WHAT IS A ROBOT?

There are lots of definitions: The International Organization for Standardization: an automatically controlled, reprogrammable, multipurpose, manipulator programmable in three or more axes, which may be either fixed in place or mobile for use in industrial automation application. The Robotics Institute of America (RIA): a re-programmable multi-functional manipulator designed to move materials, parts, tools, or specialized devices through variable programmed motions for the performance of a variety of tasks. Encyclopedia Britannica: any automatically operated machine that replaces human effort, though it may not resemble human beings in appearance or perform functions in a humanlike manner.

WHAT IS A ROBOT?
The definition we will use for this class is: A robot is a machine that can be programmed and/or respond to sensors.

THE FIRST ROBOTS

The idea of automated machines or artificial helpers has been recorded since the early 1200s. Al-Jazari, a Muslim inventor, designed musical instruments that were programmable with wooden pegs. In the 1500s, Leonardo da Vinci conceived an idea for a mechanical knight.

RECENT ROBOTS
1921: The word robot was first used in 1921 by Czech writer Karel Capek in his play R.U.R. Rossums Universal Robots. In Czech and many Slavic languages, the word robota means Labor, drudgery or hard work. 1941: Isaac Asimov, a science fiction writer, first used the word robotics to describe this field of study. 1961: the first digitally operated and programmable robot, called the Unimate, was created to lift and stack hot pieces of metal from a die casting machine. Today: robots are used in commercial and in industrial settings to do the work that used to be done by humans. In some cases, they are used because they can work more cheaply or with greater accuracy and reliability than humans. In other cases, they perform jobs that are too dirty, dangerous or boring for humans.

TYPES OF ROBOTS: GENERAL PURPOSE

These are designed to perform multiple tasks and to function independent of human control, using sensors, for example, to intelligently move through areas. They are often designed to mimic human behavior and may resemble humans in appearance and structure. They are therefore sometimes called humanoid robots.

TYPES OF ROBOTS: PURPOSE BUILT

These are designed to perform a specific job or task. They may perform tasks that humans can do but with greater productivity, accuracy, or endurance. They may also perform dirty, dangerous or dull jobs which humans find undesirable. They are often seen in factories or businesses. One type found in businesses is the automated guided vehicle (AGV) and is frequently used to carry medical supplies or documents in hospitals, or for mail delivery in large corporations. Robots are common in car factories, packaging facilities, and electronics manufacturing plants. In fact, in car factories, there is one robot for every ten human workers!

CREATING A ROBOT
There are 2 aspects to consider when creating and trouble-shooting a robot CONSTRUCTION and PROGRAMMING. CONSTRUCTION is the mechanics of a robot (how its made, how it can move, the types of sensors that are built in to it, and other mechanical functions). PROGRAMMING is the set of software instructions (from a computer) that define the tasks the robot will perform and how it will interpret and respond to information from the sensors.