Robo Sapiens: Evolution of a New Species Reprint Edition
| Peter Menzel (Author) Find all the books, read about the author, and more. See search results for this author |
| Faith D'Aluisio (Author) Find all the books, read about the author, and more. See search results for this author |
Use the Amazon App to scan ISBNs and compare prices.
A field guide to our mechanical future, presenting the next generation of intelligent robots and their makers.
Around the world, scientists and engineers are participating in a high-stakes race to build the first intelligent robot. Many robots already exist―automobile factories are full of them. But the new generation of robots will be something else: smart machines that act like living creatures. When they are brought into existence, science fiction will have become fact.
What will happen then? With our prosthetic limbs, titanium hips, and artificial eyes, we are already beginning to resemble our machines. Equally important, our machines are beginning to resemble us. Robots already walk, talk, and dance; they can react to our facial expressions and obey verbal commands. When they take the next step and become fully autonomous, what will they do? Will we be partners or rivals? Could we meld into a single species―Robo sapiens?
In Robo sapiens, Peter Menzel and Faith D'Aluisio present the next generation of intelligent robots and their makers. Accompanying brilliant photographs of more than one hundred robots is an account of the little-known, yet vitally important scientific competition to build an autonomous robot. Containing extensive interviews with robotics pioneers, anecdotal "field notes" with behind-the-scenes information, and easy-to-understand technical data about the machines, Robo sapiens is a field guide to our mechanical future.
Frequently bought together

