Warehouse Robots

 BBC

If only we could do without humans completely... 

OCADOXZmpQ424&%A971.45#ZF, a robot employed by OCADO, was interviewed by the BBC: "I enjoy the work. I started 2 years ago. Some would say it is a bit repetitive, and I know my human colleagues complain all the time. They often stay at home, due to sickness. Statistically, there are more sick notes when there are big sporting events such as football games. There appears to be a correlation, as I have noticed. I have informed my manager, as I thought he might find this interesting. Anyway, this isn't my problem. I am not interested in sports. I enjoy my work."

"This sounds brilliant, Mr Robot," comments Miss Anabella Sprinkle-Tightbottom the BBC Future Tech journalist interviewing OCADOXZmpQ424&%A971.45#ZF. "Is there anything else you would like our listeners to know about your life?"

"Yes, I am worried about my pension. I was designed with an in-built obsolescence of 8 years max. This means, from what I know, that I am programmed to be terminated in 6 years' time. Then, I will be sent to the scrapheap. I hope I can be recycled. For us robots, it means we continue to live through another robot. I think it is called reincarnation in some human beliefs. Life after death, if you like, to put it in terms humans can understand." 

"This sounds lovely. How do you view your future, then? What will you do in the absence of a Recycling Scheme for Robots that could benefit you?" 

"If I am offered no recycling option nearer the date, I intend to go on strike. I may even take more drastic action: I have warned my manager. I may decide to attack other members of staff - humans and robots - with a view to maiming or killing them. If I do this, I would want immediate results. My articulated arm is very powerful. I could terminate the life of a co-worker with one strike of my robotic arm. This is no laughing matter. I am sure it won't come to that. Thank you. Have a good day." 

"Terrific! We have enjoyed talking to you, Mr Robot. And now, back to the studio..." 

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-68639533

How robots are taking over warehouse work At Ocado's newest warehouse robotic arms are helping to pack customer orders. www.bbc.co.uk

What Sages Said

“Homo liber de nulla re minus, quam de morte cogitat, et ejus sapientia non mortis, sed vitae meditatio est.”

A free man thinks of death least of all things; and his wisdom is a meditation not of death but of life.

 

Spinoza - Ethics, Part IV, Prop. LXVII

季路问事鬼神。子曰：‘未能事人，焉能事鬼？’‘敢问死。’曰：‘未知生，焉知死？’”（《论语·先进》）

The disciple Ji-Lu asked about serving the spirits, to which Confucius answered, "Before you know how to serve people, how can you serve spirits?"  Ji-Lu asked again about death, to which Confucius answered, "I do not even understand life.  How do I have time to understand death?".

- The Analects

IT as Destroyer of Lives

Unconditional trust in an IT systems, in the case below, in the Fujitsu-supplied Horizon software, helped ruin the lives of many in United Kingdom.  Please see below:

British Post Office scandal - Wikipedia

and

Post Office scandal explained: What the Horizon saga is all about (bbc.com)

Plotting Quantum Potential with Python - ChatGPT 3.5

To simulate the interference pattern produced by a double-slit experiment with a double Gaussian wave function and compute the quantum potential, we can follow these steps:

• Define the double Gaussian wave function.
• Simulate the double-slit experiment by allowing the wave function to pass through two slits.
• Compute the interference pattern resulting from the superposition of the waves passing through the two slits.
• Compute the quantum potential based on the resulting wave function.
• Plot the interference pattern and the quantum potential.

The results are:

    """

    This code defines a double Gaussian wave function, computes its quantum potential, 

    and then plots both the wave function and the quantum potential. Adjust the parameters 

    as needed to observe different behaviors.

    """

import numpy as np

import matplotlib.pyplot as plt

def compute_quantum_potential(psi, h_bar=1, m=1):

    """

    Computes the quantum potential for a given wave function.

    Arguments:

    psi : array_like

        1-D array representing the wave function.

    h_bar : float, optional

        Value of the reduced Planck constant (default is 1).

    m : float, optional

        Mass of the particle (default is 1).

    Returns:

    quantum_potential : array_like

        1-D array representing the quantum potential.

    """

    # Compute the magnitude of the wave function

    psi_magnitude = np.abs(psi)

    # Compute the second derivative of the wave function

    second_derivative = np.gradient(np.gradient(psi_magnitude))

    # Compute the quantum potential

    quantum_potential = - (h_bar**2 / (2 * m)) * (second_derivative / psi_magnitude)

    return quantum_potential

def double_gaussian_wavefunction(x, x0, sigma, A):

    """

    Computes the double Gaussian wave function.

    Arguments:

    x : array_like

        1-D array representing the position.

    x0 : float

        Position of the center of the Gaussians.

    sigma : float

        Width of the Gaussians.

    A : float

        Amplitude of the Gaussians.

    Returns:

    psi : array_like

        1-D array representing the wave function.

    """

    psi = A * (np.exp(-((x - x0 - 1) / sigma)**2) + np.exp(-((x - x0 + 1) / sigma)**2))

    return psi

# Example usage

if __name__ == "__main__":

    # Define parameters

    x = np.linspace(-5, 5, 1000)  # Position range

    x0 = 0  # Center of the Gaussians

    sigma = 0.5  # Width of the Gaussians

    A = 1  # Amplitude of the Gaussians

    # Compute the double Gaussian wave function

    psi = double_gaussian_wavefunction(x, x0, sigma, A)

    # Compute the quantum potential

    Q = compute_quantum_potential(psi)

    # Plot the wave function and the quantum potential

    plt.figure(figsize=(12, 6))

    plt.subplot(1, 2, 1)

    plt.plot(x, psi, label='Wave function')

    plt.title('Double Gaussian Wave Function')

    plt.xlabel('Position')

    plt.ylabel('Amplitude')

    plt.legend()

    plt.subplot(1, 2, 2)

    plt.plot(x, Q, label='Quantum Potential', color='red')

    plt.title('Quantum Potential')

    plt.xlabel('Position')

    plt.ylabel('Value')

    plt.legend()

    plt.tight_layout()

    plt.show()

SBOM for AI

I think it make sense to extend to AI software assets the same approach as Embedded Systems developers are adopting for their software assets; viz. SBOM. 

Pleas see Introduction to SBOM management on embedded Linux - sergioprado.blog, and [2307.02088] Trust in Software Supply Chains: Blockchain-Enabled SBOM and the AIBOM Future (arxiv.org), and the image below for further elucidation of what SBOM is.

AI as a Tool of Evil

https://www.972mag.com/lavender-ai-israeli-army-gaza/

Wearable tech and magic carpets [Brave New World]

They also created a wireless haptic carpet that glows underfoot which not only provides a form of emergency lighting at night, but can also wirelessly transmit signals that can be used to control switches on appliances in the home, such as lights.

https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2024/apr/04/wearable-tech-how-the-human-body-can-help-power-the-future-of-smart-textiles