We don’t need any robot pets — design robot service animals instead
Robot service animals could enrich the lives of those who need them
New markets
However, there is a huge and, as of yet, untapped market for robopets and other social robots to perform the role of service robots. Let’s call them Serv-U-Bots. Thesepersonalservice robots are different from thosedeveloped to replace humans in some manufacturing and service sectors.
Serv-U-Bots would be much like a robotpet — small, portable, and intended for personal use — and would employ many of the technologies already built into social robots. These onboard sensors could include cameras for observation, microphones for audio recording, temperature sensors, communication technologies, and even autonomous motion, moving around based on programming rather than human input.
Serv-U-Bots would be programmed to replace service animals, which are currently raised and trained to support human mobility and independence. However, this is an expensive endeavor.
Many organizations that provide service animals have breeding programs, training facilities, and huge budgets that are subsidized by donors or get charged back to governments, insurers, or families. The Canadian Guide Dogs for the Blind graduates approximately 23 dogs per year from its training program,at an average operating cost of more than $74,300 per dog.
These dogs are not considered pets by the organizations that breed and train them. They are service dogs,trained to provide assistance. If their current placement ends due to the death of the person they were helping or for other reasons, they are generally returned to the organization for another placement.
Robots as service animals
But what about replacing service dogs with Serv-U-Bots: social robots that are programmed to perform service related functions? We have the technological know-how to create Serv-U-Bots that can increase independence through programming that can provide an alert if the toast is burning, the kettle boiling, the doorbell ringing, and so on. They could even take on the functions of medical alert dogs which candetect medical issues such as a seizure or low blood sugar, or alert the user to the presence of allergens.
Serv-U-Bots could even support older adults to continue to enjoy the companionship of animals by feeding them, checking that they have water, and even cleaning the litter box.
If anautomobile can be programmed to drive itself, avoiding obstacles and life forms, why not program a Serv-U-Bot to guide people around the city? They could also be programmed to facilitate actual interactions with living beings. This technology can save and enrich lives and help people to be mobile.
Serv-U-Bots would be able to support the independence and mobility needs of humans without exploiting non-human animals.
Article byL.F. Carver, Assistant Professor,Queen’s University, Ontario
This article is republished fromThe Conversationunder a Creative Commons license. Read theoriginal article.
Story byThe Conversation
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