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INTRODUCTION TO ROBOTICS - BY ONUORA AMOBI

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Table of Contents

Introduction
Part 1: The Background
What is Robotics?
More about Robotics
What is Automation?
History of Robotics.
Advantages and Disadvantages of Robots
Who Invented The First Robot?
How Many Robots Are There and Where are They?
What Are The Different Types Of Robots?

Part 2: The Ins and Outs of Robots and Robotics

How Are Robots Programmed?
Software Used To Program Robots
Robot Languages
Robotic Joints and Degrees of Freedom
Robot Coordinates and Reference Frames
Robot Workspace
Robot Characteristics.

Part 3: How Robots Will Affect Our Work and Personal Lives
Will Robots Take Our Jobs And Which Ones?
Which Industries Use Robots?
Robot Applications
Which Are the Most Sophisticated Robots?
What Are Some of the Home Robots?
What is Robotic Process Automation or RPA?
Can Robots Gain Consciousness?
What Are Some of the Ethical Questions of Life with Robots?
How Can We Successfully Adapt to Life with Robots?
Economic and Social Consequences of Using Robots
Conclusion
Introduction
Thank you for taking the time to read my Introduction to Robotics. Here you will learn
what robots are, what they are used for and how they are going to change the world we
live in, indeed already are.

The modern definition of the word, “robot”, is an electro-mechanical device that carries
out tasks as per a set of programmed instructions, but the literal definition is “slave”.
Robots were once the thing of science fiction movies and books but not all robots look
like the Cyborgs from Doctor Who – they take many forms and there are thousands of
them in use the world over, right now.

For some people, the first thing they think of when they talk about robotics is
automation. We know that robots are used for repetitive tasks without the need for
human intervention, with the exception of programming the robot to do its task and
providing it with a set of instructions.

Robots can be constructed quite simply or they can be incredibly complex. They can be
small or absolutely massive, but they all share the same characteristics, joint types,
coordinates, and degrees of freedom and, if you don’t understand all that yet, you will by
the end of this guide.

One of the biggest fears we have is that robots are going to take over our jobs and our
lives and while there is a small degree of truth in that, on the whole, they will actually
bring about a whole heap of improvements. In fact, they already are.

Robots are employed in industries across the world, doing repetitive, mundane work
and freeing up employees to focus on the real value in their jobs. They work in areas
where it is too dangerous to humans, environments of extreme temperatures,
radioactive areas, in bomb disposal, space, underwater and more.

They are cost-effective because they don’t need breaks, they don’t need safety equipment
and they can work in many different areas. They don’t get RSI, they don’t get affected by
breathing in chemicals, can work under pressure and they can work 24/7 – all things
that affect human beings. Yes, they are taking some jobs but, rather than seeing us all
out of work eventually, robots will actually create more jobs than they take – jobs that
are specialized and safer to do.

Robotics is the study and work of engineers to make machines capable of doing jobs that
humans do with better precision, of doing the complicated and repetitive tasks that we
really don’t want to do. And it is a technology that is leaping forward. Now robots are
being developed that will be able to sense their environment, make decisions on what to
do and, in the future, we expect to see more humanoid robots that act and look just like
humans.
All this and more is detailed in this short guide so come on into a science-fiction world
of robots that is set to become the norm, as they bring about life-changing developments
for all of us.

Thanks for reading this book. I hope you have as much fun reading it as I had writing it.

Let’s get started.

Part 1: Background
What is a Robot?
The word, “robot” is not really all that well-defined right now and there is a lot of debate
going on in the engineering, science and even hobbyist communities about the exact
definition, what a robot is and what it isn’t.

If you think of a robot as being a device that looks somewhat like a human, that does
what its told, then you have the same vision as many other people and, while there are
robots like that being developed now, they aren’t the most common ones.

In fact, robots are far more common than most people realize, and we are likely to
encounter them every single day. If you use an ATM machine to take money out, if you
take your car through an automatic car wash, grab a coffee from a vending machine,
then you have likely had some interaction with a robot.

