[CQ-Contest] Robot Op Challenge

[Cormac J Gebruers]

G'day All,
For what its worth:
As a computer scientist working in the AI (Artificial Intelligence) field
and programming supposedly "intelligent" agents for a living I would happily
put on record that NO "ROBOT" WILL COME CLOSE TO A GOOD HUMAN OP ANYTIME IN
THE NEAR FUTURE.
Furthermore I'd hazard a guess that it probably won't be achieved in a 20-25
year timespan either.
Sure a well programmed BOT could manage most of the 59+40 over QSOs with
other english speaking Ops. {Assuming in this instance the BOT is programmed
to handle english language QSOs}.
But think of those QSO's carried out
Down at 56 & below -
With those guys & gals who give you the QSO with the only  5 words of
english they have...
In a 200 station pileup
When the static is up
etc. etc.

No machine is likely to be capable of the level of incisiveness achievable
by a human Op. After all just look at the only moderate success of cw / data
mode decoding programs...

73 & long live the human Op! :o)
Cormac EI4HQ
Contester with EI7M

----- Original Message -----
From: Pete Smith <n4zr at contesting.com>
To: <cq-contest at contesting.com>
Sent: Wednesday, May 31, 2000 6:06 PM
Subject: [CQ-Contest] Robot Op Challenge


>
> Recently I saw a message posted (here, I think) in which the writer took
> for granted that computer robot ops already exist that can do as well as a
> skilled human in operating a contest.  The writer said that it is only
> because of the programmers' forbearance that these robots have not taken
over.
>
> Frankly, I'm skeptical.  I'm sure that robots exist with a limited degree
> of autonomous QSO capability (after all N6TR's Z80 Op has been around for
a
> decade or more), but I doubt that the technology has progressed to the
> point that it can outperform a skilled human operator, even on a single
> band and over a short period of time.
>
> But why speculate?  If you have such a robot, how about demonstrating it
> during one hour of the IARU contest, and submitting a check score?  Then
> post the log and, if possible, a digital recording of the operation so
that
> we can all see it.
>
> Betcha can't!!! <grin>
>
>
>
> 73, Pete Smith N4ZR
> n4zr at contesting.com
>
>
>
> --
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>
>


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