DECIDING THE ROBOTS OF THE FUTURE.

A FUTURE where robots fight, care for old people, carry out surgery and provide transport will be explored at a Newcastle conference tomorrow.

And according to Noel Jackson, head of education at the Life Science Centre at the city's Centre for Life, that future is "just around the corner".

Pupils from across the region will meet robotics researchers to explore their visions of the future and the roles robots will play. The Robotics Visions Conference at the centre is part of a project funded by the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council.

Around 40 sixth form pupils will be working with robotics experts including Noel Sharkey, professor of artificial intelligence and robotics and science communicators from the centre. They will discuss and debate the ethical dilemmas surrounding the future of robotics and the funding of robotics research.

"This is a great opportunity for me to find out what young people think about a future with robots," said Prof Sharkey. "Robots and related technologies may have a significant impact on society over the next 20 years. So it is important that young people think about what they want from them. It's their future and their opinions that matter most."

CAPTION(S):

EXPERT Prof Noel Sharkey will talk to teenagers about the robots of the future.