The Definition of a Robot

Most of us will agree on one thing – a robot is a machine that is programmed (usually)
by a computer and automatically carries out actions. This is one definition and it is the
one that allows for lots of different machines to be called robots and that includes those
vending machines and ATMs. Your washing machine could also be classed as a robot
because it is a machine that is programmed with a number of settings – you select the
setting; the machine carries out the task programmed to that setting.
There are other characteristics that allow us to differentiate between complex machines
and robots. The main one is that a robot can respond to the environment it is in,
allowing it to change its programming so its task can be completed; it will also recognize
when that task has been completed.

The official definition of a robot at last until it gets changed again, is, “a machine capable
of responding to its environment to automatically carry our complex or repetitive tasks
with little to no direction from human beings”.

Robots Are Everywhere

If we use that definition of a robot, we can identify these as the robots commonly used:

Industrial – Robots are commonly used in industry, with the first one being Unimate,
designed for General Motors in 1959 by George Devol. Thought to be the very first
industrial robot it is a robotic arm that was used for the manipulation of hot die-cast
parts in the automobile manufacturing industry, a task that was considered far too
dangerous for humans.

Medical - Medical robots are used for many different things like assisting with patient
rehabilitation, performing surgery, disinfection of surgical suites and hospital rooms,
and more.

Consumer - Most people have heard of Roomba, the very first robotic vacuum cleaner,
and now there are many more models, along with robotic lawnmowers and more

And the list of robots you probably didn’t realize were robots is extensive. These are
things you come across daily and include:

• Automatic car washes

• ATMs
• Traffic lights
• Speed cameras
• Kitchen appliance
• Some children’s toys
• Automatic door openers
• Elevators
What is Robotics?
Robotics is a branch of engineering and science that describes the modern design of
robots. It includes electrical engineering, mechanical engineering, and computer
sciences needed in the design and building of robots.

Robotic design is wide-ranging, and it covers everything from the design of a robotic
arm commonly seen in factories, right up to the humanoid, autonomous robots, known
as androids, that augment or replace human functions.

Many people won’t realize that Leonardo da Vinci dabbled in robotic design with a
mechanical knight that could sit up, move its arms, head and open and close its jaws.
Back in 1928, a humanoid robot called Eric was unveiled at the Model Engineers Society
held in London.

Eric wowed the crowds by delivering a speech, moving its head, arms and hands at the
same time. And in 1939, we saw another humanoid root called Elektra that was unveiled
in New York at the World’s Fair. Elektro was able to speak, walk and could respond to
voice commands.
Popular Culture Robots

In 1942, Isaac Asimov, a Sci-Fi writer, produced a short story called Runaround,
introducing us to the Three Laws of Robotics. These laws were supposedly from the
fictional book called the Handbook of Robotics, 56th Edition, 2058 and, according to
some Sci-fi novels, those three laws are the only safety featured that are required to
ensure robots operated safely:

1. Robots may not directly cause injury to human beings or indirectly, by way of
inaction, allow harm to befall any human being;

2. Robots must obey any orders a human being gives them, except in cases where an
order would contravene the first law;

3. Robots must protect their own existence, so long as doing so does not contravene
the first or second laws.

Some of the other robots from popular culture include:

• Robbie - a robot with a distinct personality, introduced in a 1956 Sci-Fi film

called Forbidden Planet
• BB8, R2D2, C3PO – introduced in the Star Wars movies
• Data – a Star Trek character who pushed the boundaries of android technology
and AI to the point where viewers were questioning when an android actually
achieves sentience.

Androids and robots have been and continue to be created to help the human race in
some tasks and if you follow the latest news you have probably realized that, before long,
we will all have one of these personal androids to help us with our daily lives.
More about Robotics
Robotics is a branch of science and engineering that also includes electronic
engineering, mechanical engineering, computer science, information engineering and
others. Robotics is all about the design, the construction and operation of robots along
with their control systems, information processing and sensory feedback.

