Darling, known as the "Mistress of Machines," researches ethical issues related to intelligent robots at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). She leads the Boston Dynamics AI Institute's study on ethics and societal impact and co-taught a robot ethics course at Harvard Law School. Her work focuses on legal and social issues in robotics.

In her address, Darling will discuss her studies on the relationship between robots and humans.

Artificial intelligence is increasingly utilized on the International Space Station (ISS), where robots and smart machines assist crew members with tasks and data analysis. These robotic helpers allow astronauts to conduct more hands-on investigations and complete complex tasks.

One example is the Crew Interactive MObile companioN (CIMON), developed with Airbus, IBM, and the German Aerospace Center. This free-flying robot serves as a hands-free database that responds to voice commands and processes data. NASA's Astrobees are another example, helping astronauts validate new technology and inspiring educational programs like MIT's Zero Robotics.

"Robotics and AI have a long and successful history of application in space exploration, but recent advances at the interface of humans and intelligent machines promise to enhance our ability to fully utilize the space station now and expand the capabilities of future destinations in low Earth orbit (LEO)," said Michael Roberts, chief scientific officer for the ISS National Laboratory.

"It is equally important to understand how these rapidly developing technologies will accelerate the growth of ecosystems off the Earth. We look forward to Kate Darling sharing her expertise and experience as we work to assimilate intelligent machines into human space to make our work safer and more efficient."

ISSRDC 2024 will be held from July 29 to August 1, 2024, at the Marriott Copley Place in Boston. Darling's keynote will take place on July 31, alongside sessions focused on technology development and innovation in space.

The annual conference brings together leaders from the commercial sector, U.S. government agencies, and academic communities to foster innovation and discovery on the space station. This year's sessions will showcase the station's value as a platform for research and technology development that benefits humanity and supports a sustainable market in LEO.

For more information about ISSRDC, including registration and sponsorship, please visit the conference website.

Related Links
International Space Station U.S. National Laboratory
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