by J. Russ

Created on: July 14, 2010

A robot has an electronic brain with the ability and resources to communicate with its instructor and with the ability and resources to accomplish its assigned task. The electronic brain is a computer that has permanent memory and memory into which can be written new instructions and new data.  The robot has sensors to gather data to be put into the computer's memory.  The robot has mechanical devices that are controlled by the computer.  That computer has software that processes the instructions the robot is given, using both permanent and sensor data.  The computer then controls the robot to perform its assigned task.  

It is interesting that software takes on the personality of its programmer.  And thus the robot will have a preprogrammed personality. 

Software can be instructor friendly in that communication between the instructor and the computer can be easy and intuitive.  That software will understand questions and respond with unambiguous answers, or if more information is needed, respond with unambiguous questions.  Answers to questions will be accurate and informative.  Performance of assigned tasks will be a correct response. 

Software can be a real pain.  Communication between the instructor and the computer can be difficult to understand.  That software will demand answers to ambiguous questions the instructor may not understand, and the computer will not offer any help. 

Software can lie.  Whether intentional or not, software can give wrong answers.  Sometimes it is just that the computer has been given bad data.  Sometimes the computer is programmed with sloppy computational skills so that the answers are close, but not accurate enough for the task at hand.  And sometimes the software is deliberately written with a bias so as to favor a desired answer. 

As teacher or a soldier, the robot will have a personality.  That personality can be passive or aggressive.  That personality may react quickly, using assumptions on incomplete data that might not be valid.  Or that personality may be slower to react, but react with patience to get sufficient data to show better judgment and skill. 

Programmed as a soldier, the robot needs to be able to identify between animal, man or machine, between friend, foe or neither.  Response must be tailored to the threat. 

Programmed as a teacher, the robot needs to be able to understand

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