Sunday
Jul042010
Iran Thought: Maybe The Robot Can Be President
Sunday, July 4, 2010 at 8:32 
A possible breakthrough in post-election Iranian politics this morning. From the Associated Press:Iranian officials have unveiled a human-shaped robot that can walk like a person, although at a slower pace.
Iranian state television says the Surena 2 robot weighs 99 pounds (45 kilograms) and is 4.76 feet (1.45 meters) tall. It was developed by more than 20 robotics experts at Tehran University.
State TV said engineers were still developing vision and sound capabilities for the robot, but did not elaborate. It also did not say what tasks the Surena 2 can perform or what it was developed for.
Now I'm not saying the robot should be President. I'm just pondering, given the technological advance v. the statements and actions of Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, whether it could be.
Here's the latest from the current President:
Four years ago you sanctioned Iran and our industrial export was $6 billion. How much is it now? It's $18 billion. I have faith in your capabilities; I want to tell them again, do you want to sanction Iran again? I promise you that this $18 billion will be $60 billion by the hands of people sitting here, and it will be a slap in their face.
The robot's position on sanctions and Iran's economic progress is, as yet, unknown.
Reader Comments (18)
These will be the voters in the next Presidential election.
Barry
All jokes aside, they seem to be into robots in Iran. There's a piano-playing robot in the museum in Azadi Tower, and I recall seeing other robots in museums that weren't related to the sciences. They were used to welcome visitors in different languages or give explanations about exhibits. Nothing high-tech, but very entertaining.
Are we suggesting Ahmadi'Nejad is programmed and operates like a Robot? What an insult to all robots. A dead dummy is more like it. Indeed a donkey can think, articulate, conduct itself, and do a better job as president than AhmadiNejad.
Interesting, I did not know that, Catherine. I love little glimpses like that into Iran.
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Dear Professor Lucas,
While I truly admire your invaluable work, I do sometimes find the tone of your blog somewhat condescending. There are times when I feel as though you dismiss the positive aspects of a story coming out of Iran and twist it to suit your narrative.
Once again, I am very thankful for your work and your efforts to spread awareness about the human rights situation in Iran. However, some stories - such as the achievements of Iranian students and scientists - should remain positive. This story has nothing to do with politics.
Pak,
I have had the pleasure of following your shrewd analysis on another website. Thank you for commenting.
I do apologise for any offence caused by this bit of irreverence, which was directed not at Iranian students and scientists --- who should be recognised for this advance in science and technology --- but at politicians.
S.
Mister Pak
I think people of Iran don't care about this ridiculous feat an humanoide robot !! Ha Ha Ha ! they have been witnessing their comrades being killed and their "true" blood spreading on the streets or on their own bodies;we have seen a lot of pictures where people showing their blood-red hands ; the blood of their children, friends or families ; so your Robot, in these ciconstances is really useless !! after what they have done with their " own " people, never seen all over the world, none of their work could be appreciated !
You are proud of it, keep your enthousiatic statement for AN; perhaps you will be awarded !
Dear Professor Lucas,
Thank you for your response.
Dear Ange-Paris,
Firstly, this is not a "ridiculous feat"; this is a sign that our populous is highly educated, engaged and willing to push the boundaries. What would you prefer? That all Iranians lock themselves up in their homes and sulk about politics? Regardless of the situation in Iran, life must go on; and it does go on. Anyway, not everything in Iran is associated with the regime or Ahmadinejad. There is no need to throw around baseless accusations.
Dear Pak
"What would you prefer? That all Iranians lock themselves up in their homes and sulk about politics? "
Yes , I would like it ; it's called " civil disobedience " and you know, after the events, I am so ashamed to have this kind of rulers in my country, that frankly I don't care about this useless humanoïde Robot; True humans were killed and their doll , I put it in a garbage can !!
Did you see yesterday iranian actors with KH ? smiling and as flies, turning around the cake !! in fact I prefer the behavor of great " Mr Jafar Panahi" !!
PAK
I think I know where you are coming from, what your point is - and possibly even where your heart lies.
BUT - in the earlier part of the 20th Century, the German people were very intelligent, sophisticated and industrious people as well. However they allowed themselves to be led to a disaster. Not only were they led, they enthusiastically followed their leaders and actively participated in a society that was inherently evil. The bad things that they did ( even those who merely averted their eyes from these things) will forever overwhelm any good things that they did.
The Scientists, Academics and Engineers working on this robot are "guilty by association" with the evil, distorted and paranoid Regime that pays their salaries. Same as for Germany, any good that now comes out of Iran is tainted forever and will forever be the dust that Ahmadinejad speaks of.
Barry
Dear Megan,
If you are not sure, then you do not know what you are talking about. Why are you also throwing around baseless accusations, assuming that these Iranian students or scientists copycatted other work? That is very diminishing and unnecessary. If you did not already know, Iranian students are present at nearly all robotic competitions worldwide, as well as numerous other olympiads.
