Robots replacing humans: Singularity thoughts part 2

Continuing my thoughts and discussion on robotics and the singularity, here’s an interesting article about a project being done by Virginia Tech.

Virginia Tech takes on Department of Defense challenge to build disaster-response robots

From the article:

The task is massive: The adult-sized robot must be designed to enter a vehicle, drive it, and then exit the vehicle, walk over rubble, clear objects blocking a door, open the door, and enter a building. The robot then must visually and audibly locate and shut off a leaking valve, connect a hose or connector, climb an industrial ladder and traverse an industrial walkway.

The final and possibly most difficult task: Use a power tool and break through a concrete wall. All these tasks must be accomplished under a set time limit.

It will be pretty awesome if they’re able to make a robot that does this.  That is some pretty complex actions and requires some crazy programming and adaptability.  Plus, THOR (Tactical Hazardous Operations Robot) is a very cool name.

Some of the things I find most interesting about this project is the need for the robot to be able to adapt and plan.  Unless they cheat and make it remote-controlled, which would be much less cool.  They are also trying to make actuators that mimic biological muscles better, a technology that we will take and use in our story.

It makes me think though.  Why spend so much money and programming to make a robot do these things instead of just making some sort of suit or protection or something to amplify a human’s ability and then do those things.  Why essentially create an artificial human to do the job a human can do easier?  I guess there is no risk to human life, but there wouldn’t be programming errors with a human.