cutting-edge research that could make it all possible. Tech prognosticators
promised us robots—autonomous humanoids that could carry out any number of tasks. Instead we
have robot vacuum cleaners. But as Dario Floreano and Nicola Nosengo report advances in
robotics could bring those rosy predictions closer to reality. A new generation of robots
directly inspired by the intelligence and bodies of living organisms will be able not only to
process data but to interact physically with humans and the environment. In this book Floreano
a roboticist and Nosengo a science writer bring us tales from the future of intelligent
machines—from rescue drones to robot spouses—along with accounts of the cutting-edge research
that could make it all possible. These stories from the not-so-distant future show us robots
that can be used for mitigating effects of climate change providing healthcare working with
humans on the factory floor and more. Floreano and Nosengo tell us how an application of swarm
robotics could protect Venice from flooding how drones could reduce traffic on the congested
streets of mega-cities like Hong Kong and how a long-term relationship model” robot could
supply sex love and companionship. After each fictional scenario they explain the
technologies that underlie it describing advances in such areas as soft robotics swarm
robotics aerial and mobile robotics humanoid robots wearable robots and even biohybrid
robots based on living cells. Robotics technology is no silver bullet for all the world’s
problems—but it can help us tackle some of the most pressing challenges we face.
