ANDROID: an artificial being designed to faithfully replicate human appearance and behavior. From a terminological perspective, the concept of an android is comparable to that of a “humanoid robot” and differs from the generic definition of “robot” due to its specific anthropomorphic and relational predisposition.
The humanoid morphology of androids is not merely an aesthetic choice; it constitutes a functional element. Indeed, anthropomorphic resemblance facilitates social interaction and collaboration with humans, leveraging the natural human tendency to relate more easily to entities that possess familiar morphological characteristics.
DIFFERENTS BETWEEN ANDROIDS AND ROBOTS
The main distinction between androids and conventional robots lies in the implemented Artificial Intelligence and their design purposes. Androids are equipped with advanced artificial intelligence systems that enable adaptive learning capabilities, emotional recognition, and naturalistic responses to human interactions. This technological configuration represents a qualitative leap compared to traditional robots, which are characterized by more rigid programming and predominantly mechanical functions.
From a constructive standpoint, contemporary androids can integrate internal robotic mechanisms with external coverings made of biomimetic synthetic material, capable of replicating the texture and appearance of human skin. This hybrid composition, combined with articulated facial expression systems, can generate the human discomfort state of the “uncanny valley.” This term defines the unsettling sensation derived from perceiving a nearly human, yet recognizably artificial, entity.
HISTORY AND TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS
The evolutionary path of androids has roots in robotics research from the 1970s, with the Wabot-1 prototype developed in Japan in 1973, followed by MIT‘s Kismet project in 1990, the first android capable of emotional simulation. Contemporary developments, exemplified by Hiroshi Ishiguro‘s creations, have reached levels of realism that make androids visually indistinguishable from humans.
The evolution of androids sets the stage for social and economic transformation scenarios that require a deep understanding of their long-term implications. In fact, according to analyses by Morgan Stanley, the global market in the “android science” field could reach $5 trillion in investments by 2050. For the same year, it is estimated that approximately one billion humanoid robots will be in circulation, primarily used for repetitive and simple industrial tasks.
The competitive gap between different geographical areas, particularly evident in the comparison between China and the United States, suggests the need for coordinated strategies to manage the social impact of this robotic revolution. Morgan Stanley data, in fact, suggests that by 2050, China will have up to 302.3 million humanoid robots in use, while the United States will follow with only 77.7 million.
FIELDS OF APPLICATION
While it’s common to imagine that in a utopian future we’ll all have a household humanoid robot, Morgan Stanley’s report predicts that this practice will actually be gradual, with approximately 80 million units in homes by 2050. The reasons for these forecasts are current costs, which will drop significantly in 25 years but not enough to make them accessible to the middle-to-lower income brackets of the population.
Beyond the domestic environment, androids find application in various sectors through specific technological implementations. In the manufacturing sector, they are employed for automated assembly operations, quality inspection using advanced optical sensors, and material handling along production lines. In the logistics sector, humanoids like Boston Dynamics’ Atlas execute manipulation algorithms for pick-and-place operations, automated order management, and sorting through visual recognition systems.
Among examples of humanoid robots created to enhance education and interaction is AlterEgo, designed with the ability to interact with humans.
Finally, in the healthcare sector, it is the company Oversonic that has created RoBee, the first cognitive humanoid robot capable of assisting medical staff in hospital facilities. Its capabilities are not limited to assisting patients with their primary needs but also include creating and monitoring cognitive rehabilitation therapies.
