Recently, I came across a CBS News report documenting a new use for animatronic robots, now deployed in Japan.
Scare the bears away from humans.
What interested me most: The robot is not humanoid. It is a robotic version of a wolf, which makes perfect sense: In nature, a bear is more afraid of a wolf than a human.
If you are of an age, like me, you may have had the wonderful experience of attending the 1964 World’s Fair in New York City. I remember trudging through many of the pavilions and eventually finding my way into the Illinois State Pavilion. To my amazement I watched Walt Disney’s Abraham Lincoln audio animatronic show. Having grown up watching Saturday morning kid’s shows with hand and string-controlled puppet assistants to the human hosts, the fact that Mr. Lincoln acted autonomously, without strings, made a deep impact on my understanding of what a robot could become. At that moment, my lifelong interest in robotics was kindled.
Modern robotic animatronics can be traced back to 1924 and the activities of Westinghouse Electric Co. It’s corps of engineers in its “skunk works” created increasingly sophisticated humanoid robots, like Elektro. One of the fascinating aspects of these early robots was the emphasis on making them “human-like.”
Click here for a deeper dive into the history of Westinghouse’s animatronic robotic history.
The history of film treatments of robots started at the same time, and offered differing perspectives: Friend or foe?
From 1930, here’s a “friendly” perspective, although I am not sure the human host is enthusiastic about the robotic “assistance” in human endeavors. (Skip the two annoying upfront ads!)
Of course, the legendary negative view is embodied in Fritz Lang’s 1927 classic film, Metropolis.
Here we are in 2026. From a near future perspective, what types of jobs now done by humans will be transitioned to robots by 2030? By one estimate, 92 million humans will be displaced. Here’s a perspective on the categories at risk, and those that are not.
We started this piece on a positive note, applauding a robotic approach to protecting humans. More of this would be welcome, especially in roles where humans face high risks to life and limb.
The replacement of humans in routine jobs, however, needs to be watched closely. Displacing a human janitor with a robot may have advantages for the employer, but what happens to the displaced human?
About the Author
Tim Lindner develops multimodal technology solutions (voice / augmented reality / RF scanning) that focus on meeting or exceeding logistics and supply chain customers’ productivity improvement objectives. He can be reached at linkedin.com/in/timlindner.