All those technologies are used for developing machines that can act as substitutes for
human beings, replicating their actions. We see robots being used in many different
scenarios and situations but perhaps the most common uses today are dangerous
situations such as detection and deactivation of bombs, manufacturing, or in places that
humans simply cannot survive, such as underwater, in space, with hazardous materials,
and in high heat.

We can date the concept of creating autonomous machines back many centuries, but it
wasn’t until the 20th century that we began to see proper research into how robots’
function and how they could potentially be used. Throughout history, inventors,
scholars, technicians and engineers have always assumed that, one day, robots would be
capable of mimicking human behaviors and would be able to do some tasks in the same
way that humans do them.

Today, robotics is one of the fastest-growing fields as technological advances into

research, design and construction of robots continue in military, commercial and
domestic areas.

Robotic Similarities

There are many different types of robot now, used in differing environments, for all
different uses. However, despite the diversity of form and application, all share three
basic construction similarities:

1. They all have a mechanical construction, which is a form, or a frame specifically

designed for a certain task. For example, robots that are designed for traveling
over muddy or heavy terrains could be designed with caterpillar or tank tracks.
The mechanical aspect of any robot will almost always be the solution from the
creator for the specific task the robot is constructed for, as well as a reaction to
the environmental physics. Remember, form always follows function.

2. All robots have electrical components of some kind, used for powering and for
controlling the robot. Take the robot with the caterpillar tracks, for example; it
would need a power source or mechanism that controls the tracker treads and
that source is electricity, traveling from a battery through a wire – the most basic
of electrical circuits. Even a robot powered by petrol requires some form of
electrical current for the combustion process to begin which is why you see
 batteries on most machines, like cars, powered by petrol. The electrical aspect is
used for controlling movement via motors, sensing via electrical signals (the
measurement of sound heat, energy, position, etc.), and operation via electrical
energy supplied to the sensors and motors.

3. Lastly, every robot has a computer code of some kind to program it. This
computer program is the way that a robot determined when to do something and
how to do it. Back to the caterpillar track example, if a robot needs to move over
muddy terrain, it may be constructed correctly and it may have the right amount
of power coming from the battery but unless it is programmed, it cannot move.
Computer programs are at the core of any robot – electrical and mechanical
construction may be perfect but poor programming will only result if poor or no
performance. Robotic programs fall into three categories – remote control, AI,
and hybrid. Remote control robots are programmed with a set of commands that
they will perform only when a control source sends a signal – normally a human
being operating a remote control. These robots tend to fall under automation
rather than robotics. A robot using artificial intelligence can interact with its
environment without needing any type of control source. They can also determine
any reaction to problems or objects they come across using their programming. A
hybrid uses both RC and AI controls.
What is Automation?
Automation is the use of computer and electronic-controlled devices to take control of
one or more processes and its goal is to increase reliability and efficiency.

Most of the time, however, automation actually replaces human labor and there are
fears that, in time, more people than ever before will be out of work. In a lot of
manufacturing plants around the world, automation already plays a big part, with
robotic assembly lines doing the work that human beings used to do.

Automation covers a wide range of elements, functions and systems in just about every
industry, particularly in the transportation, manufacturing, utilities and facility
operations industries. In addition, more and more countries are using automation for
their national defense systems.

Today, automation exists in just about every function in industry, such as procurement,
installation, integration, maintenance and even creeps into sales and marketing.

Automation and the Office

Over the last four decades, information technology has revolutionized office
environments, with communications, correspondence, documenting and even filing
becoming automated functions. The level of noise, not to mention materials, has
dropped with paper documents being transferred to digital storage and employees rarely
using pens, calculators, phone books and more. There are no more map books, Filofaxes
and diaries – just about everything has become automated, eliminating the need for
most materials except for a cell phone and a computer.

These days, maps, phone numbers, and more are all available online, at the click of a
button, and when we telephone a service or visit a website, more often than not we are
talking to robots that have voice recognition programmed into them or chatbots that act
as robotic customer services.

