Using Human “Wetware” to Control Robots

[Nyrath]

http://www.hplusmagazine.com/articles/robotics/using-human-%E2%80%9Cwetware%E2%80%9D-control-robots

Using human neurons to control robots.
This cannot end well...

[Steve Long]

Agreed. Time to stock up on Robot Repellent.

[Cancer]

Indeed. I recommend Colin Kapp's Gottlos.

[ghost-angel]

Sweet.

[austenandrews]

If I understand this, the rat-neuron robot is basically just a twitch mechanism, right? A signal comes in from the sensor to the neurons, which generate an output signal that's read by the robot as a "change direction" command. So the idea is to see if emergent behavior develops from larger groups of neurons?

[Nyrath]

If I understand this, the rat-neuron robot is basically just a twitch mechanism, right? A signal comes in from the sensor to the neurons, which generate an output signal that's read by the robot as a "change direction" command. So the idea is to see if emergent behavior develops from larger groups of neurons?
If I understand this, it is basically the same as computer software using the so-called "neural net" technique. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Artificial_neural_network)

Except that by using actual organic neurons, the system is far more compact and sensitive than current computer software/hardware.

I'm reminded of Keith Laumer's A PLAGUE OF DEMONS, where aliens harvest human brains to be used as controllers for their giant robot tanks.

[austenandrews]

Huh, I thought that was all emulation. I didn't realize they could make actual neurons behave that way. Not that I know much about it, obviously.

[Nyrath]

I didn't realize they could make actual neurons behave that way.
I didn't either. The fact that they could came as a rather rude shock.

[Sweeper]

That would be so kewl, if the possible implications weren't so freaky.

[Nyrath]

That would be so kewl, if the possible implications weren't so freaky.
Though for our purposes, freaky implications are a gold mind for diabolical game masters to harvest uncomfortable situations to torment their stable of players.