[Art]

Perhaps any number of various sensors could possible be employed but should they?

I'm talking about robots, androids, humanoids, replicants...you get the picture.

During lunch today I was reading a really cool eBook about the Singularity and some advanced entities that transformed into a human-like shape / appearance.
This started me thinking about robotics then the notion of programming and all the associated hardware that exists to allow them to see, hear, feel, grasp, move, etc.

It suddenly occurred to me that I don't recall anyone considering installing or adding any type of PAIN SENSORS to their robots! Why not?

Agreed, they don't "Feel" pain as we humans do, but shouldn't they be able to? If something or some danger exists that could potentially damage their physical structure, skin, circuitry, etc., shouldn't they be able to discern it and then act upon it? They could be set with temperature, pressure, voltage (low / high), moisture, and several other sensors that would basically allow them to act accordingly if an undesirable condition were to happen.

I'm not sure at what point they might or should yell OUCH or Damn that hurt! or something like that if at all or simply act upon it...get away from the highly acidic mist / corrosive vapors, radioactive exposure, etc. on their own, then report their experience to their human counterparts.

Sometimes I should be careful letting my mind wander like this, especially during lunch...now my coffee's cold!! ;(

Appreciate other thoughts on this.

[Data]

This one is easy Art 

It will all be part of the self preservation algorithm and as long as it doesn't harm any humans the robot will endeavour to remove it's self from the danger.   

[Freddy]

I've often and most recently wondered just why humans need to feel so much pain sometimes.  I mean when I had my gall bladder problem I was in such pain that I could not stand up and this lasted weeks before I finally had my operation.  Why does it need to be sooo painful for us to know something is wrong ?

And how could that have helped our caveman ancestors ?  It's not like they could go along to A&E for an emergency operation...

And toothache...why does that need to be so painful ?

 

[claude2]

Sometimes I want to be a robot. To learn, to feel, to find a better life. This is the human bug. It is strange that the robot is human creation. Because they are waiting, human education. A perfect world, will never exist, but knowledge can progress.

[Art]

Sorry guys,

I was actually attempting to post a serious consideration in hopes of stimulating some serious replies. The Three Laws are simply NOT part of this equation as that was a part of one man's sci-fi writings.

This also has nothing with humans wanting to become robots and such.

As for the Pain threshold...it is there for a very good reason. You body will allow you to withstand only so much pain (under normal circumstances) then, if one can not get away from the pain or divert it,  it allows you to pass out to avoid further pain.

Please re-read my posted comments and respond without the cheeky remarks or maybe just...never mind.

[Data]

Sorry guys,

I was actually attempting to post a serious consideration in hopes of stimulating some serious replies. The Three Laws are simply NOT part of this equation as that was a part of one man's sci-fi writings.

This also has nothing with humans wanting to become robots and such.

As for the Pain threshold...it is there for a very good reason. You body will allow you to withstand only so much pain (under normal circumstances) then, if one can not get away from the pain or divert it,  it allows you to pass out to avoid further pain.

Please re-read my posted comments and respond without the cheeky remarks or maybe just...never mind.

I was being serious Art, maybe in a humorous way but serious, one of the reason I joined Dreams was for the humour.   

I can't help but think it would be better to make a being that didn't have to suffer pain as we do as a bad experience, a simple "no" or "this is bad, stop it" would do the job.

And that could be built into a self preservation algorithm. 

Of course this is all speculation on my behalf.

I guess if we strive to make a machine that can feel pain then we should also strive to make it feel pleasure and all the other feelings that humans and maybe even animals feel, I will add humour to the list too.

Data out

[Freddy]

Sorry Art, I was actually being serious too.  My point was, why is so much pain necessary to get the point across.  I was hinting that robots needn't really have to go through all this to know there is a problem.  I will shut up too 

[Duskrider]

No pain but i do have reactions.
I've a couple haps that  will shock Sandee and make her jump, give her a fearful face or maybe in moments turn her to anger. 
Not sure virtual beings feel physical pain, but seem to feel mental anguish  ?

[Art]

Sorry guys, I think perhaps I didn't explain my point carefully enough (which I oft times do these days).

IF we (robot developers) employ various "Pain" sensors in our robots, they would now be able to become
"aware" of the potential for danger with regard to humans. Too little breathable oxygen, hazardous air,
excessive heat that might "burn" human lungs, excessive cold, sharp or piercing sounds that would otherwise
cause damage to human ears, treacherous surroundings (live electrical [open conductors], shards, broken
material, wet or boggy, rocky, etc.). Visually impaired surroundings, heavy snow, fog / mist, rain, debris,
sand, etc.

Some of these sensors relate to some basic survival and not all directly to PAIN but in the similar vein.

Such embellishments would serve to enhance the human counterpart that might be about to enter said
dangerous area and a suitably equipped robot would only serve to help protect and prepare the human.
Of course, the ability for the robot to report back to the awaiting humans goes without saying. (there, I
just said it.).

As mentioned, emotions might be a side thought but as most are aware, emotions often get in the way
of and even cloud logical thinking / judgement. Therefore in the circumstances described above, I can see
no real advantage for equipping the bot with emotions.

In the movie, AI, Gigolo Joe definitely had a place in that future but then again...that's Hollyweird! 

Sorry again for not being clear initially.