Automation and Flexible Working

Technology has also enabled the shift from traditional 9-to-5 office hours to flexible
working. The internet, cloud computing, smartphones, tablets, and laptops, we can work
from wherever we are, whenever we want. This means that many employees can now
better manage their-work-home balance, increasing morale. However, that does lead to
a new problem – people find it hard to actually switch off from their work life.

Banks used to be staffed with real people and customers; today there are fewer physical
branches open as more people do their banking online or on the phone – talking mostly
to robots. Even if you do venture inside a bank branch, you will find few humans and
mostly machines, but the latest ATMs are for more than just taking money out. They
also allow you to put money in and pay your bills and most people can manage all their
banking without the need to speak to a human employee.

According to Professor Henrik Christensen from the Contextual Robotics Institute at the
University of California, babies that are born from today will never drive a car. By the
time they are old enough, autonomous cars will be the norm and we are also likely to see
home companion and healthcare robots everywhere.

Automation and Manufacturing

Over the last three or four decades, manufacturing has undergone some serious changes
and there has been a significant decline in employment within manufacturing in
advanced economies. In 1996, around 14% of the US workforce was employed in
manufacturing; today it is no more than 8% - a huge decline in just 20 years. However,
it wouldn’t be fair to say that automation is responsible for all that decline – some jobs
have been moved to countries where the labor costs are cheaper. According to experts,
that rate of decline is not going to slow any time soon; in fact, it is entirely possible that
it will just get worse.

While automation is seeing some jobs being lost, it is creating others and, over the next,
couple of decades, we can expect to see huge changes in the way we live and work, all
thanks to automation, but it won't all be bad.
History of Robotics.
For many people, the word “robot” fills their minds with science fiction novels and
movies and while these tend to miss the mark more often than not, the evolution of
robots does owe something to masters of sci-fi such as Isaac Asimov.

In broad terms, humans have been developing robotics and dabbling in automation for
centuries and we can journey through a varied and colorful history.

Back to Egypt and Greece

One of the very first instances of automation or robotics is the Egyptian water clock and
the oldest example, found in Amenhotep I’s tomb, can be dated back to around 1500 BC.
It was constructed a container inside which an outflow water clock was marked. Water
was used to fill the container and drip over a period of time. In order to see what the
time was, the owner just had to look at the water measurement.

What truly made this stand out was not the fact that it used water; it was the force of the
water in the clock banging on gongs or striking bells every hour, on the hour and used
human figurines.

These water clocks were used in Greece in 325 BC and the second example of robotics
came about 25 years later. Archytas, a Greek Mathematician, designed and constructed
a mechanical bird, named The Pigeon, that was propelled using steam.
And we can't forget Leonardo da Vinci. In 1495, he built the Robot Knight, a robotic
figure that could stand, sit and move its arms about using a system of cables and pulleys.

The Evolution of Automation

We only really started to see the evolution of automation in the Western world in the
17th century. A French inventor named Jacques de Vaucanson developed no less than
three automata. The first could play 12 different songs on a flute, the second could play a
flute, drum and a tambourine, and the third was a duck, the most famous one. The duck
could flap its wings, quack, move and “eat” and the sounds it made were quite lifelike.

The first real modern automation though, came about in 1810 by a German called
Friedrich Kauffman. He developed a robot that looked very much like a solider and,
through the use of automatic bellows, it would blow a trumpet.

Mechanical Programming Developments

Ada Byron, Countess of Lovelace, was responsible for advancing the development of
mechanical programming. An English mathematician, she is best known for writing the
very first algorithm for the Analytical Engine. This was a general-purpose computer
proposed by another mathematician, Ada’s husband Charles Babbage.

It was Ada Lovelace who recognized what applications the machine could be used for
and, between 1842 and 1843, she explained what the function of the machine was. She
died aged 36 and her husband was never able to finish the Analytical Engine but it was
the precursor for the digital computers we use today.

Further Advancements – 1800’s and Onwards

In 1898, Nikola Tesla built a wireless torpedo, controllable by remote control. He called
the process “tele-automation” and his torpedo was shown off at Madison Garden.
However, we didn’t hear the term “robot” until it was used by Karel Capek in 1921 to
describe automata written in fiction. The term, “robotics” was made famous in 1942 by
Isaac Asimov and, after the end of WWII, his robots did two things – they captured the
imagination of post-war America and were responsible for a brand-new historical era.

