What robotics is, and what makes a robot
Robotics is the branch of computer science and engineering that deals with the design, construction and operation of robots.
A robot has three characteristics. Learn all three.
1. A mechanical structure or framework: the body, arms, wheels or grippers that let it move and work in the real world.
2. Electrical components: sensors to detect its surroundings, microprocessors to process data and decide, and actuators to move its parts.
3. It is programmable: it is controlled by a program, which can be changed so it does a different task.
?Why?The programmable part is what separates a robot from a simple machine. A washing machine follows fixed settings; a factory robot arm can be reprogrammed to weld a new car model.
!Watch outA computer program on its own, such as a chatbot, is not a robot. A robot has a physical, mechanical body.
Examples of robots
Cambridge gives three main examples.
Factory equipment: robot arms that weld, paint, assemble and pack. Car factories use hundreds of them.
Domestic robots: robots used at home, such as robot vacuum cleaners and robot lawnmowers. A robot vacuum uses infra-red and pressure sensors to avoid stairs and furniture.
Drones: flying robots without a pilot on board. They are controlled remotely or fly a pre-programmed route using GPS and cameras.
e.g.ExampleRobot vacuum cleaner:
Sensors: infra-red (detects drops such as stairs), pressure/bump (detects walls), camera or lidar (maps the room).
Microprocessor: plans the route, remembers cleaned areas.
Actuators: wheel motors and brush motors.
Programmable: the owner sets times and no-go zones in an app.
Advantages and disadvantages of robots
As with automated systems, always link the point to the example in the question.
e.g.ExampleA car factory replaces its painting staff with robot arms.
Advantage: every car gets an even coat, and workers are no longer breathing paint fumes.
Disadvantage: the robots cost millions of euros, and painting staff may lose their jobs or need retraining.