Nerds on Wall Street: Math, Machines, and Wired Markets

3.12. Playing Well with Robots and Algorithms

People will have to find their place in these multi-asset, risk-mitigated, fragmented, algorithm-infested markets of 2015 and beyond. With this in mind, it's informative to ask how people work with other algorithms, such as physical robots.

Some of the real robots work largely on their own. They have stimulus/response rules and internal representations of their tasks. There are two million iRobot Roomba vacuums sucking up dirt solo. The Mars rovers—Spirit and Opportunity—have significant control over their actions. They have an autonomous mobility system.^[] Humans set the goals; the rover takes care of the rest.

Other robots are on an extremely short leash. The iRobot PackBot Explosive Ordinance Disposal robot^[] comes with a substantial remote control. These are impressive items to see, and worth a visit to the web site. This is made by the same company that makes the Roomba vacuum cleaners. Robot surgeons, like the Da Vinci Surgical Robots,^[] are on the shortest possible leash. Every move is controlled by a human surgeon. This is really a teleoperated system, with very little autonomy other than safety stops.

These robots and the people they work with have a great advantage in being able to see what they are doing using cameras, well-armored ones for PackBot and little tiny ones in tubes for Dr. Da Vinci. Force feedback and texture sensors let the user feel what it's like to be there. In the real world of bombs and gallbladders, looking ...