Robotics 1
Robotics Technology
Mary Ulrich
INF 103 Computer Literacy
Dr. Sara Marcus
March 1, 2010
Robotics 2
This research paper discusses robotics, a technology that deals with the design, construction, and operations of robots that are used in a variety of applications. It looks at how these applications range from industries that require accurate and repetitive tasks, for example the car and computer manufacturing industries. dangerous tasks such as diffusing bombs and other work that cannot be performed by human workers like doing research on other planets or going down into a live volcano. It provides a description of what robots are and how they work, the history of robotics, the present applications of robots, and the impact of robots on society. robotic technology has made a positive turn for the future of the world. The use of robots is becoming more prevalent in everyday life (Selvon, 2009).
According to the Robot Institute of America, 1979; a robot is, “A programmable, multifunctional manipulator designed to move material, parts, tools, or specialized devices through various programmed motions for the performance of a variety of tasks.”
Robotics is the field of computer science and engineering concerned with creating robots; devices that can move and react to sensory input. Robotics is one branch of artificial intelligence (AI).
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Mechanical motion is produced by the use of robotics resulting in movement or locomotion. Mechanical characteristics for robotic mechanisms include freedom of movement, size and shape of the operating space, strength of the structure, lifting capacity, and acceleration. Performance is measured by the ability to repeat movements and accuracy of positioning, speed, and freedom from alterations (McGraw-Hill, 2002).
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The word “robot” originates from the Czech word robota which means forced labor. It was introduced by Czech playwright Karl Capek in his play “R.U.R.”(Rossum’s Universal Robots) which opened in Prague in 1921, this work depicted fictional robotic inventions created by chemical or biological methods instead of having mechanical capabilities (Sawyer, 2002).
The history of robotics is associated with the history of technology, science, and the basic principles of progress. Robotics is representative of one of mankind’s greatest accomplishments and involves the ability to produce a being with artificial intelligence. Robots can be programmed to function with human senses such as vision, touch, and the capability of sensing temperature. Some robotic systems are able to provide simple decision making and current robotic research is aimed toward devising robots with self-sufficiency that permit mobility and decision making in an unstructured environment (Bhattia, 2003).
For a robot to have the ability to “see”, it means that it is able to decipher what images appear before a T.V. camera; to touch means to not only measure the size and shape but the temperature, softness, or vibration of an object. Robots also have superhuman capabilities that make them more efficient and more cost effective than their human counterparts. They are being designed with senses that no human being has, the perception of infrared light and ultrasonic sound. Since robots have proved to be economical, the next effort is to create “smart” robots; these are robots capable of thinking (Simpson & Redman, 1980)
The Essay on Basic Robotics Laws Of Robot
... the famous "Three Laws of Robotics" which are: 1. A Robot may not harm a human or though inaction allow a human to come to ... means generally the same everywhere. The word "Robot" can also be translated as mechanical slave. This same word has had many other ... attached. Instead of wheels or tracks, some robots employ legs in order to move about. The robots brain is a computer. However, computers ...
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Isaac Asimov, who is considered to be the Father of Robotics, proposed three “Laws of Robotics” in 1942 and later added the Zeroeth Law in 1985. These laws dealt with the interaction of humans and robots and they are as follows (Clark, 1993):
* Law 1: A robot may not injure a human being or through inaction, allow a human being to come to harm, unless this would violate a higher order.
* Law 2: A robot must obey orders given to it by human beings, except where such orders would conflict with a higher order law.
* Law 3: A robot must protect its own existence as long as such protection does not conflict with a higher order law.
* Law Zero: A robot may not injure humanity or through inaction, allow humanity to come to harm.
Robots can be divided into three main categories (www.robots.com) –
1. Industrial Robots: These robots perform repetitive manufacturing tasks that are dangerous or less than desirable for human workers. They are designed to repeat the same process continually without change. Modern industrial robots can easily be programmed to perform new applications.
2. Research/Service Robots: These robots assist in exploring and collecting information. They are used in space applications, surgeries. And household chores. They are designed to interact with their environment and to also react appropriately; this is where artificial intelligence comes in to play.
3. Educational Robots: These robots are considered toys or kits and are made to use as a learning tool. Educational robots are used in competitions and are capable of simulating learned behaviors or actions.
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Robots are made up of three main components (www.robots.com) –
* A mechanical device that can interact with surroundings
* Sensors that provide feedback from their environment
* A system to communicate between the mechanical device and sensory data
The science and technology of robotics for general purposes are programmable machine systems. Contrary to the science fiction image of robots as moving machines with human appearance capable of performing practically any task, most robotic systems are in fixed positions in factories where a variety of operations in computer-aided manufacturing are performed. These systems contain a computer to control operations and effectors, devices that perform specified functions. These systems may also have sensors and necessary equipment or tools under their control. Some robots are very simple mechanical machines that perform jobs such as welding or spray painting. There are other more complex, multipurpose systems which use sensory systems to collect data needed to control their work environment. A robot’s sensors could be programmed to provide feedback so that it is able to pick up objects and place them properly without causing damage. Another type of robotic system could have a form of machine vision that would be able to find defects in manufactured products. There are robots which are used to put together electronic circuit boards and place specific-sized parts in designated areas after recognizing positioned marks on a circuit board. The simplest forms of mobile robots follow a path of buried cable or a line and stop when sensors detect an object in their way. For example, robots used to deliver mail in office buildings or those robots used to collect and deliver parts in a factory setting (Moravec, 1988).