In 1946, ENIAC, the Electrical Numerical Integrator and Computer, was constructed. It
was one of the very first general-purpose electronic computers and several people were
involved in its programming, including Frances Spence, Betty Jennings, Marlyn
Wescoff, Betty Snyder, Kay McNulty, and Ruth Lichterman. The program manual for
ENIAC was written by Adel Goldstine.

In 1950, the C10 program for UNIVAC I was co-designed by Ida Rhodes. This was the
computer system that would later be used for determining the census in the USA.
The same year saw George Devol invent Unimate, the very first industrial robot in the
world, used for transporting die castings and welding them into automobiles. In much
the same way as today's manufacturing automation, these robots would be programmed
to do specific tasks to replace unskilled labor. Unimate was, and still is, a very important
milestone in robotics history.

In the 1960s and 1970s, we started to see the automatons designed on the human arm –
in 1966, we got Shakey, in 1969, it was the Stanford Arm, and in 1974 we got the Silver
Arm. This led to Puma350 in 1985 and CyberKnife in 1992 with both serving as
innovative technology used in the medical field.

The arm-like robots are indicative of much of today's robotics and one, EMMA (Expert
Manipulative Massage Automation) was designed by Albert Zhang and is a one-armed
robot designed for providing massage therapy.
Modern Robotics

Automation is common in today’s modern world, even if we don’t realize it. Automated
machines take care of a great deal of manual labor, providing humans with the time and
ability to learn brand new skills in their field of expertise.

Since the year 2000, there have been many more advancements in automation and
robotics, including artificial intelligence. Automated machines, with programming to do
the same job over and again are commonly used in exploration (space and underwater),
the military, manufacturing, and commercial agriculture.

Artificial intelligence is used for assessing environments and to do some action to

ensure programmed goals are reached and advancements in recent years have led to
technology that can prevent the theft of identity, search engine results and in cracking
ciphers on behalf of the FBI. As we continue to advance, AI is likely to be the technology
that is used in robotics development.

Netflix, Amazon, Hulu, and other on-demand streaming websites use predictive analysis
to recommend shows and movies to viewers, thus improving customer satisfaction and
businesses use software for sentiment analysis to get better insights on their service and
products and what the customers think. This enables better marketing and the ability to
deal with negative feedback much quicker.

Where Are We Headed in the Future?

It isn’t very easy to answer this question because innovation is moving at such a rate.
However, there are predictions that robots are going to play a significant role, not just in
business but in the home too. Already home products like Siri, Amazon Echo and Alexa
are proving popular and smart homes are fast gaining because of the convenience they
offer, not to mention the savings on energy bills, the security and the comfort they bring.

Three of the biggest corporations in the world – Amazon, Google, and Microsoft – are
all developing new and better business technologies. For example, those who use
Microsoft Office 365 can now use Microsoft Teams for making and receiving business
calls without needing any other app. Google has come up with Pixel Buds that can
translate up to 40 different languages in real-time.

We can also expect automated robots to become far more commonplace outside of the
shipping and manufacturing industries. Around 35% of organizations in the logistics,
health, and utilities fields are already starting to explore how automated robots can use
them.

As far as self-drive technology goes, we don’t expect to see such huge leaps in
innovation. Car accidents between self-driven cars already show that it may be difficult
to provide a coexistence between self-drive cars and impulsive human behavior.

We do expect to see advancements in the use of robotics in space exploration. In 1971,

Mars 2 from the Soviet Union landed on Mars and became the very first interplanetary
robot on Earth and, since then, engineers have gone much further in the development of
innovative technology.

Take the ISS Robotic Eternal Ammonia Leak Locator for example. Developed by NASA,
it is designed to check space stations for any signs of ammonia leaks and fix them, thus
reducing the risk to human crew members.

