DARPA Asks Teens to Determine Future Societal Impact of Robots

With robots becoming more sophisticated and sometimes even human-like, they without a doubt are going to have a big effect on society going forward.

That's exactly the subject of a STEM contest called Robots4Us sponsored by the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA), which asks high school students to create two-to-three-minute videos that focus on what impact robots will have on society in the future, and in particular how they can help us.

"Robotics have had a revolutionary impact in relatively controlled environments, such as factory floors," said Rick Weiss, director of strategic communications at DARPA. "But increasingly they are becoming proficient in other domains, and will likely prove themselves able to make increasingly higher-level decisions. As those trends continue it is becoming important to appreciate the pros and cons of robots playing bigger roles in our lives, so we can consider how to better ensure their influence is positive."

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The contest asks teens to address the implications of both current and anticipated advances in robotics technologies for individuals, workplaces, and communities, as well as for national security and the ideals upon which American society is built, according to the contest website. In particular, DAPRA wanted the teens to address the choices the US and other countries face to strike a balance between the benefits of robots and the potential harm they could cause.

DARPA closed the competition to entries on April 1 just before this week's National Robotics Week. It's now reviewing and judging the entries it received based on a number of criteria, which includes: the clarity with which a student communicates his or her vision of how robots can make a difference for society in the future, and what type of robot-assisted society the student envisions; creativity, thoughtfulness, originality and general appeal; and the technical quality of the video.

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DARPA will pick five winners who will be invited to attend the DARPA Robotics Challenge Finals scheduled for June 5-6 in Pomona, Calif. There they will discuss their ideas and views with a panel of experts that focus on robotics and society. DARPA may also feature videos by the winners and other entrants on its website, YouTube channel, and on other social media channels.

"We hope the contest will spur students to think more deeply about the technological world that they -- and robots -- will be inheriting, and to consider societal issues at the intersection of humans and machines, including such issues as autonomy, privacy, and employment," Weiss said.

Elizabeth Montalbano is a freelance writer who has written about technology and culture for more than 15 years. She has lived and worked as a professional journalist in Phoenix, San Francisco, and NYC. In her free time she enjoys surfing, traveling, music, yoga, and cooking. She currently resides in a village on the southwest coast of Portugal.

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