What is Robotics?

Robotics is the branch of Mechanical engineering, electrical engineering and computer science
that deals with the design, construction, operation, and application of robot as well as computer
system for their control, sensory feedback, and information processing.

These technology deal with automated machine that can take the place of human in dangerous
environments or manufacturing process, or resemble human in appearance, behavior, and or
cognition, Many of today’s robot are inspired by nature contributing to the field of bio-inspired
robotics.

Robotics is, to a very large extent, all about system integration, achieving a task by an actuated
mechanical device, via an intelligent integration of components, many of which it shares with
other domains, such as systems and control, computer science, character animation, machine
design, computer vision, artificial intelligence, cognitive science, biomechanics, etc. In addition,
the boundaries of robotics cannot be clearly defined, since also its core ideas, concepts and
algorithms are being applied in an ever increasing number of external applications, and, vice versa,
core technology from other domains (vision, biology, cognitive science or biomechanics, for
example) are becoming crucial components in more and more modern robotic systems.

Robots are machines that can used to do jobs. Some robots can do work by themselves. Other
robots must always have a person telling them what to do.
Robotics Technology

Most industrial robots have at least the following five parts:

 Sensor
 Effectors
 Actuators
 Controllers

Many other robots also have Artificial Intelligence and effectors that help it achieve Mobility.

Types of Robots

1. Mobile Robots
 Rolling Robots
 Walking Robots
2. Stationary Robots
3. Autonomous Robots
4. Remote-control Robots
5. BEAM Robots

1. Mobile Robots

Mobile robots are able to move, usually they perform task such as search areas. A prime
example is the Mars Explorer, specifically designed to roam the mars surface.
Mobile robots are a great help to such collapsed building for survivors Mobile robots used
for task where people cannot go. Either because it is too dangerous of because people cannot
reach the area that needs to be searched.
Rolling Robots

Rolling robots have wheels to move around. These are the type of robots that can quickly and
easily search move around. However they are only useful in flat areas, rocky terrains give them a
hard time. Flat terrains are their territory.

Walking Robots

Robots on legs are usually brought in when the terrain is rocky and difficult to enter with
wheels. Robots have a hard time shifting balance and keep them from tumbling. That’s why most
robots with have at least 4 of them, usually they have 6 legs or more. Even when they lift one or
more legs they still keep their balance. Development of legged robots is often modeled after
insects or crawfish.

2. Stationary Robots

Robots are not only used to explore areas or imitate a human being. Most robots perform repeating
tasks without ever moving an inch. Most robots are working in industry settings. Especially dull
and repeating tasks are suitable for robots. A robot never grows tired, it will perform its duty day
and night without ever complaining. In case the tasks at hand are done, the robots will be
reprogrammed to perform other tasks.
3. Autonomous Robots

Autonomous robots are self supporting or in other words self contained. In a way they rely
on their own brains.
Autonomous robots run a program that give them the opportunity to decide on the action to
perform depending on their surroundings. At times these robots even learn new behavior. They
start out with a short routine and adapt this routine to be more successful at the task they
perform. The most successful routine will be repeated as such their behavior is
shaped. Autonomous robots can learn to walk or avoid obstacles they find in their way. Think
about a six legged robot, at first the legs move ad random, after a little while the robot adjust
its program and performs a pattern which enables it to move in a direction.

Robotics History

Definition of “Robot”
According to the Robot Institute of America (1979) a robot is: "A reprogrammable, multifunctional
manipulator designed to move material, parts, tools, or specialized devices through various
programmed motions for the performance of a variety of tasks".
"An automatic device that performs functions normally ascribed to humans or a machine in the
form of a human. "
First use of the word ‘Robot’

The acclaimed Czech playwright Karel Capek (1890-1938) made the first use of the word robot, from the
Czech word for forced labor or serf. Capek was reportedly several times a candidate for the Nobel prize
for his works and very influential and prolific as a writer and playwright.
The use of the word Robot was introduced into his play R.U.R. (Rossum's Universal Robots) which
opened in Prague in January 1921.

In R.U.R., Capek poses a paradise, where the machines initially bring so many benefits but in the end
bring an equal amount of blight in the form of unemployment and social unrest.

The play was an enormous success and productions soon opened throughout Europe and the U.S.
R.U.R's theme, in part, was the dehumanization of man in a technological civilization.

You may find it surprising that the robots were not mechanical in nature but were created through
chemical means. In fact, in an essay written in 1935, Capek strongly fought that this idea was at all
possible and, writing in the third person, said: "It is with horror, frankly, that he rejects all responsibility
for the idea that metal contraptions could ever replace human beings, and that by means of wires they
could awaken something like life, love, or rebellion. He would deem this dark prospect to be either an
overestimation of machines, or a grave offence against life."
[The Author of Robots Defends Himself - Karl Capek, Lidove noviny, June 9, 1935, translation: Bean
Comrada]

There is some evidence that the word robot was actually coined by Karl's brother Josef, a writer in his
own right. In a short letter, Capek writes that he asked Josef what he should call the artificial workers in
his new play.

