ROBOTICS: WHAT IT IS, HOW IT
WORKS
1.
WHAT IS ROBOTICS ?
Robotics is the intersection of science, engineering
and technology that produces machines, called robots,
that replicate or substitute for human actions. Robots
perform basic and repetitive tasks with greater
efficiency and accuracy than humans, making them
ideal for industries like manufacturing. However, the
introduction of artificial intelligence in robotics has
given robots the ability to handle increasingly complex
situations in various industries.
What Is Robot : A robot is a programmable machine
that can complete a task, while the term robotics
describes the field of study focused on developing
robots and automation. Each robot has a different
level of autonomy. These levels range from human-
controlled bots that carry out tasks to fully-
autonomous bots that perform tasks without any
external influences.
In terms of etymology, the word ‘robot’ is derived from
the Czech word robota, which means “forced labor.”
The word first appeared in the 1920 play R.U.R., in
reference to the play’s characters who were mass-
produced workers incapable of creative thinking.
2.
Robotics Aspects
Mechanical Construction
The mechanical aspect of a robot helps it complete
tasks in the environment for which it’s designed. For
example, the Mars 2020 Rover’s wheels are
individually motorized and made of titanium tubing
that help it firmly grip the harsh terrain of the red
planet.
Electrical Components
Robots need electrical components that control and
power the machinery. Essentially, an electric current
— a battery, for example — is needed to power a large
majority of robots.
Software Program
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.
What Are the Main Components of a
Robot?
Control System
Computation includes all of the components that make
up a robot’s central processing unit, often referred to
as its control system. Control systems are
programmed to tell a robot how to utilize its specific
components, similar in some ways to how the human
brain sends signals throughout the body, in order to
complete a specific task. These robotic tasks could
comprise anything from minimally invasive surgery to
assembly line packing.
Sensors
Sensors provide a robot with stimuli in the form of
electrical signals that are processed by the controller
and allow the robot to interact with the outside world.
Common sensors found within robots include video
cameras that function as eyes, photoresistors that
react to light and microphones that operate like ears.
These sensors allow the robot to capture its
surroundings and process the most logical conclusion
based on the current moment and allows the
controller to relay commands to the additional
components.
Actuators
A device can only be considered to be a robot if it has
a movable frame or body. Actuators are the
components that are responsible for this movement.
These components are made up of motors that receive
signals from the control system and move in tandem
to carry out the movement necessary to complete the
assigned task. Actuators can be made of a variety of
materials, such as metal or elastic, and are commonly
operated by use of compressed air (pneumatic
actuators) or oil (hydraulic actuators) but come in a
variety of formats to best fulfill their specialized roles.
Power Supply
Like the human body requires food in order to
function, robots require power. Stationary robots, such
as those found in a factory, may run on AC power
through a wall outlet but more commonly, robots
operate via an internal battery. Most robots utilize
lead-acid batteries for their safe qualities and long
shelf life while others may utilize the more compact
but also more expensive silver-cadmium variety.
Safety, weight, replaceability and lifecycle are all
important factors to consider when designing a robot’s
power supply.
Some potential power sources for future robotic
development also include pneumatic power from
compressed gasses, solar power, hydraulic power,
flywheel energy storage organic garbage through
anaerobic digestion and nuclear power.
End Effectors
End effectors are the physical, typically external
components that allow robots to finish carrying out
their tasks. Robots in factories often have
interchangeable tools like paint sprayers and drills,
surgical robots may be equipped with scalpels and
other kinds of robots can be built with gripping claws
or even hands for tasks like deliveries, packing, bomb
diffusion and much more.
3.
Types of Robotics
Humanoid Robots
Humanoid robots are robots that look like or mimic
human behavior. These robots usually perform
human-like activities (like running, jumping and
carrying objects), and are sometimes designed to look
like us, even having human faces and expressions.
Two of the most prominent examples of humanoid
robots are Hanson Robotics’ Sophia and Boston
Dynamics’ Atlas.
Cobots
Cobots, or collaborative robots, are robots designed to
work alongside humans. These robots prioritize safety
by using sensors to remain aware of their
surroundings, executing slow movements and ceasing
actions when their movements are obstructed. Cobots
typically perform simple tasks, freeing up humans to
address more complex work.
Industrial Robots
Industrial robots automate processes in manufacturing
environments like factories and warehouses.
Possessing at least one robotic arm, these robots are
made to handle heavy objects while moving with
speed and precision. As a result, industrial robots
often work in assembly lines to boost productivity.
Medical Robots
Medical robots assist healthcare professionals in
various scenarios and support the physical and mental
health of humans. These robots rely on AI and sensors
to navigate healthcare facilities, interact with humans
and execute precise movements. Some medical robots
can even converse with humans, encouraging people’s
social and emotional growth.
Agricultural Robots
Agricultural robots handle repetitive and labor-
intensive tasks, allowing farmers to use their time and
energy more efficiently. These robots also operate in
greenhouses, where they monitor crops and help with
harvests. Agricultural robots come in many forms,
ranging from autonomous tractors to drones that
collect data for farmers to analyze.
