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The article focuses on recent advancements in cancer treatment, highlighting the development of nanorobots by researchers at the Karolinska Institute in Sweden, designed to selectively kill cancer cells while sparing healthy ones. It details how these nanorobots utilize a pH-sensitive mechanism to activate their lethal payload in the acidic microenvironment typical of tumors, demonstrating promising results in both in vitro and in vivo studies.

Integrating STEM education within the elementary school science curriculum in Ontario, Canada, elevated the expectation for elementary preservice teachers to teach STEM skills such as problem-solving through coding. Research shows that educational robotics can promote STEM knowledge and skills. This mixed methods study investigates the effect of an educational robotics intervention on preservice teachers’ STEM problem-solving skills and their self-efficacy to teach with educational robotics during the COVID-19 pandemic. Data sources included a pre- and post­questionnaire on problem-solving, a pre- and post- self-efficacy teaching questionnaire, a problem-solving worksheet, and transcripts of group interactions. Quantitative findings were statistically significant for preservice teachers’ self-efficacy to teach with educational robotics (large effect size) and for problem-solving competencies (small effect size). Using a STEM problem-solving framework, two preservice teacher group interactions were analysed. Qualitative findings indicated that preservice teachers exhibited similar problem-solving processes as STEM experts, but preservice teachers’ prior STEM knowledge limited the types of decisions considered at the problem-solving stages. The study provides an example of how preservice teachers’ self-efficacy to teach with educational robotics was developed within a science education course and lends unique insights into the problem-solving processes these preservice teacher groups engaged in.

Technology and Teacher Education is part of the Canadian Association of Teacher Education (CATE), a constituent of the Canadian Society for the Study of Education (CSSE). Its mission is to foster a collaborative network of educational researchers dedicated to exploring the intersections of technology and teacher education in Canada. Aligning with this mission, this special issue showcases Canadian scholar expertise and amplifies the diverse voices of the TATE community. Inspired by discussions held during our annual TATE conference, where we focused on lessons learned from emergency remote teaching during the COVID-19 pandemic and the rapid technological advancements that teacher education programs are navigating, this issue offers a collection of studies from Canadian researchers working to make teaching and learning with digital technologies more effective, inclusive, and equitable for all Canadians.

In recent decades, more and more works have appeared, the authors of which are trying to predict possible scenarios for the future development of mankind. This article discusses 5 such scenarios: F. Fukuyama believes that all peoples and countries of the globe in the XXI century will develop in the direction of building a liberal-democratic society; Representatives of the Club of Rome in their latest report, based on statistical data of industrial development, substantiate the idea that by the middle of the XXI century. the Earth’s biosphere will become unsuitable for human life and humanity will begin to die out; representatives of the transhumanist movement in their “Manifesto” set themselves the goal of replacing the human biological body with an artificial body by 1245 and thereby saving people from diseases, from old age and even from death itself; English economist D. Susskind in his book “The Future Without Jobs” predicts that in the next two to three decades, robots and artificial intelligence will force people out of all areas of production and discusses the question of how people who are deprived of the opportunity to work will live; Finally, the Israeli historian Yu.N. Harari in his extensive work “Homo Deus” paints a picture of the fact that scientific and technological progress will turn “reasonable man” into “divine man” in the near future. Assessing all these scenarios for the future development of mankind, one involuntarily comes to the conclusion that they all speak of the death of mankind in the near future.

Copyright of Canadian Journal of Education / Revue Canadienne de l'Éducation is the property of Canadian Society for the Study of Education and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

The development of the behaviour cloning technique allows robots to mimic human experts’ behaviour by observation. The technique is mainly based on model architecture’s design and associated training mechanisms. İt is believed that such an approach will impact the importance of robotics applications in the coming future. The ongoing research presented in this paper has investigated the use of behaviour cloning with image and video data streaming to improve robot learning using imitation of human experts’ behaviour. The investigation has focused on the methodology, algorithms, and challenges associated with training robots to imitate human actions solely based on visual data inputs. An overview of the process of collecting diverse and annotated image and video datasets depicting various human actions and behaviours is presented. To provide efficient and consistent data representation, the preprocessing process includes feature extraction using convolutional neural networks (CNN) and normalization techniques. The CNN model for learning action mappings from visual inputs is described. These models’ training focuses on optimization algorithms and loss functions. A thorough examination of data quality, overfitting, and model generalization issues is addressed and presented. The research’s initial results showed the effectiveness of image and video-based behaviour cloning and how it is leading to more sophisticated and adaptive robotic systems. The limitations of the research are also discussed and presented in this paper.

