Roboticists tend to develop robots under the assumption that they’ll know exactly where their robots are at any given time—clearly that’s an important capability if the robot’s job is to usefully move between specific locations. But that ability to localize generally requires the robot to have powerful sensors and a map of its environment. There are ways to wriggle out of some of these requirements: If you don’t have a map, there are methods that build a map and localize at the same time, and if you don’t have a good range sensor, visual navigation methods use just a regular RGB camera, which most robots would have anyway. Unfortunately, these alternatives to traditional localization-based navigation are either computationally expensive, not very robust, or both. As well as allowing unprecedented access to the animals – including a trip between the jaws of a Ugandan Nile crocodile – the animatronic creatures were designed to interact with real-life animals in ways that at times astonished the film-makers, according to John Downer, the executive producer.

When robot Roz opens her eyes for the first time, she discovers that she is alone on a remote, wild island. Why is she there? Where did she come from? And, most important, how will she survive in her harsh surroundings?Moreover, 57 percent of federal executives say their employees will be challenged to figure out how to work with robots, while 43 percent believe their employees will easily figure out how to work with robots. Getting the right skills in place to execute and sustain robotic endeavors can also present challenges. There have been large increases in demand for robotics technicians (a 121 percent increase since 2017) and for data scientists (an 88 percent increase between 2018 and 2019). Our research suggests there will likely be sizeable hurdles for some agencies considering forays into robotics. Three-quarters of federal executives surveyed said they expect their employees would resist any near-term moves to adopt robots; 73 percent said they expect their customers would resist; and 71 percent said they expect society would resist it. Robots In The Wild is about creative problem solving, building epic Robot citidels, and rescuing HEARTS from the clutches of a cold, heartless universe. One of the main themes of this book is friendship. Roz’s friendships with the animals were unexpected and often challenging. Choose a friendship between Roz and one of the animals and discuss it in your group. Why was it a strong friendship? What challenges did the friendship face and how were these challenges overcome?

As we know, families come in all forms. Now that Roz has taken on the role of a mother to Brightbill, they have become like a little family. In what ways do they act like your family acts? In what ways are they different from any of the families that you know? As Roz adapts to her new life, roles, and responsibilities, she comes to like being at the farm. However, she still sometimes longs to leave. Why do you think this is? Have you ever had a time in your life where you have felt like this? Discuss with your group or partner. After a while, the island starts to feel like home to Roz. Why is this? What does home feel like to you? What were Roz’s specific survival instincts when she first arrived on the island? How did those instincts change and why? Provide examples from the text that show these instincts changing. Roz has the tremendous task of adapting to her new way of life, much like people do in many ways in real life. What are some examples of how Roz adapts to these changes? Was it easy for her? What challenges did she face? Be sure to use details from the text.

Submission history

Choose a chapter from the novel and create a storyboard that shows that chapter from another character’s point of view. For an extra challenge, use the T-chart layout to compare the original point of view with another character’s point of view! The novel carries a subtle but powerful message about harmony between technology and the natural world, brought to life with painterly prose and eloquent illustrations.”― Financial Times In healthcare as in many industries, robots have typically been tethered to a fixed place. For example, surgical robots used in an operating room or prescription-dispensing robots used in a pharmacy. Now, robots are moving freely through hospital spaces and in the community. It’s a big leap. Roz is like a mother to many of the island’s animals, and she takes on the role of mother to a Brightbill, whose goose egg was the only survivor of a terrible accident. What do you think motherly actions look like? In what ways does Roz act motherly? Provide examples from the text.