Will the emergence of autonomous cars, drones, repair robots and wireless surveillance networks will bring us closer to nature, or will autonomous technologies keep us inside?
A survey of more than 170 experts, led by the University of Leeds, shared their ideas and their predictions – both positive and negative – on the opportunities and potential challenges of urban biodiversity and ecosystems.
Thanks to the online questionnaire, technology professionals have highlighted the means that autonomous systems could support nature, in particular the identification of emerging pests or plant care monitoring.
The survey, however, also revealed a drawback of advanced robotic technologies, such as increased pollution.
Robots and drones, for example, generate new sources of waste and can have an impact on urban areas in particular. Cities will have to adapt to the growing use of robots, autonomous cars and drones, potentially resulting in a loss of green space.
The 170 respondents of the survey, from 35 countries, worked in one of the five areas: environmental sciences, engineering, intelligent cities, robotics and automated systems or town planning.
Research, Posted this month in Ecology and evolution of nature is written by a team of 77 academics and practitioners.
The survey, funded by the research council on engineering and physical sciences (EPSC, is part of Leeds’ Cities self-refective project which aims to allow robots and autonomous systems to maintain urban infrastructure without disturbing citizens.
Autonomous technologies, defined in survey as “technologies that may feel, analyze and interact with their physical environment”, have a wide range of potential applications, such as autonomous transport, waste collection, maintenance and maintenance repair of infrastructure, police and precision agriculture. In an open field with such exciting possibilities, the robotics and automation industry must also make sure not to ignore the impacts of advanced drones, vehicles and surveillance tools, according to the organizer of the study.
“Technology, like robotics, has the potential to change almost all aspects of our life”, ” The said principal author of Dr. Martin Dallimer, of the Earth and Environment School of the University of Leeds . “Although future impacts on urban green spaces and nature are difficult to predict, we must make sure that the public, political decision -makers and robotics developers are aware of the advantages and potential disadvantages, so that we can avoid harmful consequences and fully achieve the advantages.
In a short Q&R with Technological briefs Below, Dr. Dallimer reveals which technologies will have the greatest impacts on the environment-and it will not be one, he says.
Technological briefs: When you take all these technologies together – drones, autonomous cars, robots, wireless sensor networks – which one do you think you have the greatest impact on our environment?
Dr Martin Dallimer: This is a very difficult question to answer. In the document, we have identified nine areas that we estimated that robotics and automated systems should have an impact in the near future. For example, technologies such as autonomous cars and their associated infrastructure will be very visible to people and could radically modify the way we use land in and around cities. Drones (flying and fields) and sensor networks will change the way we monitor and manage urban green spaces, nature and fauna. This is likely to change our understanding, as scientists, of an urban nature, and also to change the way people in general interact with the nature that surrounds them.
Another big unknown problem is how drones, autonomous cars, etc. will directly influence fauna and habitats, such as interfere with animal behavior or cause new forms of waste and pollution. The most important global impacts on our environment are in fact likely to come from unknown interactions between all combined technologies, rather than an individual type.
Technological briefs: What were the most surprising comments you received in the survey? Was there any planned environmental impacts that surprised you or could surprise our readers?
Dr Dallimer: I think everyone knows autonomous cars and drones, so the fact that these technologies will modify how we use land and green spaces is probably not surprising. Likewise, people know how drones are now used to monitor fauna and biodiversity.
The most surprising and difficult to predict aspects are probably the way new technologies are changing our own relationships with nature and the world outdoors. We will barely find outside because everything comes to our door, or the possibility of accessing fun and real -time information on what animals and plants live near us, and what they do ( Reproduction, migration, flowering) lead to a new explosion in interest in nature?
Technological briefs: Why is it so important to have an investigation like this?
Dr Dallimer: Currently, we have little appreciation of the tracks through which the generalized adoption and deployment of robotic and autonomous systems (ARM) could affect biodiversity and urban ecosystems. To date, information on how RAS can have an impact on biodiversity and urban ecosystems remain dispersed on several sources and disciplines, if it has been recorded. Our article represents an attempt to bring together the information and the expertise that exists on this new fast -moving subject.
Technological briefs: Where has there been the most consensus regarding the impact?
Dr Dallimer: With the importance of new technologies to improve the way we monitor urban ecosystems and biodiversity.
This is an area that is already fairly well developed, so we have seen many more opportunities for this to continue to develop.
How do you think robotics and autonomous systems will have an impact on the environment? Share your questions and comments below.