Iran's scientific output is second to none. This is not to say that the regime should take the honour either; in the US, the largest immigrant academic population was until very recently from Iran (I believe China has now surpassed this record, but this is not surprising considering there are over 1 billion Chinese). Iranians are Iranians and will be Iranians under any condition.
My original point was that I felt Professor Lucas at times disregarded positive news coming out of Iran for the benefit of the "the regime is pure evil" narrative. I am not attacking him, nor anyone else, especially since I have read this blog daily for a long, long time. Sometimes news is just news and does not need spinning. Are you going to suggest that the Iranian scientists who potentially discovered an early warning signal for the onset of menopause are also regime dummies, or Nazi's as Barry suggested earlier? No - they are simply scientists who are making significant discoveries, despite the environment they live in.
I think a little more respect is needed.
PAK
I did not suggest that the Iranian Engineers/Scientists are Nazis. But they are like the "good Germans" - these were the good, hard working Germans who turned a blind eye to what the Nazis were doing and indeed worked for them."We were not Nazis", they said after WW2 - we were just good Germans. It appears that there are also many many "good Iranians"
Barry
Hi Pak,
RE: "Sometimes news is just news and does not need spinning."
I'm afraid that's a tall order for both the professor and me when there's the tempting prospect of humour involved (as you may have noticed from the photo caption contests I have on occasion provoked) :-). And you must also take into account the fact that the last scientific news we had out of Iran was the rather hilarious worms-in-space story. However, as you can also see above, for once I took the opposite tack and explored the fact behind the joke, which is what seems to be a very real interest in robots in Iran. I didn't know that Iranian students are present at nearly all robotic competitions worldwide. I'd like to know more.
However, I'm quite sure your statements "Iran's scientific output is second to none." and "in the US, the largest immigrant academic population was until very recently from Iran" could be disproved by anyone who has more time to spend on doing so than I do right now. :-)
Finally, I don't understand why everyone has been piling on Pak for this simple misunderstanding about the humourous and not denigrating intention of the post that Scott cleared up immediately.
Catherine
It would be very nice to hear something "good" coming out of Iran. However, this story about the success of Iranian Scientists/Engineers in producing robots - although giving the possibility for some humour, which in itself is good - is just another peg that the Regime can hang their hat on. Something to make it appear that Iran is just another country going about it's business in a positive way, well meaning and productive - when we all know that is not true.
I don't believe any of the posts here have been aimed at derision of Iranian Scientists/Engineers - they are undoubtedly very clever people. But, it would still be nice to hear something "good" coming out of Iran.
Barry
PAK,
“Iran's scientific output is second to none”
I heard that before. Do you know from whom? Ahmadinejad. Do you all have the same talking points? He is an idiot beating an empty drum, why do you?
“in the US, the largest immigrant academic population was until very recently from Iran”
False. U.S. Immigration and Naturalization significantly reduced and at some point even stopped issuing student Visas to Iranians after Islamic Republic got into the business of hostage taking and invading embassy compound.
Iranians who are the product of Islamic Republic educational system have not excelled in any scientific arena. You either did not read the information I provided or just like your leaders are in denial.
My point was not that Iranians are not intelligent and brilliant. My point was that minds need to be nourished and developed. In Islamic Republic universities where students cannot even safely sleep in their dormitory rooms minds do die. In Islamic republic where university professor are either blown to pieces by explosive or live in solitary confinement at Evin prison a cell or two away from their students, their focus is not scientific discovery but it is survival. Face the fact Mr. or Miss PAK.
Those Iranians who have excelled have done so outside of Iran. People like Firous Naderi, the Associate Director of NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Firouz_Naderi" rel="nofollow">http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Firouz_Naderi and many more like him are not the products of Islamic Republic educational system. Islamic republic is more focused on its people's hair than the content of their skulls.
I am a scientist, a doctor (a real one and not Ahmadi type doctor), and product of educational system in the U.S. I have done research as well as teaching at a university and a department with Nobel Prize under its belt. I have also worked as scientist and researcher in companies well known as pioneer in engineering and science as well as design of robotic devices for use in laboratories and medicine. I do not need you to tell me about patent violations and certainly do not need you to tell me how Islamic Republic stacks-up against rest of the world in science, technology, or medicine.
PAK, people are either wasting away in Islamic Republic prisons or are wasting away with drugs and that is the cruel reality in Iran. The sooner we stop fooling ourselves and come to terms with the deficits in Iran the sooner we can stop waste of brilliant minds.
Dear Barry,
The comparisons of IRI with Nazi Germany are in fact very interesting, particularly comparisons of their respective security apparatus and propaganda campaigns.