By Rodney Brooks Editor\u2019s Note:<\/strong> When we asked Rodney Brooks<\/a> if he\u2019d write an article for IEEE Spectrum on his definition of robot, he wrote back right away. \u201cI recently learned that Warren McCulloch<\/a>\u201d\u2014one of the pioneers of computational neuroscience\u2014\u201cwrote sonnets,\u201d Brooks told us. \u201cHe, and your request, inspired me. Here is my article\u2014a little shorter than you might have desired.\u201d Included in his reply were 14 lines composed in iambic pentameter<\/a>. Brooks titled it \u201cWhat Is a Robot?\u201d Later, after a few tweaks to improve the metric structure of some of the lines, he added, \u201cI am no William Shakespeare, but I think it is now a real sonnet, if a little clunky in places.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n Shall I compare thee to creatures of God? You make fast maps with laser light all spread, You learn just the tiniest little bit, So long as mortals breathe, or eyes can see, * With\u00a0thanks\u00a0to\u00a0William\u00a0Shakespeare<\/sup><\/p>\n\n\n\n Rodney Brooks<\/a> is the Panasonic Professor of Robotics (emeritus) at MIT<\/a>, where he was director of the AI Lab and then CSAIL<\/a>. He has been cofounder of iRobot<\/a>, Rethink Robotics<\/a>, and Robust AI<\/a>, where he is currently CTO.<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" What Is a Robot? Rodney Brooks Offers an Answer\u2014in Sonnet Form We asked famed roboticist Rodney Brooks to explain his definition of robot. He sent us a sonnet. By Rodney Brooks from IEEE Specturm Editor\u2019s Note: When we asked Rodney … Continue reading
from IEEE Specturm<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\nWhat Is a Robot?*<\/sup><\/strong>
By Rodney Brooks<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Thou art more simple and yet more remote.
You move about, but still today, a clod,
You sense and act but don\u2019t see or emote.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Then compare shapes to object libraries,
And quickly plan a path, to move ahead,
Then roll and touch and grasp so clumsily.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
And start to show some low intelligence,
But we, your makers, Gods not, we admit,
All pledge to quest for genuine sentience.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
We shall endeavor to give life to thee.<\/p>\n\n\n\n