Robotics is a multidisciplinary field that combines mechanical engineering, electrical engineering, computer science, and artificial intelligence to design and develop machines called robots. These robots can perform tasks autonomously or semi-autonomously in various applications.
Definition and Scope of Robotics
- Definition:
- Robotics is the branch of engineering and science that focuses on the design, construction, operation, and use of robots.
- Scope:
- Robotics spans industrial, medical, military, space exploration, and domestic applications.
- Industrial Robots
- Used in manufacturing processes like assembly, welding, painting, and material handling.
- Examples: Robotic arms (KUKA, FANUC, ABB).
- Characteristics: High precision, repetitive operations, and efficiency.
- Mobile Robots
- Robots capable of moving around in their environment.
- Categories:
- Wheeled Robots: For flat surfaces.
- Legged Robots: For rough terrains (e.g., Boston Dynamics' Spot).
- Applications: Warehousing (e.g., Amazon Kiva robots), delivery systems, exploration.
- Humanoid Robots
- Robots that resemble humans in appearance and movement.
- Examples: Honda’s ASIMO, SoftBank’s Pepper.
- Applications: Customer interaction, healthcare, research.
- Collaborative Robots (Cobots)
- Designed to work alongside humans in a shared workspace.
- Features: Safe interaction, lightweight design, easy programmability.
- Applications: Assembly lines, small-scale manufacturing, medical assistance.
- Autonomous Robots
- Operate without human intervention.
- Examples: Self-driving cars, drones.
- Technologies Used: AI, machine learning, LIDAR, computer vision.
- Service Robots
- Assist in personal or professional tasks.
- Examples: Cleaning robots (Roomba), surgical robots (da Vinci system).
- Applications: Healthcare, hospitality, domestic assistance.
- Mechanical Components
- Structure: Frame, joints, and links providing physical form and movement.
- Actuators: Motors and mechanisms enabling motion.
- End Effectors: Tools or devices at the end of a robotic arm (e.g., grippers, welding torches).
- Electrical Components
- Power Supply: Batteries, solar panels, or wired connections.
- Sensors: Devices that provide information about the environment (e.g., cameras, temperature sensors).
- Microcontrollers and Processors: Control units for executing tasks and processing data.
- Control System
- Software that manages robot actions based on inputs from sensors and instructions from humans or algorithms.
- Types: Open-loop (no feedback) and Closed-loop (uses feedback).
- Industrial Applications
- Automation in manufacturing (e.g., car assembly).
- Quality control and inspection.
- Healthcare
- Robotic surgery (e.g., da Vinci Surgical System).
- Prosthetics and rehabilitation robots.
- Military and Defense
- Surveillance drones, bomb disposal robots, unmanned ground vehicles (UGVs).
- Space Exploration
- Rovers like NASA's Perseverance exploring Mars.
- Robotic arms on the International Space Station (Canadarm).
- Domestic Applications
- Cleaning robots (e.g., Roomba), lawn-mowing robots, home assistants.
- Entertainment and Education
- Animatronics in movies, educational robots like LEGO Mindstorms.
- Soft Robotics: Development of flexible, bio-inspired robots.
- Swarm Robotics: Multiple robots working together for collective tasks.
- AI-Powered Robots: Enhanced decision-making and autonomy.
- Robotics in Industry 4.0: Integration of IoT, cloud computing, and robotics for smart manufacturing.