The Term Paper on Limitations On Robotic Technology
Should the progression of robotic technology be limited Are movies like Terminator foretelling what will happen as the twenty-first century expands its boundaries with robotics Are robots becoming too smart Should humans trust robots to learn and act on their own Can and will robots turn on their masters In the movie Terminator a robot from the future comes back to forewarn the people that if they ...
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The field of robotics has developed a class of robots with physical and navigational competencies. Society has begun to incorporate robots into everyday life, from entertainment to healthcare. Robots are beneficial in hazardous situations which could relive humans from danger. Robots are also used for commonplace tasks such as janitorial work. No matter what the need for robots, there will always be intelligence required to program them. This will definitely impact society in the future as robotic technology advances with new discoveries for the use of robots. There are skeptics that believe robots take jobs away from human workers but robots can actually create jobs since they require maintaining, installing, construction, and programming (Leader, 2008).
Robotics is becoming more common in industry, research, underwater and space exploration and the military. Continuous research, more detailed materials, control systems and sensors used in the study of robotics is very prevalent in industrial and scientific research institutions (Bekey etal, 2008).
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In today's push-button world, the expression 'the world is getting smaller everyday' could not be truer. Technology has shrunk distances and differences, and even brought down many cultural barriers. Lift your handset and dial, and you are connected to the other side of the world. Change the channel on your TV, and alien nations come to life in your living room. Log on, and a whole new world of ...
Some common applications of robotic technology can be found in clocks, remote controlled vehicles, car computers, factory robotic arms, self-propelled rovers, and robotic toys. Robots are used in disaster relief, emergency recovery, and firefighting. Robotics technology is undergoing continuous progress. Early types of robots were powered by steam, water, or air while new prototypes use actuators and air muscles programmed by computers to carry out specific functions (Selvon, 2009)
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A Timeline of Robotics Progress in the World (Robotshop Distribution, Inc., 2008) –
1954 – George Devol designed the first programmable robot called Unimate for “Universal Automation”, two years later Devol and Joseph Engelberger founded a business called Unimation, the world’s first robot company.
1960s – One of the first industrial robots in North America was in operation in a candy factory in Kitchener, Ontario.
1964 – M.I.T. opened artificial intelligence research laboratories
1968 – The first computer controlled walking machine was created at the University of South Carolina
1974 – Intel (Integrated Electronics) created the first micro-processers
1977 – A six-legged walking machine is developed at the Russian Academy of Science called the Variante Masha
1986 – Honda developed a project to build a walking humanoid robot
1989 – A walking robot was created for underwater exploration at the Robotics Laboratory at the Ministry of Transport in Japan
1996 – RoboTuna was created by David Barrett at MIT. The robot was used to study how fish swim
1997 – NASA’s Pathfinder lands on Mars, the wheeled robotic rover sent messages about Mars back to Earth
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2001 – iRobot Packbots were used to search through the debris at the World Trade Center after the terrorist attack
2005 – The Korean Institute of Science and Technology created HUBO, claiming it to be the smallest mobile robot in the world, it is linked by a high speed wireless connection, the computer does all the thinking for the robot
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Computer science is one of the fastest growing career fields in modern history. Dating back only a few decades to the late 1950's and early 1960's, it has become on of the leading industries in the world today. Developed through the technological architecture of electrical engineering and the computational language of mathematics, the science of computer technology has provided considerable ...
2006 – Microsoft announces a new research program is being developed aimed at an operating system and software development tools for robots
2008 – The Roomba robotic vacuum cleaner sold over 2.5 million units showing the high demand for domestic robotic technology
Robotic technology has the potential to change the economy, improve health, and standards of living. As the technology progresses, new ways are discovered for the implementation of robots. Advancements in the field of robotic technology rely on further research and education. The advantages of using robots have been understood to the point that they are a part of everyday lives throughout the world.
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References
Bekey, G. & Yuh, J. (2008).
The status of robotics, Robotics and Automation Magazine, IEEE, 15(1):80-86
Ghattia, Raj (2003).
Encyclopedia of Computer Science, 1525-1532.
Clark, Roger (published in two parts in Dec., 1993 and Jan., 1994).
Robot rules, ok? An examination of Asimov’s laws of robotics, fiction. IEEE computer, www.rogerclark.com
McGraw-Hill Concise Encyclopedia of Engineering (2002) The McGraw-Hill Companies
Moravec, See H. (1988).Mind children, Concise International Encyclopedia of Robotics
Robot Institute of America (1979).
www.robotics.utexas.edu/rrg/learn_more/history/
Robotshop Distribution, Inc. (2008).
www.robotshop.ca/content/PDF/timeline.pdf
Sawyer, Robert J. (2002).
AI and sci-fi: my, oh, my; www.kurzweilai.net
Selvon, Mike (2009).
Taking a look at the history of robotic technology,
Simpson, Janice C. & Redman, C. (Dec., 1990).The robot revolution, Time Magazine
www.robotmatrix.org
www.robots.com