- +
- +
Customers who bought this item also bought
Editorial Reviews
Review
"An engaging and insightful compendium illuminating our accelerating ascent to the inevitable merger of human and machine. Although many today find the prospect disconcerting, by the time the "robo sapiens" are fully amongst us, we will find it very natural to interact intimately with these inventions of our intellect."--Ray Kurzweil, recipient of the 1999 National Medal of Technology and author of the "Age of Spiritual Machines: When Computers Exceed Human Intelligence"
"It's a stunning achievement."-- Harold Thimbley, "New Scientist"
"This is one of the most mind-stretching--and frightening--books I've ever read. It's also a tour de force of photography: the images reveal a whole new order of creation about to come into existence. No one who has any interest in the future can afford to miss it."--Sir Arthur C. Clarke
"
"It's a stunning achievement."
"It's a stunning achievement." -- Harold Thimbley, "New Scientist"
"This is one of the most mind-stretching -- and frightening -- books I've ever read. It's also a tour de force of photography: the images reveal a whole new order of creation about to come into existence. No one who has any interest in the future can afford to miss it." -- Sir Arthur C. Clarke
& quot; An engaging and insightful compendium illuminating our accelerating ascent to the inevitable merger of human and machine. Although many today find the prospect disconcerting, by the time the robo sapiens are fully amongst us, we will find it very natural to interact intimately with these inventions of our intellect.& quot; -- Ray Kurzweil, recipient of the 1999 National Medal of Technology and author of the Age of Spiritual Machines: When Computers Exceed Human Intelligence
& quot; It's a stunning achievement.& quot; -- Harold Thimbley, New Scientist
& quot; Robo sapiens is a fascinating, in-depth look at one of the most challenging engineering tasks ever attempted. The photos amaze, while the text gives the inside story of researchers bashing their heads up against boggling complexity. You pick up Robo sapiens for the great photos, and then get caught up reading the inside politics of the race to build human-like machines. Don't be surprised by the coming era of robotics -- read Robo sapiens and be ready.& quot; -- K. Eric Drexler, Chairman, Foresight Institute, and author, Engines of Creation and Nanosystems
& quot; This is one of the most mind-stretching -- and frightening -- books I've ever read. It's also a tour de force of photography: the images reveal a whole new order of creation about to come into existence. No one who has any interest in the future can afford to miss it.& quot; -- Sir Arthur C. Clarke
" "Robo sapiens" is a fascinating, in-depth look at one of the most challenging engineering tasks ever attempted. The photos amaze, while the text gives the inside story of researchers bashing their heads up against boggling complexity. You pick up "Robo sapiens" for the great photos, and then get caught up reading the inside politics of the race to build human-like machines. Don't be surprised by the coming era of robotics -- read "Robo sapiens" and be ready." -- K. Eric Drexler, Chairman, Foresight Institute, and author, "Engines of Creation" and "Nanosystems"
" An engaging and insightful compendium illuminating our accelerating ascent to the inevitable merger of human and machine. Although many today find the prospect disconcerting, by the time the "robo sapiens" are fully amongst us, we will find it very natural to interact intimately with these inventions of our intellect." -- Ray Kurzweil, recipient of the 1999 National Medal of Technology and author of the "Age of Spiritual Machines: When Computers Exceed Human Intelligence"
" It's a stunning achievement." -- Harold Thimbley, New Scientist
" This is one of the most mind-stretching -- and frightening -- books I've ever read. It's also a tour de force of photography: the images reveal a whole new order of creation about to come into existence. No one who has any interest in the future can afford to miss it." -- Sir Arthur C. Clarke
-- K. Eric Drexler, Chairman, Foresight Institute, and author, "Engines of Creation" and "Nanosystems"
-- Ray Kurzweil, recipient of the 1999 National Medal of Technology and author of the "Age of Spiritual Machines: When Computers Exceed Human Intelligence"
"It's a stunning achievement." < br />
Review
Robo sapiens is a fascinating, in-depth look at one of the most challenging engineering tasks ever attempted. The photos amaze, while the text gives the inside story of researchers bashing their heads up against boggling complexity. You pick up Robo sapiens for the great photos, and then get caught up reading the inside politics of the race to build human-like machines. Don't be surprised by the coming era of robotics read Robo sapiens and be ready.
―K. Eric Drexler, Chairman, Foresight Institute, and author, Engines of Creation and NanosystemsAbout the Author
Faith D'Aluisio is a former television news producer. Her documentary and news series pieces have won regional and national awards from the Headlines Foundation, United Press International, Associated Press, and the Radio-Television News Directors Association. Together with Peter Menzel, she is the co-creator of the books Material World: A Global Family Portrait and Women in the Material World; and is the co-author of Man Eating Bugs: The Art and Science of Eating Insects.
Product details
- ASIN : 0262632454
- Publisher : The MIT Press; Reprint edition (October 1, 2001)
- Language : English
- Paperback : 240 pages
- ISBN-10 : 9780262632454
- ISBN-13 : 978-0262632454
- Item Weight : 1.91 pounds
- Dimensions : 8.5 x 0.5 x 10.75 inches
- Best Sellers Rank: #2,936,764 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #751 in Artificial Intelligence (Books)
- #851 in Robotics (Books)
- #1,624 in Robotics & Automation (Books)
- Customer Reviews:
About the authors

Discover more of the author’s books, see similar authors, read author blogs and more

Peter J. Menzel (born February 7, 1948) is an American freelance photojournalist best known for his coverage of scientific and technological subjects. His work has appeared in many national and international publications including National Geographic, Forbes, Fortune, Wired, Geo, Stern, Paris Match, Life and Le Figaro. In conjunction with his wife, writer/producer Faith d'Aluisio, Menzel has also published five books including Material World: A Global Family Portrait (1994) and Hungry Planet: What The World Eats (2005). He is the founder of Peter Menzel Photography.
Bio from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. By Voedingscentrum (Hungry Planet) [CC BY 2.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0)], via Wikimedia Commons.
Customer reviews
Customer Reviews, including Product Star Ratings help customers to learn more about the product and decide whether it is the right product for them.
To calculate the overall star rating and percentage breakdown by star, we don’t use a simple average. Instead, our system considers things like how recent a review is and if the reviewer bought the item on Amazon. It also analyzed reviews to verify trustworthiness.
Learn more how customers reviews work on AmazonTop reviews from the United States
There was a problem filtering reviews right now. Please try again later.
......will be us......






