and light-hearted and
they also offer a better
way to measure results
and collect data.11
Microbots
Microbots are a form
of nano technology - a
field that is still emerging. The concept is to
produce nano robots
and machines that
are so small they can
actually fit inside the
human body, and carry
out various functions.
Imagine for example,
a micro-bot that can be
injected into a person
that specifically locates
cancer tumours, and
can deposit medical
bacteria directly into
its target. Or a micromachine equipped with
a tiny drill head that can
remove plaque from
blood vessels. How
about a robot equipped
with a tiny camera that
can be used for disease screening without
the need for open surgery? The “Robot Pills”
machines,
“Plaque
Buster” microbot and
many others, including the “Steerable
Surgeon”, are designed
to carry out these tasks
and more.12
NeuroArm
Used
in
neurosurgery, such as removing
lesions from a brain,
the NeuroArm is a pinpoint precision robot
programmed to be
used in the same way
a human arm would
operate. The robot
can be operated by a
human from a terminal
that doesn’t even have
to be in the same room
as the patient.13,14
indispensable in caring for the elderly. By
2050, there could be
more people aged 65
and over in the UK
than ever before - a
number of people that
existing care homes
could never cater for.
Robots are being touted as new companions
for the elderly, helping them to stay independent, acting as a
friend to help them
through treatment and
domestic commitments
among others.15
But of course this rise
of the robots inevitably leaves a potentially
dangerous and damaging polar: If robots
are doing all this work,
what is happening to
the job roles for us
But these don’t really humans?
even scratch the surface. It is believed that
in the not-too-distantfuture robots will be
15