Microrobotics
Microrobotics is the study and development of robots
on a miniature scale. Often no bigger than a
millimeter, microrobots can vary in size, depending on
the situation. Biotech researchers typically use
microrobotics to monitor and treat diseases, with the
goal of improving diagnostic tools and creating more
targeted solutions.
Augmenting Robots
Augmenting robots, also known as VR robots, either
enhance current human capabilities or replace the
capabilities a human may have lost. The field of
robotics for human augmentation is a field where
science fiction could become reality very soon, with
bots that have the ability to redefine the definition of
humanity by making humans faster and stronger.
Some examples of current augmenting robots are
robotic prosthetic limbs or exoskeletons used to lift
hefty weights.
Software Bots
Software bots, or simply ‘bots,’ are computer
programs which carry out tasks autonomously. They
are not technically considered robots. One common
use case of software robots is a chatbot, which is a
computer program that simulates conversation both
online and over the phone and is often used in
customer service scenarios. Chatbots can either be
simple services that answer questions with an
automated response or more complex digital
assistants that learn from user information
4.
Robotics Applications
Beginning as a major boon for manufacturers, robotics
has become a mainstay technology for a growing
number of industries.
Manufacturing
Industrial robots can assemble products, sort items,
perform welds and paint objects. They may even be
used to fix and maintain other machines in a factory or
warehouse.
Healthcare
Medical robots transport medical supplies, perform
surgical procedures and offer emotional support to
those going through rehabilitation.
Companionship
Social robots can support children with learning
disabilities and act as a therapeutic tool for people
with dementia. They also have business applications
like providing in-person customer service in hotels and
moving products around warehouses.
Home Use
Consumers may be most familiar with the Roomba and
other robot vacuum cleaners. However, other home
robots include lawn-mowing robots and personal robot
assistants that can play music, engage with children
and help with household chores.
Search and Rescue
Search and rescue robots can save those stuck in
flood waters, deliver supplies to those stranded in
remote areas and put out fires when conditions
become too extreme for firefighters.
Pros and Cons of Robotics
Robotics comes with a number of benefits and
drawbacks.
Pros of Robotics
Increased accuracy. Robots can perform
movements and actions with greater precision and
accuracy than humans.
Enhanced productivity. Robots can work at a
faster pace than humans and don’t get tired, leading
to more consistent and higher-volume production.
Improved safety. Robots can take on tasks and
operate in environments unsafe for humans,
protecting workers from injuries.
Rapid innovation. Many robots are equipped
with sensors and cameras that collect data, so teams
can quickly refine processes.
Greater cost-efficiency. Gains in productivity
may make robots a more cost-efficient option for
businesses compared to hiring more human workers.
Cons of Robotics
Job losses. Robotic process automation may put
human employees out of work, especially those who
don’t have the skills to adapt to a changing
workplace.
Limited creativity. Robots may not react well to
unexpected situations since they don’t have the same
problem-solving skills as humans.
Data security risks. Robots can be hit with
cyber attacks, potentially exposing large amounts of
data if they’re connected to the Internet of Things.
Maintenance costs. Robots can be expensive to
repair and maintain, and faulty equipment can lead to
disruptions in production and revenue losses.
Environmental waste.Extracting raw materials
to build robots and having to discard disposable parts
can lead to more environmental waste and pollution.
5.
HISTORY OF ROBOTICS
Robotics as a concept goes back to ancient times. The
ancient Greeks combined automation and engineering
to create the Antikythera, a handheld device that
predicted eclipses. Centuries later, Leonardo Da Vinci
designed a mechanical knight now known as
“Leonardo’s Robot.” But it was the rise of
manufacturing during the Industrial Revolution that
highlighted the need for widespread automation.
Following William Grey Walter’s development of the
first autonomous robots in 1948, George Devol
created the first industrial robotic arm known as
Unimate. It began operating at a GM facility in 1959. In
1972, the Stanford Research Institute designed
Shakey — the first AI-powered robot. Shakey used
cameras and sensors to collect data from its
surroundings and inform its next moves.
The ability of robots to perceive their surroundings led
researchers to explore whether they could also
perceive human emotions. In the late 1990s, MIT’s Dr.
Cynthia Breazeal built Kismet, a robotic head that
used facial features to express and respond to human
emotions. This predecessor to social robots opened
the door for future robots like Roomba and consumer-
centric inventions like Alexa and other voice
assistants.
Robots took another leap forward in 2012 due to a
breakthrough in deep learning. Armed with volumes of
digital images, British AI expert Geoffrey Hinton and
his team successfully trained a system of neural
networks to sort over one million images while making
few errors. Since then, companies have incorporated
deep learning into their technologies, promising more
possibilities for robotics.
1700s
(1737) Jacques de Vaucanson builds the first
biomechanical automaton on record. Called the Flute
Player, the mechanical device plays 12 songs.
1920s
(1920) The word “robot” makes its first appearance in
Karel Capek’s play R.U.R. Robot is derived from the
Czech word “robota,” which means “forced labor.”
