A robot avatar that mimics the motions of a human controller could take the place of workers in several dangerous jobs, such as tree trimming and construction, by the end of 2022. The challenge: If a tree branch gets too close to a power line, it can cause electrical outages or, even worse, dangerous fires (as Californians know all too well). To avoid this, utility companies have to regularly trim trees near their lines. But it's dangerous work, as workers are dozens of feet above the ground, using sharp power tools to trim trees while power lives are still active -- this puts them at risk of falls, cuts, and electrocution, all at once. By some estimates, tree trimming is one of the most dangerous jobs in the country.

Sphero, a toy manufacturer known for making simple, programmable robots for kids, has launched a new spinoff business to develop AI and robotics for law enforcement, first responders, and other government agencies. The new entity is called Company Six (CO6) and will build on technology Sphero had previously developed through its Public Safety Division. The company hasn't announced any clients or new projects, but promises to focus on'lightweight, yet highly advanced robotic solution that provides critical awareness for those we depend on the most, including police, fire, EMT, military, and others with dangerous jobs.' Sphero's Paul Berberian, who previously served in the US Air Force, will step down from his role as CEO and take a new title as Chairman of both companies, according to a report in CNet. 'This is an opportunity to continue to bring revolutionary robotics technology to new markets to improve the lives of more people, our future leaders, and people with essential and sometimes dangerous job functions,' he said in a prepared statement. Sphero says the company has sold more than four million robots since it was founded in 2010.

Robots could be trained to disinfect surfaces, take temperatures, collecting swabs and provide social support for quarantined patients to help combat coronavirus. The'dull, dirty and dangerous jobs' could be automated, but we would need to add many new functionalities to machines first, roboticists argued in a journal editorial. Many of these necessary capabilities, however, are neither being funded or developed at present, the experts cautioned. Robots could be trained to disinfect surfaces, take temperatures, collecting swabs and provide social support for quarantined patients to help combat coronavirus. Among the signatories of the editorial are roboticist Howie Choset of the Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh and the president of the National Academy of Science, Marcia McNutt.

Artificial Intelligence (AI) might seem like the difficult term but unknowingly you are using it. AI has a huge effect on your life, may be you are not, and its influence is likely to grow in the coming years. Here are 5 examples of artificial intelligence that you use every day. With the video games, AI has been used for a long time. But the complexity and effectiveness of that AI have increased over the past several decades, resulting in video game character that learns your behaviors, respond to Stimuli and react in unpredictable ways.

The crash trucks, fitted with a device called a truck-mounted attenuator, have been credited with saving lives. But the workers who drive them are inevitably placed in harm's way, "literally waiting to be struck," said Robert Roy, president of Royal Truck & Equipment Inc. in Coopersburg. On Monday, Royal demonstrated its new driverless crash truck that it hopes will some day improve safety at work zones around the country. Two of the autonomous vehicles will make their debut at highway construction sites in Florida by the end of the year under a state Department of Transportation demonstration program. "Any time a driver can be removed from these vehicles in a very dangerous situation, and if the vehicle's struck, there's nobody inside of it to receive the damage or the injuries, that's measuring success," Roy said.

One of the latest innovations making waves in public discussion is artificial intelligence, or AI. While many people question how deep AI's "thinking" processes could go, others are waiting for the inevitable crunch that will come when companies start using robots to perform job functions currently performed by human employees. We are on the verge of a massive shift in the dynamics of the modern workforce, and AI is one of the biggest influencing factors. In today's modern business world, there are still countless dangerous, dirty, repetitive, and simple jobs that humans perform. While some may argue that robots taking over these positions would result in eliminating jobs for humans, it's hard to argue with the ability of robots to assume dangerous positions instead of risking human lives.

Your meat may soon be prepared by a robot butcher. Sadly, it won't be an android in a striped apron behind the meat counter at your local store, asking you in a metallic voice how you'd like your steak cut today, sir/ma'am? These robots will replace workers at meat-packing factories, and not a moment too soon. The meat-packing company JBS is part of the world's largest beef processor, and in its Greeley, Colorado plant, it is experimenting with robots on the production line. In order to automate the processing of the meat, JBS has invested in a New Zealand robot company called Scott Technology.