Rather than the terrific innovations predicted by science fiction, we expect to see
breakthroughs in robotics and automation to improve on what we have been looking to
advance for a long time – education, communication, and life.
Advantages and Disadvantages of Robots
Robotic automation is growing in popularity across many industries and sectors and
across the world and this popularity looks set to continue as businesses take full
advantage of the benefits.

More manufacturers are investing in robotic technology but not everyone is convinced
of those benefits. Some people are cautious about how existing processes will be adapted
and the consequences of doing it. And there are some very reasonable objections but
mainly from those who have not yet tried the technology for themselves.

Advantages

• Cost-Effectiveness – robots need no breaks, no holidays, no sick leave and

they don’t need to work shifts. They can work repetitive cycles and, so long as
they are kept maintained, they can continue until their programming is changed.
This benefits human workers – when they no longer have to do such repetitive
work, they are no longer at risk of RSI or other work-related injuries. An increase
in production at a much-reduced cost brings about some obvious benefits and the
 investment cost can easily be recouped quite quickly; from then on, the gains are
fast.

• Better Quality Assurance – very few workers are happy doing repetitive work
and, after a while, their levels of concentration start to wane. Not only does this
lead to the potential for expensive errors, but it can also lead to the potential for
injury. By using robotic automation, these risks are eliminated because items are
accurately produced and checked to ensure the required standard is met without
fail. More products are manufactured at a much higher standard and these create
no end of new possibilities that companies can expand on.

• An Increase in Productivity – when repetitive tasks are automated, it leads

to a definite increase in productivity. Robots are designed specifically for
repetitive movement where humans are not. By taking repetitive work away from
employees, we give them the opportunity to expand their skills into other areas of
work and this creates a much better environment that everyone can benefit from.
They will have higher levels of energy and will focus better on their work – not
only do the robots increase productivity, so will happier employees.

• Hazardous Work – quite aside from the risk of potential injury, some
employees need to work in hazardous or unstable environments. For example,
underwater, in areas where there are high levels of chemicals, in space and so on.
Using robots to do these jobs minimizes the risks because they can work without
sustaining injury or harm. Industries where employees are required to work in
extremely low or high temperatures tend to see a high turnover in human
resources. Using automated robots minimizes the risk of material waste and
takes away the risks to humans.

Disadvantages

• The Potential for Job Losses – this is one of the biggest issues and concerns
surrounding robotic automation. If robots can work faster and more accurately, it
is feared that humans may become redundant. However, while these fears are
entirely understandable, they are not terribly accurate. The same thing was
predicted for the industrial revolution and, as we can see from history, it never
happened. Indeed, humans went on to play a very important role. We only have
to look at Amazon to see one of the best examples – during a period where they
increase their robots from 1,000 to more than 45,000 their employment rate has
also risen.

• Initial Investment – this is quite possibly one of the largest obstacles that will
determine whether a company makes the investment in robotic automation or
 whether they will wait. Before any company can consider it, they must build a
comprehensive and solid business case around the pros and cons of
implementation. While the return on investment (ROI) can be significant and
they can happen quite quickly, it does require a substantial amount of cash flow
in the first instance and it must be considered whether it is worth risking
company stability if the returns cannot be guaranteed. However, most of the time
repayment schedules are available and this makes it much more affordable and
easier for finances to be controlled. Something else to consider is the increase in
output and the reduction in poor workmanship when deciding whether
automation should be employed or not.

• Hiring Skilled Staff – over the last 10 years, manufacturers have found it
much harder to find skilled people to take on specialized jobs. Automation just
adds to that problem because robots need to be programmed and they need to be
operated too. But this opens even more opportunities for employees to be trained
up and to boost their own skills. Automation providers can easily help with
installation and setup and, so long as the staff has the correct skills, they can
learn to manage the robots.
Who Invented the First Robot?
Evidence suggests that the earliest human-like mechanized forms can be dated back to
Ancient Greece and concepts of artificial beings have been in the works dating back to
the 19th century. However, despite this, the evolution of robots did not really begin
properly until the 1950s when George Devol invented a robot that was programmable
and digitally operated. It was that robot that laid the foundations for the robotic
industry we have today.

