Robotics

Robot

• The word robot comes from the Czech word robota (which means ‘forced labour’) and the term was first used in the 1920s play ‘Rossum’s Universal Robots’.

• Robotics is a branch of (computer) science that brings together the design, construction and operation of robots.

• The concept of the robot has fired the imagination of science fiction writers for countless years; indeed Isaac Asimov even composed his three laws of robotics:

1. a robot may not injure a human through action or inaction

2. a robot must obey orders given by humans, unless it comes into conflict

3. with law 1 a robot must protect itself, unless this conflicts with law 1.

Factories

• welding parts together
• spray-painting panels on a car
• fitting windscreens to cars
• cutting out metal parts to a high
• precision – bottling and labelling plants
• warehouses (automatic location of items)

Home

• autonomous floor sweepers
• autonomous lawn mower
• ironing robots
• pool cleaning
• automatic window cleaners
• entertainment (‘friend’ robots)

drones

• unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) are drones that are either remotely controlled or totally autonomous using embedded systems
• can be used in reconnaissance (for example, taking aerial photographs)
• can be used to make parcel deliveries (for example, Amazon).

Characteristics of a robot

1. Ability to sense their surroundings
2. Have a degree of movement
3. Programmable

• It is important to realise that robotics and artificial intelligence (AI) are almost two entirely different fields

The role of robots and their advantages and disadvantages

• We will now consider the use of robots in a number of areas, together with the advantages and disadvantages of using robots in each of these areas:
  • industry
  • transport
  • agriculture
  • medicine
  • domestic (home) use
  • entertainment.