Robots

What is Robotics?

Robotics is the intersection of science, engineering and technology that produces machines, called robots, that substitute for (or replicate) human actions. R2-D2. Optimus prime. Wall-E, These over-exaggerated, humanoid concepts of robots usually seem like a caricature of the real thing... or are they more forward thinking than we realize? Robots are gaming intellectual and mechanical capabilities that don't put the possibility of a R2-D2-like machine out of reach in the future. 

                           

As technology progresses, so too does the scope of what is considered robotics. In 2005, 90% of all robots could found assembling cars in automotive factories. These robots consists. mainly of mechanical arms tasked with welding or screwing on certain parts of a car.

While the overall world of robotics is expanding, a robot has some consistent characteristics :

1. Robot all consist of some sort of mechanical construction robots contain at least some level of computer programming. without a set of code telling it what to do, a robot would just be another piece of simple machinery. Inserting a program into a robot gives it the ability to know when and how to carry out a task.

Types of Robots 

Mechanical bots some in all shapes and sizes to efficiently carry out the task for which they are designed. From the 0.2 millimeter-long "RobotBee" to the 200 meter-long robotic shipping vassel "Vindskip," robots are emerging to carry out tasks that humans simply can't. Generally, there are five types of robots:

Pre-programmed Robots 

                       

Pre-programmed robots operate in a controlled environment where they do simple, monotonous tasks. An example of a pre-programmed robot would be a mechanical arm on an automotive assembly line. The arm servers one function- to weld a door on, to insert a certain part into the engine, etc- and it's job is to perform that task longer, faster and more efficiently than a human.

Humanoid Robots 

                          

Humanoid robots are robots that look the and/or mimic human behavior. These robots usually perform human-like activities (like running, jumping and crying objects), and are sometimes designed to look us, even having human faces and expressions. Two of the most prominent examples of humanoid robots are Hanson Robotic's Sophia (in the video above) and Bostom Dynamic's Atlas. 

Autonomous Robots 

                 

Autonomous robots operate independently of human operators. These robots are usually designed to carry out tasks in open environments that do not require human supervision. An example of an autonomous robot would be the Roomba vacumm cleaner, which uses sensors to roam throughout a home freely.

Teleoperated Robots 

                            

Teleoperated robots are mechanical bots controlled by humans. These robots usually work in extreme geographical conditions, weather, circumstances, etc. Examples of teleoperated robots are the human-controlled submarines used to Fix underwater pipe leaks during the BP oil spill or drones used to detect landmines on  a battlefield.

Augmenting Robots 

Augmenting robots either enhance current human capabilities or replace the capabilities a human may lost.

Applications of Robotics

• Helping fight forest fires
• Working alongside humans in manufacturing plants (Known as co-bots)
• Robots that offer companionship to elderly individuals 
• Surgical assistants.
• Last-mile package and food order delivery.
• Autonomous household robots that carry out tasks like vacuuming and moving the grass.
• Assisting with finding items and carrying them throughout warehouses.
• Used during search-and-rescue missions after natural disasters.
• Landmine detectors in war-zones.  

Writer: Mr. Krishan Kumar Saini 

Today we have learnt Basics about Robots. Hope this lesson is helpful for you.