Bug Algorithms in robotics field play an important role in path planning. The main challenge in conventional bug algorithms is searching the cluttered environment. To solve this problem a method is introduced which uses the concept of swarm robotics that helps in finding path using coordination between robots in swarm. The challenge in this research article is to find a path which is heuristically optimal. A type of bug algorithm is introduced in which parent bug sends two of its child bugs. Each of them has capability of searching in different directions. After searching the path from both sides, parent bug follows the path which is heuristically optimal. Parent and child bugs are equipped with tactile sensors to follow the perimeter of an obstacle. Illustrative simulation results show two test cases in which different scenarios are presented. Results are compared with of bug0 algorithm that is visualized in configuration space as well as in workspace to find the heuristically optimal path.

This study investigates the incorporation of swarm robotics into the control mechanism of electric vehicles (EVs), introducing an innovative intelligent control framework that utilizes the concepts of decentralized decision-making. The research entails a methodical inquiry that encompasses the design of system architecture, the creation of a model for swarm robotics, the modeling of electric vehicle drive, the integration of swarm robotics with EV control, the development of algorithms for intelligent control, and the execution of real-world tests. The fleet of electric cars, propelled by a collective of independent robotic entities, displayed remarkable flexibility in adjusting to fluctuating surroundings. Findings demonstrated disparities in operating duration, distance traversed, mean speed, and energy expenditure during several iterations, highlighting the system’s adeptness in promptly reacting to instantaneous inputs. Significantly, the swarm-propelled electric cars successfully attained varied operating durations, showcasing the system’s adaptability in accommodating environmental dynamics. The swarm-driven system demonstrated its navigation effectiveness by effectively covering various distances, highlighting its versatility and extensive coverage capabilities. The system’s ability to effectively balance energy economy and performance is shown by the collective regulation of average velocity. The energy consumption study demonstrated the system’s efficacy in optimizing energy use, with certain experiments showing significant savings. Percentage change studies have yielded valuable insights into the comparative enhancements or difficulties seen in each indicator, so illustrating the influence of decentralized decision-making on operational results. This study is a valuable contribution to the ever-changing field of intelligent transportation systems, providing insight into the immense potential of swarm-driven electric cars to completely transform sustainable and adaptable transportation. The results highlight the remarkable flexibility and optimization skills of swarm robotics in the management of electric vehicles, paving the way for future advancements in the quest for intelligent, energyefficient, and dynamically responsive transportation solutions.

Swarm robotics epitomizes a frontier in cooperative control within multi-agent systems, where the emulation of biological swarms offers a paradigm shift in robotics. This paper delves into the mechanisms of decentralized decision-making and the emergent behaviors that arise from local interactions among autonomous robotic agents without the need for a central controller. It explores the synthesis of simple control rules that yield complex, adaptive, and scalable group behaviors, akin to those found in natural swarms. A critical examination of communication protocols elucidates how information-sharing among agents leads to the robust execution of collective tasks. The research further investigates the dynamics of role allocation, task partitioning, and redundancy, which are crucial for the resilience of swarm robotic systems. Through simulation and empirical analysis, the efficacy of swarm algorithms in various applications, including search and rescue, environmental monitoring, and collective construction, is demonstrated. The study's findings underscore the significance of bio-inspired algorithms and the potential of swarm robotic systems to adapt and thrive in unpredictable environments. The implications for the future of autonomous systems are profound, as swarm robotics paves the way for innovations in distributed artificial intelligence and robotic.

Drone and the Internet of Things are different technologies, actively utilised and implemented across various fields. Connectivity is the difference between the IoT drone and the regular drone. IoT drones can receive and transmit data and command signals in real-time while being controlled through the IoT network. By implementing both drone and IoT, the flying IoT (IoT-Drone) is built as a new form of IoT device. This work improves how to use the drone effectively in many aspects; data transferring, data collecting, real-time monitoring, and control. With the emergence of the Internet of Things, Artificial Intelligence, and advanced communication, the IoT drone technology has been utilized in many fields, especially in agriculture and inspection, and discussed in smart cities, logistic delivery, and the military. This paper reviews the IoT drone implementation in those fields and reviews the researchers’ discussion and studies on IoT drone optimization.

