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Future of robotics: opportunities and ethical challenges for our society!
Interview series at RWTH Aachen highlights robotics research with Professors Vallery and Trimpe. Ethical questions and future perspectives discussed.
Future of robotics: opportunities and ethical challenges for our society!
On April 7, 2025, RWTH Aachen University will address the question of whether robots will replace humans in an exciting series of interviews. In conversation with professors Heike Vallery and Sebastian Trimpe, diverse aspects of robotics are examined. Professor Vallery, a leading expert in mechanical engineering and robotics, has returned to RWTH as Alexander Humboldt Professor and heads the Institute for Control Engineering. She brings extensive experience in research supporting human movements.
Professor Trimpe, Professor of Data Science in Mechanical Engineering since 2020, heads the AI Center at RWTH Aachen. With an interdisciplinary background, including a doctorate from ETH Zurich, he enriches the conversation about the role of robotics and artificial intelligence in the future of work. Both professors are also members of the newly founded Robotics Institute Germany.
Opportunities and challenges of robotics
In their discussion, the experts make it clear that the acceptance of robots represents one of the biggest challenges. Vallery and Trimpe specify what constitutes robots: According to Vallery, they are systems that interact in the physical world, while Trimpe describes automated machines that perform tasks and require computer control. Research at RWTH is primarily concerned with computer vision, cognitive robotics and intelligent robotics in production.
A central point of the discussion is the future development in robotics, which will be more evolutionary than revolutionary. This means new jobs are emerging, particularly in robot maintenance and development. The professors also emphasize the need for technological solutions, particularly in nursing and medicine, to overcome challenges. Vallery highlights that these technologies offer opportunities for higher living standards, but at the same time they also pose challenges such as resource consumption and e-waste.
Ethical issues in focus
The discussions also draw attention to ethical questions in robotics. Scientists and society are called upon to think about boundaries and regulations. This becomes even more relevant as human-machine interaction increases and responsibility for decisions made by algorithms needs to be clearly defined. Professor Vallery also addresses the uncanny valley effect: the discomfort many people feel when robots take on human-like traits.
Another point of discussion is the emotions that people attribute to machines. Professors Trimpe and Vallery find that robots are superior at precise positioning and repetitive tasks, but have difficulty with force controls and balance. There are also philosophical considerations about this: Should machines make moral decisions? This debate, which is also driven by technology time, is central to the future development of robotics.
In conclusion, technological advances bring with them both opportunities and risks. Discourse on the ethical implications of these technologies is essential to stay in step with innovations and maximize their positive aspects, while not losing sight of the social and moral challenges.