Robots
Getting To Know About Robotics Technology
Robots are essentially a product of robotics technology. This technology is one that cuts across various disciplines of science as well as engineering for the sole aim of designing and constructing robots. Robots are machines that are created to carry out different tasks efficiently. The field of robotics is a nexus of science and technology as well as engineering to produce machines. This field has evolved largely that by 2005, about 90% of robots in the automotive industry could build cars by assembling their parts. The constituents of these robots that allow them to function well in this industry are the mechanical arms used for welding and screwing of the car parts. Presently, robotics has evolved widely that we now have robots that assist with law enforcement, healthcare and even with the creation and use of other robots. Despite the continuous evolution of robots and the field of robotics, Robots that have maintained some key features, some of which include;
- All robots are made up of mechanical constituents. This constituent is the one that assists the robots in the execution of tasks which it was designed for. For instance, the Mars 2020 Rover's wheels, which are made of titanium tubbing, assist the robot in having a firm grip of the red planet terrain.
- In robots, there has to be an electrical component, possibly a battery to oversee the control and powering of the machine.
- A major characteristic of robots is that they contain some degree of computer programming. A code set must have been inputted into the robot as a form of a command, telling it what to do and what tasks to execute. Without a program's presence, the robot would just be another machine with no idea of what to do.
Types of Robots
- Pre-programmed Robots
These types of robot function in an environment with control. They respond to the same set of tasks which are usually simple. An example of a pre-programmed robot is a mechanical arm on an automotive assembly line.
- Humanoid Robots
These are robots that have striking resemblance with humans. They pick up behaviour or traits peculiar to humans and perform these activities. These kinds of robots can run, carry objects or even mimic human expressions. Examples of these robots are; Hanson Robotics' Sophia.
- Autonomous Robots
These types function without the help of an operator or controller. They are created to execute tasks in an uncontrolled environment as opposed to pre-programmed robots. An example of such robots that do not reed human supervision is the Roomba vacuum cleaner.
- Teleoperated Robots
These robots are mostly under the supervision or control of humans. They execute tasks in locations with harsh conditions, be it weather or situations. Examples of these robots are robots used to repair water leakage, oil spills, or detect bombs.
- Augmenting Robots