Kevin Hernandez

CHE 161

26 September 2017

Robots at Work

Our current world today is rapidly growing at astonishing rates. We are slowly beginning

to see an increase in self-automated task that are done by robots we create. Is it the safest? or the

most reliable? are questions that still remain unanswered and are constantly debated between

groups of people. Alfredo Carpineti in his article, Robot Dentist Is the First to Perform Implant

Operation Without Humans discusses a procedure that was done in Xian, China where a patient

received 3D printed teeth via a robot. This procedure that was overseen by specialist was the first

to be fully automated without the aid of humans. In a country that has a huge demand of people

who require a dentist and a shortage in professional dentist, implementation of robotic assistance

can help meet the demands.

This procedure raises many concerns as too why humans should supervise and be the lead

of in any relations to human health and safety. The top priority of scientist, engineers, and any

health professional is the safety of the patients and the public so implementations of robotics

with machine learning and artificial intelligence tend to raise eye brows of the public. What we

need to keep in mind is the overall safety of the consumers. If the machines that are being put out

have not failed and are functioning properly, then implementation should be a focus and

approved. However, in the case that the machines should glitch or malfunction, then

implementations should be rethought and more research and work should be done in order to

apply improvements and avoid any potential harm.

 Since the procedure that was tested was a complete success with no human interference

there are good chances of implementation happening. However since it was the first time that

this procedure has been done, more test should be ran with tweaks being applied in order to

guarantee the safety. Furthermore, should there be an incident, additions of a kill switch or

sensor should be considered. In order to avoid probable harm, there should be an automatic

shutdown. Similar to an electric table top saw stopping when it detects fingers, these robots

should have a sensor to stop if any mistake is caused.

In conclusion, implementations of robotic operated procedures are still on the sketchy

side. With machine learning and artificial intelligence beginning to rise, there are greater chances

of malfunction and glitches occurring. Until we are able to improve and perfect our current

methods and have them be approved by the general public, more testing and improvements have

to be done on robotics methods used to improve or make life easier. The robotic test done in

china was the first of many, until the confidence level of the runs is great enough, the safety and

concern for the public should be held high and set at a standard to be met.

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