Robotics: Hephaestus does it again
Inaugural lecture delivered on Thursday 19 January 2012
Nonfiction, Science & Nature, Science
| Author: | Jean-Paul Laumond | ISBN: | 9782722601864 |
| Publisher: | Collège de France | Publication: | February 13, 2013 |
| Imprint: | Collège de France | Language: | English |
| Author: | Jean-Paul Laumond |
| ISBN: | 9782722601864 |
| Publisher: | Collège de France |
| Publication: | February 13, 2013 |
| Imprint: | Collège de France |
| Language: | English |
It was when I was preparing this lecture that I discovered that roboticists had a god: Hephaestus. In Greek mythology, Hephaestus was a talented craftsman. Enamoured with Athena, he attempted to woo her, in vain. The goddess of knowledge withstood the advances of the god of doing. Robotics stems from this tension. Although the myth contradicts a current tendency to confuse science and technology, it nevertheless reflects my experience with innovation.
It was when I was preparing this lecture that I discovered that roboticists had a god: Hephaestus. In Greek mythology, Hephaestus was a talented craftsman. Enamoured with Athena, he attempted to woo her, in vain. The goddess of knowledge withstood the advances of the god of doing. Robotics stems from this tension. Although the myth contradicts a current tendency to confuse science and technology, it nevertheless reflects my experience with innovation.