With an emphasis on machine learning and artificial intelligence (AI), the Internet of Things (IoT), robotics, and data analytics, this research offers a methodical empirical evaluation of cutting-edge technologies in the field of smart manufacturing. The findings indicate notable progress in the abilities of the employees. Employee 2 had an astounding 30% gain in machine learning competence, while Employee 3 demonstrated a 50% growth in robotics proficiency. Production Line Efficiency showed scope for development; Line B showed a 0.7% gain in efficiency, indicating that there is still opportunity for process improvements. Analyzing sensor data highlights the need of ongoing maintenance and monitoring to guarantee optimum machine functioning. Data from quality control indicated that stricter guidelines were required to lower product faults. With implications for increased productivity and quality, this study advances our knowledge of the revolutionary potential of smart manufacturing technologies, including workforce development, technology adoption, and process optimization.

Robotics and Philosophy of Science What relationship holds between robotics and philosophy of science? Can robotics research contribute to research in philosophy of science? Conversely, can the results achieved by philosophers of science contribute to the progress of research in robotics? This article will deal with both questions based on the distinction between the so-called philosophy of general science and the philosophy of the particular sciences. It will draw relatively pessimistic conclusions about the possibility that robotics research shed light on questions pertaining to the philosophy of general science, and more optimistic conclusions about the potential contribution of robotics research to the philosophy of particular sciences. The normative aspect of philosophy of science is consistent with the possibility that this field of research, taking robotics as its object of study, provides guidelines and regulative methodological principles for engineers and roboticists. Through these considerations, this article attempts to explore a possible field of interaction between philosophy and scientific-technological research, with reference to a discipline that is assuming an increasingly predominant role in many aspects of daily life.

The technological revolution in the fields of robotics and artificial intelligence seems to indicate a future shift in our human-centered social paradigm towards a greater inclusion of artificial cognitive agents in our everyday environments. Understanding AI agents goes beyond the interpretation of a specific algorithm and requires analyzing the interactions between agents and with their surroundings. Combining AI and behavioral science is then seen in its true potential, as an ethical way to improve people's lives, where end users can feel safe when sharing personal data for transparent and relevant services.

Problem-solving activities have been studied from a diversity of epistemological perspectives. In problem-solving activities, the initial tensions of a problematic situation led to a cognitive dissonance between conflicting motives and instruments to reach the activity goal. We analyze problem-solving in the continuation of Sannino and Laitinen’s (2015) approach to the analysis of a decision-forming apparatus. The originality of this study is in consideration of the materialistic nature of double stimulation that appears during the activity of the CreaCube problem-solving task. This activity engages the participant in solving tasks with interactive robotic instruments. To solve a task, the subject is required to build interactive robotic modules into a specific configuration which will cause the artifact to move from an initial position to a predetermined final position. The conflict of stimuli in the CreaCube is strong and observable because of the tangibility of the artifact, which is manipulated by the participant into different configurations with the goal of solving the task. We discuss double stimulation in relation to the artifactual interactive affordances of educational robotics.

AI-equipped sexbots are framed as 'perfect companions'. However, the question arises as to what kind of companionship the conception and consumption of these sexbots entails. This article explores the structural position of sexbots and the specific concepts of sexuality, intimacy and care connected to it. It argues that sexbots are providers of sexualised care work, a convergence that needs to be understood in the broader analysis of sexuality and care in post-industrial theories of sexuality. Through its promise of sexual fulfilment, emotional support and care, the sexbot enforces masculinities and does therefore not represent a posthumanist project (at the moment).

Copyright of Canadian Journal of Learning & Technology is the property of Canadian Network for Innovation in Education and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

The article explores the intersection of law, literature, and robotics, drawing from legislative documents, literature, and recent novels like "Machines like Me" by Ian McEwan and "Klara and the Sun" by Kazuo Ishiguro. It analyzes how literary narratives, particularly Asimov's Three Laws of Robotics, influence legal discourse surrounding artificial intelligence, offering insights into ethical dilemmas and regulatory challenges posed by advancements in technology.

Copyright of Synergies France is the property of GERFLINT (Groupe d'Etudes et de Recherches pour le Francais Langue Internationale) and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

The challenge facing society is to identify a way to meet customer needs in an innovative way, and Artificial Intelligence helps us achieve this innovation through creative ways. In this paper, we aim to study, from simple to complex, the overview of artificial intelligence technologies, the opportunities generated by their creation and implementation but also the consequences generated by it in the activity of all companies/corporations/and institutions regardless of work done. The subject is deepened by a case study on the process of transformation of an institution in the banking financial system that will allow us to highlight the origins, content, execution and consequences of the transformation process generated by the adoption of artificial intelligence.

