It was a pleasure to watch this presentation about the future of robotics, a hotly debated topic fueled by the controversy between robots defeating humans and robots augmenting and assisting humans, for example, prostheses and exoskeletons. This debate has also been impacted by recent ethical considerations surrounding the role of robots in society.

Despite all this, Aaron Ames’ presentation, mainly driven and informed by his own contributions in control dynamics, as well as by the work of his research group at the California Institute of Technology (Caltech), sheds light on the nature, challenges, and limitations of building humanoid robots. The presentation demystifies what robots are capable of, starting with the main problems of balance in unexplored terrains and displaying intelligence while operating in the physical world, outside the lab.

The presentation also sheds some light on the complex mathematics behind control dynamics for robot locomotion. In addition, Ames explains how these research results for autonomous robots have been beneficial for human-assisting purposes, for example, prostheses.

This enjoyable talk answers some agonizing questions related to human-robot symbiosis and the impact of robotics advancements on humanity. The path to this predicted symbiosis has not always been easy, as the pendulum swings between fear (robots that win competitions or take people’s jobs) and anticipation (benevolent robots that help people in their daily tasks or teach and play with children). Since technology has always acted as a potential amplifier of both good and evil, the lecture provides answers grounded in scientific fact rather than dogmatic or opinionated positions about the capabilities and limitations of robots.