The Early Years

Ctesibius was an ancient Greek engineer and, in about 270 BC he produced water clocks
that contained loose figures or automatons. Then we have Archytas of Tarentum, a
Greek mathematician who develops a steam-propelled mechanical bird, named “The
Pigeon”. And in 10-70 AD, Hero of Alexandria came up with several innovations in the
automaton field, including one that, it is alleged, could actually speak.

On to Ancient China and we find an account, penned in the 3 rd century BC, about an
automaton – the account tells of King Mu Zhou being presented with a mechanical
figure, life-sized, by an artificer called Yan Shi
Theory and Science Fiction

Visionaries and writers have long imagined a world where robots are a part of our lives.
Mary Shelly penned “Frankenstein” in 1818, a story about a lifeform that is brought to
life by Dr Frankenstein, a very mad but very brilliant writer.

100 years on and a Czech writer called Karel Capek came up with the term, “robot” when
he wrote a play called “Rossum’s Universal Robots” or R.U.R, in 1921. The plot was a
simple one yet quite terrifying – the main character built a robot which then went on to
kill.

In 1927, a film called “Metropolis” was released, written by Fritz Lang and featuring the
Maschinenmensch or Machine Man, which was a humanoid robot, the very first time
one had ever been depicted on film.

Isaac Asimov, a futurist and Sci-Fi writer, first coined the term, “Robotics” in 1941 when
he was describing robot technology; he predicted that a very powerful industry of robots
would rise in the future. He also penned a story called “Runaround”, about a robot and
the three laws of robotics; the story was centered on the ethical questions surrounding
artificial intelligence.

And in 1948. “Cybernetics” was published by Norbert Wiener, forming the basis of
something called practical robotics which is basically AI research around the principles
of cybernetics.

The First Robots

William Grey Walter, a pioneer in British robotics, was responsible for inventing Elsie
and Elmer. These two robots were developed in 1948 and used basic electronics to
mimic human-like behavior. These were tortoise-like and were programmed to head to
their charging stations when their power started running down.

In 1954 we got Unimate. Developed by George Devol, this was the first programmable
and digitally operated robot. This was followed in 1956 by Devol forming the first
robotics company in the world with his business partner, Joseph Engleberger and, in
1961 Unimate was put to work in a General Motors automotive factory in New Jersey.

Modern Robotics

We now see both industrial and commercial robots in widespread use. They can perform
some jobs with far more reliability and accuracy than humans and at a far cheaper cost.
They tend to be used for repetitive, time-consuming, jobs, and those that are far too
dangerous or dirty and pose a risk to human life.
Their widest spread uses are in manufacturing, packing, assembly, space and earth
exploration, weaponry, surgery, laboratory research, and the mass production of
industrial and consumer goods.
How Many Robots Are There and Where are They?
According to the latest World Robotics Report, annual sales stand, globally, at more
than $16 billion and the IFR forecasts that shipment may recede somewhat in 2019 but,
by 2022 we can expect annual growth of around 12% every year.

2018 was a record year even while the main robotics customers, the electrical-
electronics and automotive industries, struggled through a tough year.

Certainly, the trade conflict between the US and China posed, and still does, no small
amount of uncertainty and, in situations like this, many customers postpone
investments such as automation. But, for the first time ever, robot installations have
topped the 400,000 per year mark. By 2022, that number is expected to surpass
580,000.

Right now, Asia holds the largest industrial robot market share. 2018 saw the Republic
of Korea and China decline while Japan saw a considerable increase. In total, though,
Asia saw an overall growth of 1% while in Europe, the second-biggest market, that figure
stood at 14%, reaching a six-year high. And in the Americas, growth jumped more than
20% from 2017, another six-year high.
Top Five World Robot Markets

Although almost every country is involved in the robot market, there are five that stand
head and shoulders above the rest, taking a collective 47% of the global installations for
2018. Those markets are Japan, China, the Republic of Korea, Germany and the United
States.

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