Approaches to estimating for the number of periodic and almost periodic solutions of ordinary differential equations are considered. Conditions that allow determinating both the upper and lower bounds for these solutions are found. The existence of periodic and almost periodic solutions in problems are considered. Approaches to estimating for the number of periodic solutions of ordinary differential equations are considered. Conditions that allow determinating both the upper and lower bounds for these solutions are found. The existence and stability of almost periodic problems are considered.

The usage of artificial intelligence as business opportunities on the markets has a wide potential for many fields. Due to the rapid development of technology, artificial intelligence is quite expensive but useful. The research is done by making basic SWOT analysis (analysis Strenghts-Weaknesses-Opportunities-Threats) of the R&D (Research and Development) stage in the Czech Republic and by document analysis from articles on Web of Science and Scopus. The results shows, that the AI is beneficial for large number of fields and that the AI (Artificial Intelligence) has a great potential for implicating this in business, healthcare, economics and many more. The AI has potential to improve people’s life and work.

Science fiction has close ties with science, as we know, but this article focuses more specifically on the words of science, the scientific vocabulary, which we often find in science fiction texts and, in particular, on the enlightening way in which science fiction authors depict, in their narratives, either discourse about science or the discourse of scientists about science. Essentially, the vocabulary of science helps authors to build fictional worlds, and, in return science fiction narratives echo the cultural representations of science, in different contexts and periods. By so doing they contribute at times to question the scientific approach itself, while at the same time stimulating readers’ curiosity about science, including the youngest readers.

Ethics and robotics in the fourth industrial revolution The current industrial revolution, characterised by a pervasive spread of technologies and robotic systems, also brings with it an economic, social, cultural and anthropological revolution. Work spaces will be reshaped over time, giving rise to new challenges for human‒machine interaction. Robotics is hereby inserted in a working context in which robotic systems and cooperation with humans call into question the principles of human responsibility, distributive justice and dignity of work. In particular, the responsibilities for using a robotic system in a surgical context will be discussed, along with possible problems of medium- or long-term technological unemployment to be tackled on the basis of shared concepts of distributive justice. Finally, the multiple dimensions of human dignity in the working context are dealt with in terms of dignity of work, dignity at work and dignity in human‒machine interaction.

Living with the Robots. A Conversation about social Robotics This interview aims at focusing some aspects of an intriguing discipline known as social Robotics. In particular, we try to get familiar with concepts and philosophical frameworks which deal with this new human enterprise. Paul Dumouchel and Luisa Damiano will help us to get in contact with a scenario in which emotions, reason and ethics will be partially revised by a somehow different perspective about human-robot interaction and sociality.

Background: Robotics in general surgery is a field that involves the use of robotic systems to assist surgeons in performing various types of surgical procedures., Objective: The objective of this study was to evaluate the perception and knowledge of robotic surgery among the Eastern Region's population., Methods: This cross-sectional study used an electronic questionnaire that was developed using Google Docs. It included males and females aged above 18 years who lived in the Eastern Province. Participants who were below 18 or above 65 years of age, or non-Saudi, or people who lived in other than the Eastern Region of Saudi Arabia were excluded from the study., Results: A total of 500 responses were received via the Google Form, and 81 subjects of them were excluded from the study. Approximately half of the participants were aware of the existence of general robotic surgery, while the other half had no prior knowledge about it. When assessing the participants' understanding of how robotic surgery works, a significant proportion provided incorrect responses. In terms of the advantages of general robotic surgery, the most commonly recognized benefit was that it makes the doctor's life easier, followed by more accurate surgical results. However, the participants' understanding of the disadvantages of robotic surgery was not as accurate. A substantial portion of participants were unsure about the disadvantages., Conclusion: The general public of the Eastern Region in Saudi Arabia showed a derated level of knowledge about the use of robotics in general surgery. Furthermore, a major portion of people were unaware of the availability of robotic surgery in Saudi Arabia. Educational programs are warranted to facilitate the implantation of robotic surgery in Saudi Arabia., (Copyright © 2024 Copyright: © 2024 Annals of African Medicine.)

The emergence of social robots in gerontology has introduced new playful and reassuring media into nursing homes and geriatric wards. Despite promising results, their complexity hinders their widespread adoption. The Intelligent Interactive Care System aims to remedy these limitations by offering interactive therapeutic workshops. This study evaluates residents' involvement in these workshops within an adapted activity and care center, revealing a high level of involvement and satisfaction., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights reserved.)