1930s
(1936) Alan Turing publishes “On Computable
Numbers,” a paper that introduces the concept of a
theoretical computer called the Turing Machine.
1940s
(1948) Cybernetics or Control and Communication in
the Animal is published by MIT professor Norbert
Wiener. The book speaks on the concept of
communications and control in electronic, mechanical
and biological systems.
(1949) William Grey Walter, a neurophysiologist and
inventor, introduces Elmer and Elsie, a pair of battery-
operated robots that look like tortoises. The robots
move objects, find a source of light and find their way
back to a charging station.
1950s
(1950) Isaac Asimov publishes the Three Laws of
Robotics.
(1950) Alan Turing publishes the paper “Computing
Machinery and Intelligence,” proposing what is now
known as the Turing Test, a method for determining if
a machine is intelligent.
1960s
(1961) The first robotic arm works in a General Motors
facility. The arm lifts and stacks metal parts and
follows a program for approximately 200 movements.
The arm was created by George Devol and his partner
Joseph Engelberger.
(1969) Victor Scheinman invents the Stanford Arm, a
robotic arm with six joints that can mimic the
movements of a human arm. It is one of the first
robots designed to be controlled by a computer.
1970s
(1972) A group of engineers at the Stanford Research
Institute create Shakey, the first robot to use artificial
intelligence.
(1978) Hiroshi Makino, an automation researcher,
designs a four-axis SCARA robotic arm.
1980s
(1985) The first documented use of a robot-assisted
surgical procedure uses the PUMA 560 robotic surgical
arm.
(1985) William Whittaker builds two remotely-operated
robots that are sent to the Three Mile Island nuclear
power plant.
(1989) MIT researchers Rodney Brooks and A. M. Flynn
publish Fast, Cheap and Out of Control: A Robot
Invasion of the Solar System.
1990s
(1997) Sojourner lands on Mars. The free-ranging
rover sends 2.3 billion bits of data back to Earth.
(1998) Furby, a robotic toy pet developed by Tiger
Electronics, is released and eventually sells tens of
millions of units. Furbys are preprogrammed to speak
gibberish and learn other languages over time.
(1999) Aibo, a robotic puppy powered by AI hits the
commercial market. Developed by Sony, the robotic
dog reacts to sounds and has some pre-programmed
behavior.
2000s
(2000) Cynthia Breazeal creates a robotic head, called
Kismet, programmed to provoke emotions as well as
react to them.
(2002) iRobot creates Roomba. The vacuum robot is
the first robot to become popular in the commercial
sector amongst the public.
(2003) Mick Mountz and the cofounders of Amazon
Robotics (formerly Kiva Systems) invent the Kiva
robot. The robot maneuvers around warehouses and
moves goods.
(2004) Boston Dynamics unveils BigDog, a quadruped
robot controlled by humans.
(2004) The Defense Department’s Defense Advanced
Research Projects Agency establishes the DARPA
Grand Challenge. A self-driving car race that aims to
inspire innovation in military autonomous vehicle tech.
2010s
(2011) NASA and General Motors collaborate to send
Robonaut 2, a humanesque robotic assistant, into
space on space shuttle Discovery. The robot becomes
a permanent resident of the International Space
Station.
(2013) Boston Dynamics releases Atlas, a humanoid
biped robot that uses 28 hydraulic joints to mimic
human movements — including performing a backflip.
(2012) The first license for a self-driven car is issued in
Nevada. The car is a Toyota Prius modified with
technology developed by Google.
(2016) Sophia, a humanoid robot dubbed the first
robot citizen, is created by Hanson Robotics. The robot
is capable of facial recognition, verbal communication
and facial expression.
2020s
(2020) Robots are used to distribute Covid-19 tests
and vaccinations.
(2020) 384,000 industrial robots are shipped across
the globe to perform various manufacturing and
warehouse jobs.
(2021) Cruise, an autonomous car company, conducts
its first two robotaxi test rides in San Francisco
Future of Robotics
The evolution of AI has major implications for the
future of robotics. In factories, AI can be combined
with robotics to produce digital twins and design
simulations to help companies improve their
workflows. Advanced AI also gives robots increased
autonomy. For example, drones could deliver
packages to customers without any human
intervention. In addition, robots could be outfitted with
generative AI tools like ChatGPT, resulting in more
complex human-robot conversations.
As robots’ intelligence has shifted, so too have their
appearances. Humanoid robots are designed to
visually appeal to humans in various settings while
understanding and responding to emotions, carrying
objects and navigating environments. With these
forms and abilities, robots can become major
contributors in customer service, manufacturing,
logistics and healthcare, among other industries.
While the spread of robotics has stoked fears over job
losses due to automation, robots could simply change
the nature of human jobs. Humans may find
themselves collaborating with robots, letting their
robotic counterparts handle repetitive tasks while they
focus on more difficult problems. Either way, humans
will need to adapt to the presence of robots as
robotics continues to progress alongside other
technologies like AI and deep learning.
