Basic Robotics Vocabulary Engineering I Fall 2013

Autonomous - Operating without pre-programmed behaviors and without supervision from humans.

Chassis - The parts making up a machine not including the body or casing. In the case of an automobile
this would include parts such as the frame and engine but not the body surrounding these parts.

Computer-Aided Design - (CAD) Computer software is used to develop and/or alter all aspects of design
such as the end product, the system, machinery used etc.

Computer-Aided Manufacturing - (CAM) Computer software is used to design and/or alter the
manufacturing process.

Degrees of Freedom - The amount of values in a system possible of variation. A robotic joint is equal to
one degree of freedom.

Dexterity - The measure of the robot's skill of completing specific difficult paths.

Digital Computer - The system of using binary code that is most commonly used as digits for calculations
or operations by modern computers and robotics systems.

End-Effector - Any object attached to the robot flange (wrist) that serves a function. This would include
robotic grippers, robotic tool changers, robotic crash protection, robotic rotary joint, robotic press
tooling, robotic paint gun, robotic arc welding gun, End effector is also known as robotic peripheral,
robotic accessory, robot or robotic tool. End effector may also be hyphenated as "end-effector."

Emergency Stop - This control immediately stops motion and tasks of the system by cutting off the drive
power.

Energy Source - Energy is provided by conversion of various types of sources such as chemical, thermal,
mechanical etc.

Factory Automation - The process of integrating industrial machinery with the help of control software.
This integration increases efficiency, productivity and quality while decreasing costs.

Feedback - A signal from the robot equipment (sensors) about conditions as they actually exist, rather
than as the computer has directed them to exist.

Flexibility - The diverse jobs that a robot is capable of executing.

Hazard - A possible dangerous or harmful situation.

Hazardous Motion - A possible dangerous or harmful motion.

Industrial Equipment - Machinery capable of executing industrial operations.

Industrial Robot - A manipulator that is designed to perform various programmed tasks during
manufacturing. Industrial robots are automated by a program that controls its duties that tend to be
dangerous or difficult for humans.

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Industrial Robot System - A system of robots, machinery, and devices that are programmed to perform
operations while incorporating an interface.

Industrial Robotics - The idea of incorporation of a robot system for production.

Internal Sensor - An apparatus within the manipulator arm that sends information on motion to a
control unit.

Iteration - A method of solving a problem by repeating the same procedure to find a more exact
solution.

Jointed Arm Robot - The arm of the robot has two junctions allowing for rotation and enhanced
movement much like a person's shoulder and elbow on their arm.

Limiting Device - A separate apparatus that places a restriction on the maximum envelope. This
restriction occurs by terminating motion of the robot.

Maintenance - Ensuring that robots and manufacturing systems are working properly and repairing any
problems observed.

Manipulator - Allows for movement of a part through multiple joints on the mechanical device also
known as the arm of the robot.

Manufacturing Robot - A mechanical device that uses automation to transform raw materials into
finished goods for sale.

Maximum Envelope Space - The largest area that all parts of the robot cover with its various
movements.

Mechanical - Use of machines and apparatuses.

Mechanization - Integration of machinery and equipment into manufacturing processes.

Mobile Robot - A type of robot with its own engine or power able to move without constraints on its
path.

Nanotechnology - (Molecular Manufacturing) The science of studying and inventing products on the
small scale of the molecular level.

Off-Line Programming - A way to store procedure information for a robot on a computer to be used in
the future.

On-Line Programming - The computer program controls the robot as the information and procedures
are inputted into the computer.

Operator - This person begins and ends processes the robot performs while observing to ensure proper
procedures are occurring.

Palletizing - Used to move parts onto a pallet to be transported.

Reach - The distance from the center of the robot to the fullest extension of the robotic arm. The work
envelope is determined from this distance.

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Reliability - A measure of the robot's end-effector's ability to perform similar operations multiple times
based on similar operating conditions.

Repeatability - The variability of the end-effector's position and orientation as the robot makes the
same moves under the same conditions (load, temp, etc.)

Robot - A piece of equipment with the capability to be programmed to perform quick and accurate
operations multiple times.

Robot Manufacturer - Creates, builds and/or sells robots and robotic equipment. Robot simulation - To
imitate and observe processes through a model of the system.

Safeguard - Protects workers from hazardous situations through physical barriers or guidelines to
follow.

Safety Procedure - A set of instructions to help avoid harmful or dangerous situations.

Sensor - A device that responds to physical stimuli (such as heat, light, sound, pressure, magnetism,
motion, etc.) and transmits the resulting signal or data for providing a measurement, operating a
control, or both.

Service - To improve, restore, and keep at proper working standards.

Shoulder - The joint of the robot's manipulator arm connected to the base.

Simulation - Modeling a situation through mathematics or computer programming.

Software - A written program used by the computer to instruct the hardware to perform certain tasks.

Start-up - Providing power to a robot or system to begin operations.

Swing - A robot's rotational movement with respect to its centerline.

Work Cell - Pieces of equipment within close proximity that all work on the same part.

Work Envelope - The boundary of space a robot can perform operations.

Wrist - The end-effector is connected to this joint on the manipulator arm.

XYZ Coordinates - A reference to the most common names given to the lines forming a Cartesian solid.

Yaw - The side-to-side motion of the end-effector's rotation at an axis.