The Billiard Ball

Asimov, Isaac

doi:10.5749/j.ctt189tts8.3

Cited by 35 publications

(40 citation statements)

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“…The design and synthesis of molecules that can undergo reversible and controlled structural changes with various stimuli have thus received considerable attention, and now include many reports of real dynamic molecular systems where the machine‐like action of their molecular components has been harnessed to do controlled work on their surroundings. These likely qualify as ‘molecular machines’ in most readers’ opinion, but the achievement and very definition of a machine, molecular or otherwise, has been in lively debate ever since biochemistry professor Isaac Asimov began to sketch out the early laws of robotics over 75 years ago in his sci‐fi paperbacks . In an effort to help guide chemists and molecular engineers now in this field, a clear language has been proposed to try and differentiate simple molecular shape switches, from complex multi‐component devices that are effective in driving a system away from its equilibrium in a controlled, desired, and pre‐programmed fashion …”

Section: Introduction: Molecular Devices and Tiny Machinesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Shape‐Shifting Azo Dye Polymers: Towards Sunlight‐Driven Molecular Devices

Bushuyev

Aizawa

Shishido

et al. 2017

Macromol. Rapid Commun.

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The development of stimuli-responsive polymers is among the key goals of modern materials science. The structure and properties of such switchable materials can be designed to be controlled via various stimuli, among which light is frequently the most powerful trigger. Light is a gentle energy source that can target materials remotely, and with extremely high spatial and temporal resolution easily and cheaply. Reversible light-control over molecular mechanical properties in particular has in recent years attracted great interest due to potential applications as optical-to-mechanical conversion actuators and 'devices', enabling 'molecular robotic machines'. In this review, some recent examples and emerging trends in this exciting field of research are highlighted, covering a wide variety of polymer hosts that contain azobenzene photo-reversible switches. It is hoped that this review will help stimulate more interest towards the development of light-reversible materials for energy harvesting and conversion, and their successful incorporation into a wide variety of current and future high-tech applications in devices.

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Section: Introduction: Molecular Devices and Tiny Machinesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Shape‐Shifting Azo Dye Polymers: Towards Sunlight‐Driven Molecular Devices

Bushuyev

Aizawa

Shishido

et al. 2017

Macromol. Rapid Commun.

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“…The very definition of a machine has been a fascinating debate since Isaac Asimov began to lay out the early laws of robotics over 70 years ago. 8 In an effort to advance the field, a stringent language has been sought to differentiate simple molecular switches from motors that are capable of driving a system away from equilibrium. 9,10 While the working principles of these molecular devices cannot be compared to macroscopic analogues, a practical acceptance has emerged that a molecular machine can be a multicomponent system with defined energy input that is capable of performing a measureable and useful secondary function either at the nanoscale, or if amplified through collective action, at the macroscale.…”

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confidence: 99%

Controlling Motion at the Nanoscale: Rise of the Molecular Machines

et al. 2015

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As our understanding and control of intra- and intermolecular interactions evolve, ever more complex molecular systems are synthesized and assembled that are capable of performing work or completing sophisticated tasks at the molecular scale. Commonly referred to as molecular machines, these dynamic systems comprise an astonishingly diverse class of motifs and are designed to respond to a plethora of actuation stimuli. In this Review, we outline the conditions that distinguish simple switches and rotors from machines and draw from a variety of fields to highlight some of the most exciting recent examples of opportunities for driven molecular mechanics. Emphasis is placed on the need for controllable and hierarchical assembly of these molecular components to display measurable effects at the micro-, meso-, and macroscales. As in Nature, this strategy will lead to dramatic amplification of the work performed via the collective action of many machines organized in linear chains, on functionalized surfaces, or in three-dimensional assemblies.

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“…Famously, the science fiction writer Isaac Asimov proposed the 3 laws of robotics (Asimov 1942) 1. A robot may not injure a human being or, through inaction, allow a human being to come to harm.…”

Section: Programming Robots To Be Goodmentioning

confidence: 99%

Can we program or train robots to be good?

Sharkey

2017

Ethics Inf Technol

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As robots are deployed in a widening range of situations, it is necessary to develop a clearer position about whether or not they can be trusted to make good moral decisions. In this paper, we take a realistic look at recent attempts to program and to train robots to develop some form of moral competence. Examples of implemented robot behaviours that have been described as 'ethical', or 'minimally ethical' are considered, although they are found to operate only in quite constrained and limited application domains. There is a general recognition that current robots cannot be described as full moral agents, but it is less clear whether will always be the case. Concerns are raised about the insufficiently justified use of terms such as 'moral' and 'ethical' to describe the behaviours of robots that are often more related to safety considerations than to moral ones. Given the current state of the art, two possible responses are identified. The first involves continued efforts to develop robots that are capable of ethical behaviour. The second is to argue against, and to attempt to avoid, placing robots in situations that demand moral competence and an understanding of the surrounding social situation. There is something to be gained from both responses, but it is argued here that the second is the more responsible choice.

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The Billiard Ball

Cited by 35 publications

References 0 publications

Shape‐Shifting Azo Dye Polymers: Towards Sunlight‐Driven Molecular Devices

Shape‐Shifting Azo Dye Polymers: Towards Sunlight‐Driven Molecular Devices

Controlling Motion at the Nanoscale: Rise of the Molecular Machines

Can we program or train robots to be good?

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