A robot is a mechanical or virtual agent, usually an electro-mechanical machine that is guided by a computer program or electronic circuitry. Robots can be autonomous or semi-autonomous and range from humanoids such as Honda's Advanced Step in Innovative Mobility (ASIMO) and TOSY's TOSY Ping Pong Playing Robot (TOPIO) to industrial robots, collectively programmed 'swarm' robots, and even microscopic nano robots. By mimicking a lifelike appearance or automating movements, a robot may convey a sense of intelligence or thought of its own.
There are concerns about the increasing use of robots and their role in
society. Robots are blamed for rising unemployment as they replace
workers in some functions. The use of robots in military combat raises
ethical concerns. The possibility of robot autonomy and potential
repercussions has been addressed in fiction and may be a realistic
concern in the future.
