What is a robot?: Professor Hugh Durrant-Whyte at TEDxSydney

Hugh's talk addresses what a robot is and what a robot isn't. A robot is not just a mechanical automaton. A robot perceives and a robot acts. Hugh leaves open the question of whether the robots will get us all in the end.

Hugh is a field robotics pioneer and his work has helped bring Australia to the top of the tree. Hugh's robots are at home in real world environments such as farms, the dockside and mines. Currently, he is the CEO of NICTA, Australia's Information and Communications Technology Research Centre. For a man as passionate about technology as he is, he equally eschews it. Hugh does not own a mobile phone. He rides his push bike everywhere.

TEDxSydney 2012 took place on Saturday 26 May 2012 at Carriageworks. Tens of thousands of people enjoyed the day: 800 in the theatre, over 1,000 via big screen simulcast in The Forum, many thousands online via YouTube and ABC Big Ideas ... and up to 80,000 tuning in to ABC Radio National.

About TEDx, x = independently organised event

In the spirit of ideas worth spreading, TEDx is a program of local, self-organized events that bring people together to share a TED-like experience. At a TEDx event, TEDTalks video and live speakers combine to spark deep discussion and connection in a small group. These local, self-organized events are branded TEDx, where x = independently organized TED event. The TED Conference provides general guidance for the TEDx program, but individual TEDx events are self-organized.* (*Subject to certain rules and regulations.)