Date

Topic

Reading for
Class Discussion (Read PRIOR to Class)

Assignment

Jan 12

Introduction I  [Slides]

Jan 14

Introduction II/Ethical Foundations I

Robo Sapiens (RS), Introduction

Why the future doesn't need us (Bill Joy)

A Robot in Every Home (Bill Gates)

Jan 19

Ethical Foundations II

Introduction to Ethics Article (Class Handout)

Moral Machines (MM), Chapter 1

In class exercise 1

Exercise Notes

Jan 21

Ethical Foundations III [slides]

Roboethics

Digital People (DP), Chapter 1

Strategic plan exercise

Jan 26

Argumentation [slides]

Using the Toulmin Model (Class Handout)

DP, Chapter 2

HWK #1: Introduction to Ethics

DUE 2/2

Jan 28

Asimov's Laws [slides]

MM, pp. 91-99

Three laws and Metaethics

Beyond Asimov

Term paper assignment #1

 DUE 2/9

Feb 2

Defense: Killer Applications

RS, Remote Possibilities

Robots and Laws of War

Armed Robot Operations   

HW #1 DUE!

HWK# 2 OUT: DUE  2/16

In class exercise 2

Feb 4

 Defense II [slides]

 RS, Serious Fun

Review of Code with explanation of the 4 regulatory forces (Focus on section titled 'What Regulates and How’)

Feb 9

Entertainment/Companion Robots

[slides]

If you kick a robotic dog, is it wrong?

The March of the Robot Dogs

Do People really want Robots?

Robot Nannies

 TP#1 DUE!

Feb 11

Medical and Assistive Robotics

[slides]

Robots and Rehabilitation

Robots and Autism

Exoskeletons

Feb 16

Cyborgs

Thought Communication

Implant tumors

HW #2 DUE!

In class exercise 3

Feb 18

Lab Tour 

Meet at TSRB LOBBY 9:30AM

MM, Chapter 3

RS, Electric Dreams

Feb 23

Robots and Jobs

[slides]

RS, Workmates

World Robotics Summary

Robots and the Workforce

Term paper Outline and

Debate topics

(BOTH DUE 3/11)

Feb 25

Robots and Privacy

Socio-ethics (Read at least sections 3 and 5)

Security and Privacy

In Class Exercise 4 and 

Mid-term Review

March 2

Midterm Exam

Past Midterm NOTE: This is not necessarily a guide for the future!

March 4
Drop Day is 3/5

Religion and Robots I

DP, Chapter 4

Robot: Child of God

Technoethics

March 9

Religion and Robots II

[slides]

DP, Chapter 5

Commander Data: A Candidate for Harvard Divinity School?

March 11

Sexual Activity and Robots I

 DP, Chapter 8

Legal Implications of Intimacy with Machines

OUTLINE AND DEBATE TOPICS DUE!

Term Paper (DUE 4/27)

March 16

Sexual Activity and Robots II

[slides]

Robot Prostitutes

 Debate Assignments

(Due 4/13)

Homework #3

DUE 11:59 PM Monday before 4/1

March 18

Social and Cultural Distinctions I

DP, Chapter 7

Who is Afraid?

Culture in Neuro-robotics

March 23
March 25

Spring Break

March 30

Social and Cultural Distinctions II

[slides]

Cultural Acceptance: West versus Japan

Cross-cultural Roboethics

April 1

Intelligent Beings I (aka The Singularity)

DP, Chapter 9,

I … am a Robot

Student presentations

April 6

Intelligent Beings II

MM, Chapter 4

Ethical Treatment of Robots

Student presentations

April 8

Intelligent Beings III

RS, Robo Sapiens

MM, Chapter 12

Student presentations

April 13

Debates I

 All debate documents for all debates are due at the beginning of class 4/13.

 Student debates

April 15

Debates II

 Student debates

April 20

Debates III

 Student debates

April 22

Guest Lecture: Robot Companions (J. Borenstein)

[Slides]

April 27

Professional Ethics

 [slides]

Using the new ACM code of Conduct for Decision Making

ACM Code of Conduct

IEEE Code of Conduct

IEEE Plagiarism

TERM PAPER DUE!  

April 29

What's Next? A Challenge

Out: Take-Home Exam

Oral Schedule

May 3 – May 7

Final Exam