Robotica (sociale) e sostenibilità. Impalcature teoriche della robosfera

This work investigates the sustainability of robotics, focusing specifically on the ecological and societal implications of robotic embodiment. Employing a framework grounded in the epistemology and theories of complex systems, the research develops a systemic understanding of robotics, introducing the term “robosphere” to describe the role of physical embodiment within global systems. The thesis comprises seven chapters, each addressing distinct facets of the intersection between robotics and sustainability. The first chapter examines the relationship between robotics and sustainability, discussing the environmental impact of human activity and the role of technology in both exacerbating and mitigating global crises. It presents key sustainability concepts, including the conceptualization of the three pillars of sustainability and the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), while also addressing the challenges of implementing circular economy principles. The second chapter delves into robotic embodiment, analysing its significance in social robotics and human-robot interaction (HRI). It discusses the advantages of embodiment for communication and interaction, alongside its economic, environmental, and social costs, questioning its overall sustainability. Subsequent chapters shift to a systemic perspective, critiquing reductionist approaches in science and technology. The study highlights the necessity of a complexity-based paradigm to better integrate robotics into sustainable ecosystems. The role of Gaia theory and Earth System Sciences is explored, emphasizing interconnectivity and the need for systemic awareness in technological development. The research then introduces the robosphere as an emerging complex system by the broader technosphere. It examines its conceptual evolution and its interrelation with cybernetics, self-organization, and co-evolutionary processes. A case study on the AIBO robot illustrates how robotic systems can evolve within human-technology networks, supporting the idea of robotic sustainability through systemic integration. The final chapters analyse the trend of bio-mimesis in robotics, contrasting it with Sloterdijk's concept of homeotechnics. The chapter concludes by proposing the concept of techno-apoptosis, an artificial analogue to programmed cell death in biological systems, designed to enhance the stability and sustainability of complex systems. The findings suggest that the sustainability of robotic embodiment can be significantly improved by conceptualizing it as an integral part of the robosphere, considering not only the sustainability of individual components but also the system’s overall organizational dynamics.