The Duality of Robotics

Robotics has been around since somewhere near the 1950s. Like other technology, it has been used for good, and it has been used for harm. This is the duality within tech, especially robotics. Nowadays, robotics and AI is being funded and evolving more than ever.

Robotics and AI is being used in many fields, such as security and defense, medical, education, and more. Some fields of robotics are funded and prioritized more than others. As Forsyth science teacher David said “The US definitely invests more in weapons research and other forms of weapon making. Though there are investments in other kinds of robotics.” There are pros and cons to it just like many other things in this world.

Yesterday I was working on a robotics project at Best Buy's Teen Tech Center on the Lower East Side of Manhattan. To build a nerf turret that tracks moving things, I used tinkerCAD (3d modeling software) to design a bearing base, so the turret would be able to turn 360º. I then picked a microcontroller to use on the project as well as any other parts I would need, such as jumper wires, motors, batter packs, and anything else I’d need for the Nerf Turret to work. At the Teen Tech Center there are mentors who help out with projects that any TTC Members may have.

An image of the author's 3D model for his turret design

As someone interested in defense and security, I have an internal conflict. My inventions might be used to hurt others. But I push through because deep down I know that whether you’re a soldier, or civilian, you deserve to have someone that’s got your back and is willing to give you a bit of protection. David, the science teacher from Forsyth, says that most of the cons within robotics are problems with society as opposed to the actual robots themselves. Robots stealing jobs would be an example of this. Another clear example of the cons of robotics would be the environmental factors: it takes a lot of water to keep AI tools like ChatGPT, Claude, or Perplexity AI running .

Many inventions have been turned into military weapons, from the invention of long form communication and the wheel, to something as simple as gunpowder which was originally made to be an elixir to immortality. Now, what about the future of robotics and AI? How will it be used in the future? Forsyth Science Teacher Mai says “Unfortunately, the realistic response is it's going to be used for weaponry because we can't have nice things.” I think that in the future, we’ll have laws about using AI in court, or robotics for the public. Robotics is quite the powerful tool, and humans like to ruin things.