The Shampoo-Bot - Essay Example

3 June Shampoo Robot Project With the recent technological evolution, robots have been known as objects that can walk, talk or point. However, Panasonic has decided to add another action of robots to the ever increasing list by developing a robot that can shampoo one’s hair. The shampoo-Bot currently is on trial in japan to see how effective it works. Many have argued that it borrows from the car wash machine, but, all the same it is a descent innovation one must say. The hair care robot sounds a fascinating thing to hairdressers.

The robot composition includes a reclining chair with a wash basin at the back both mechanized to achieve its task. According to Panasonic video released on YouTube, it first scans the human head to get the idealistic shape with accommodation of a variety of noggins. Hornyack claims that it works by releasing shampoo through jet mechanism into the head scalp and massage or scrap gently with its automated 24 robotic fingers. Eight of the fingers work the back of the head and the rest knead the scalp gently.

Panasonic is looking forward to commercialize the robot soon after the trial. However, the questions to this project’s success are many. They comprise doubts of the safety of the head under a machine. The health factor given salon operates many clients and other perspective like legal aspects. This paper examines the shampoo robot project and projects an opinion on its future. Technical aspect The technical aspect of Panasonic robotic shampooer is one that is different from the human shampooer.

Apparently, the robot is made to simulate or replicate that which hands do when washing our hair with shampoo. The difference here is the fingers. While the human have 10 fingers the robot has 24 fingers. According to Panasonic, “Using robotic hand technology with 24 robotic fingers, this robot can wash the hair of handicapped in the way human hands do in order to help them have better daily lives.” All it takes just like usual shampoo process is to lean back over a salon sink and then the robot massages the scalp and rinses the hair.

It even goes an extra level to condition and blow drying the hair. This is argued to take three minutes to wash and five minutes to condition and blow dry. Technically, this is very efficient when compared to manual shampooer and might win the interest of hair dressers. In this regard, the Shampoo-Bot is likely to find its way to commercial if other aspects remain constant. Legal Aspect The shampoo-bot will be working by rendering services to human. One will wonder if such an inanimate property may necessitate rights or duties.

Robots aren’t legal persons and have no standing in the judicial system though on the legal perspective the shampoo-bot may need to adhere to the laws or ethics that dictate its code of conduct. The famous are those of science-fiction writer Isaac Asimov’s. His classic Three Laws of Robotics include, first: A robot may not injure a human being, or, through inaction, allow a human being to come to harm. Second: A robot must obey the orders given it by human beings except where such orders would conflict with the First Law.

Third: A robot must protect its own existence as long as such protection does not conflict with the first or second laws. If the shampoo-bot has observed these basic laws then the other different legal systems may allow its use or not depending with the place. According to Grossman some states in the US like Florida, Nevada and California have recently enacted pertinent legislation to regulate these technologies including robots. The success of the Panasonic shampoo robot may temporarily depend on such legalities but as is the case of international community it will depend with the country.

Social Panasonic shampoo-bot is going to deal with human clients and how long it will take to reach the remote salons may also depend on the social factor of the robot. Robots have adopted social ability by being able to interact and communicate with humans or other agents. Shall the bot have the ability to recognize social behavior and salon rules that ordinary shampooer. It will then surely have a quick place in the salon in my neighborhood. There are questions whether the Panasonic robot has the physical motor and sensor abilities to associate and respond appropriately.

Though, it may not need that much of human interactivity. A robot that is social sounds friendly in such function than unsocial bot. Panasonic shampoo-bot will thrive if it granted the ability to adopt some human behavior especially that it handles services that involve direct contact with human (Shuzhi et al 2). Though, the robot can get user’s data (preferred washing method, shape of the head) and store to save time when getting their hair washed next time that surely has not made it social robot.

Safety and Health The robot might have 24 fingers against the usual 10 finger of human but the guaranteed safety of human might be considered safe in the 10 fingers than the 24 fingers. A head is a delicate organ and few people will trust their scalp’s safety in the 24 fingered inanimate object. Robots like human make mistakes presenting a challenge to the trust of the shampoo-bot. The usage of hot water, massage with the 24 fingers poses a danger to safety shall one of the sensors miss a thing or a problem with the intelligent software running the machine.

Hair dressing chemicals also can run hazard when wrongly handled. The head in the sink is supported by neck element of the robot but what if it fails or develops technical problem may be snaps one’s spinal cord. These are just but worries that are of interest for such an innovative idea to be successful in the market. Many clients despite a demonstration are most likely to have their doubts for such a robot. Health is another concern in the shampoo-bot since it will have many clients’ heads going through it.

Chances are that some infectious diseases like skin disease may be transmitted through the robot if not well sterilized. The cleaning of such equipment differs from that of gloved hands in one’s hair that are later disposed to avoid transmitting infection. Conclusion Panasonic’s hair washing robot is an innovative idea that may sail through the trial period and be commercialized thereafter. It shampoos, conditions and blow dries a client’s head in less than 10 minutes. Using the 24 fingers it overs a better massage than the 10 human fingers.

Like any other robot it may face the challenges in real application but there is no doubt that it will succeed just like other bots have done before. Works Cited Freitas, Robert. “The Legal Rights of Robots.” (2012). Date accessed :2 May 2, 2013 < http://www.rfreitas.com/Astro/LegalRightsOfRobots.htm>. Ge, Shuzhi S. Social Robotics: Second International Conference on Social Robotics, Icsr 2010, Singapore, November 23-24, 2010 : Proceedings. Berlin [etc.: SpringerLink, 2010. Internet resource.

Hornyak, Tim. “Panasonic shampoo robot hits the salon.” CNET(2012). Date Accessed :2 May 2, 2013 . Panasonic. “Panasonic Starts Testing of Head Care Robot” Panasonic News Portal (2013). Date Accessed :2 May 2, 2013 < http://news.panasonic.net/archives/2012/0427_10508.html>. Grossman, Wendy. “Experiments with Sociobots” Robotics and Law (2013). Date Accessed :2 May 2, 2013 < http://blogs.law.stanford.edu/robotics/>.