Karel suggests Labori, which he thinks too 'bookish' and his brother mutters "then call them Robots" and
turns back to his work, and so from a curt response we have the word robot.
First use of the word ‘Robotics’

The word 'robotics' was first used in Runaround, a short story published in 1942, by Isaac Asimov (born
Jan. 2, 1920, died Apr. 6, 1992). I, Robot, a collection of several of these stories, was published in 1950.

One of the first robots Asimov wrote about was a robotherapist. A modern counterpart to Asimov's
fictional character is Eliza. Eliza was born in 1966 by a Massachusetts Institute of Technology Professor
Joseph Weizenbaum who wrote Eliza -- a computer program for the study of natural language
communication between man and machine

She was initially programmed with 240 lines of code to simulate a psychotherapist by answering
questions with questions.

Three Laws of Robotics

Asimov also proposed his three "Laws of Robotics", and he later added a 'zeroth law'.

Law Zero: A robot may not injure humanity, or, through inaction, allow humanity to come to
harm.
Law One: A robot may not injure a human being, or, through inaction, allow a human being to
come to harm, unless this would violate a higher order law.
Law Two: A robot must obey orders given it by human beings, except where such orders would
conflict with a higher order law.
Law Three: A robot must protect its own existence as long as such protection does not conflict
with a higher order law.
 The First Robot: 'Unimate'

After the technology explosion during World War II, in 1956, a historic meeting occurs between
George C. Devol, a successful inventor and entrepreneur, and engineer Joseph F. Engelberger,
over cocktails the two discuss the writings of Isaac Asimov.Together they made a serious and
commercially successful effort to develop a real, working robot. They persuaded Norman Schafler
of Condec Corporation in Danbury that they had the basis of a commercial success.

Engelberger started a manufacturing company 'Unimation' which stood for universal automation
and so the first commercial company to make robots was formed. Devol wrote the necessary
patents. Their first robot nicknamed the 'Unimate'. As a result, Engelberger has been called the
'father of robotics.The first Unimate was installed at a General Motors plant to work with heated
die-casting machines. In fact most Unimates were sold to extract die castings from die casting
machines and to perform spot welding on auto bodies, both tasks being particularly hateful jobs
for people.
Both applications were commercially successful, i.e., the robots worked reliably and saved money
by replacing people. An industry was spawned and a variety of other tasks were also performed
by robots, such as loading and unloading machine tools.
Ultimately Westinghouse acquired Unimation and the entrepreneurs' dream of wealth was
achieved. Unimation is still in production today, with robots for sale.

The robot idea was hyped to the skies and became high fashion in the Boardroom. Presidents of
large corporations bought them, for about $100,000 each, just to put into laboratories to "see what
they could do;" in fact these sales constituted a large part of the robot market. Some companies
even reduced their ROI (Return On Investment criteria for investment) for robots to encourage
their use.
Modern Industrial Robots

The image of the "electronic brain" as the principal part of the robot was pervasive. Computer
scientists were put in charge of robot departments of robot customers and of factories of robot
makers. Many of these people knew little about machinery or manufacturing but assumed that they
did.

(There is a common delusion of electrical engineers that mechanical phenomena are simple
because they are visible. Variable friction, the effects of burrs, minimum and redundant
constraints, nonlinearities, variations in work pieces, accommodation to hostile environments and
hostile people, etc. are like the "Purloined Letter" in Poe's story, right in front of the eye, yet
unseen.) They also had little training in the industrial engineer's realm of material handling,
manufacturing processes, manufacturing economics and human behavior in factories.

As a result, many of the experimental tasks in those laboratories were made to fit their robot's
capabilities but had little to do with the real tasks of the factory.Modern industrial arms have
increased in capability and performance through controller and language development, improved
mechanisms, sensing, and drive systems. In the early to mid 80's the robot industry grew very fast
primarily due to large investments by the automotive industry.The quick leap into the factory of
the future turned into a plunge when the integration and economic viability of these efforts proved
disastrous. The robot industry has only recently recovered to mid-80's revenue levels.
Benefits

Robots offer specific benefits to workers, industries and countries. If introduced correctly,
industrial robots can improve the quality of life by freeing workers from dirty, boring, dangerous
and heavy labor.

It is true that robots can cause unemployment by replacing human workers but robots also create
jobs: robot technicians, salesmen, engineers, programmers and supervisors.
The benefits of robots to industry include improved management control and productivity and
consistently high quality products.

Industrial robots can work tirelessly night and day on an assembly line without an loss in
performance. Consequently, they can greatly reduce the costs of manufactured goods. As a result
of these industrial benefits, countries that effectively use robots in their industries will have an
economic advantage on world market.

Current Research

The robots of tomorrow will be the direct result of the robotic research projects of today. The
goals of most robotic research projects is the advancement of abilities in one or more of the
following technological areas:
Artificial intelligence, effectors and mobility, sensor detection and especially robotic vision,
and control systems.
These technological advances will lead to improvements and innovations in the application of
robotics to industry, medicine, the military, space exploration, underwater exploration, and
personal service. The research projects listed below are only a few of many robotic research
projects worldwide.
Artificial Intelligence

 Human Behavior and Emotion

 Hardware and Software Brains

Effectors and Mobility

 Autonomous Flying Vehicle Project

 Fish Robot

Sensor Detection

 Robotic Vision

 Sensor Based Motion Planning