Robotics are being used in the intervention with children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) in many places and already for many years. Many robots were developed and different studies are being made in order to evaluate its effectiveness. “Socially Assistive Robotics” is shown to be effective in different areas mainly in social and emotional development. Milo, a robot developed by a team led by Richard Margolin for the Robots4Autism program (RoboKind, 2020), is one of the robots whose use is reported to be successful. In Macao there is no report of studies or experiences on the use of robots in the intervention with children with ASD. In a collaboration between the Macao Science Centre, the Macao Autism Association (MAA) and the University of Saint Joseph, an exploratory study was developed to understand the applicability of Milo to the work with children with ASD in Macao. The study showed that the robot is able to facilitate social and emotional competences of children with ASD. However, several limitations including language, cultural differences, the inexperienced facilitators and the level of sessions are too simple for the participants to be aware of that may affect the effectiveness of the intervention. It is important to show that the adoption of Milo in Macao for intervening children with ASD can be further implemented, with better practical solutions.

To date, ethical critiques of the use of assistive healthcare robotics have not closely examined the purported care relationship between such robots and their users. Drawing upon the work of care ethics scholars, I argue that authentic care relies upon capacities inherently reciprocal and responsive in nature, which ultimately precludes socially assistive robots from being useful caring tools.

Safety during drug administration remains a major concern in nursing, particularly when it comes to calculating doses. The Institut et Haute école de la santé La Source in Lausanne, in partnership with the Avatarion company, has set up a co-development project using the humanoid robot Pepper as an assistant for double-checking dose calculations. Feedback from test users has been positive, although there is room for improvement., (Copyright © 2023 Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights reserved.)

This article presents a case study on the participation of activity-centered ergonomics researchers in a collaborative robot development research project. This empirical contribution is grounded in and framed by theoretical aspects relating to models of cooperation in a worker-robot system and to activity-centered ergonomics proposals relating to design project management. We therefore discuss: (1) the model of cooperation which is actually reified in the technology. Given the current potentialities of the technology, this model deals more with coordination than with cooperation, as it does not support dynamic management of the interdependence between worker-robot tasks; (2) the contributions and limits of the dual project management approach set up in the research consortium and in a factory. We stress that participation of ergonomists proved to be a necessary condition for designing a technology that potentially “preserves” health and performance; however, this participation was in no way sufficient as it did not support the future socio-organisational use of the technology. We conclude by highlighting ongoing research issues that focus on the aforementioned point by investigating decision-making processes relating to transitions towards a “Factory of the future” and to their supports, from political and historical-cultural perspectives.

In recent years, with the rapid development of computer vision technology, image-based human body research has become an important task, such as pedestrian target detection, trajectory tracking, posture estimation and behaviour recognition. The centre of mass is one of the important characteristics that can reflect the phenomenon of pedestrian movement. This paper first introduces the biped robot model in robotics, starting from forward and inverse kinematics, to find the mapping relationship between the position of each joint and the pose of the end effector. Then, corresponding to the skeleton model of the human joint points, the characteristics of the bone posture and joint angle are determined. The moment of inertia factor is introduced, and the motion superposition of different joint points is considered to establish a pedestrian motion centroid model. By calculating the equivalent dynamic centroid, the pedestrian kinematics law can be explored and the pedestrian movement mechanism can be more deeply recognized.

Mechanical systems in motion type parallel structures are solid, fast and accurate. Between mobile systems parallel the best known and used system is that of a Stewart platforms, as being and the oldest system, quickly, solid and accurate. The paper presents a few main elements of the Stewart platforms. In the case where a motto element consists of a structure composed of two elements in a relative movement from the point of view of the train of propulsion and especially in the dynamic calculations, it is more convenient to represent the motto element as a single moving item. The paper presents an exact, original analytical geometry method for determining the kinematic and dynamic parameters of a parallel mobile structure. Compared with other methods already known, the presented method has the great advantage of being an exact analytical method of calculation and not one iterative-approximately.

Free and Open Source licenses are generally considered a sufficient guarantee against the risks of closed-source technologies. The tools protected by open licenses belong to what is called the knowledge Commons. The main argument of this text is that these licenses are insufficient to ensure a balance between the producers of new technologies and their users. We focus on the case of agriculture. This field is currently witnessing a fast integration of ICT, artificial intelligence and robotics, and the impact of these changes is hard to predict. However, to assist with the introduction of these new technologies and manage their impact, we propose using Participative Systems of Guarantee, such as those employed by existing participative quality labels.

Copyright of Ottawa Law Review is the property of University of Ottawa, Faculty of Law and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)