Do It Like A Robot

What is a robot?

According to the Cambridge Advanced Learner’s Dictionary, a robot is a machine used to perform jobs automatically, which is controlled by a computer.

It is an automatic apparatus or device that performs functions ascribed to human beings or operates with what appears to be almost human intelligence.

The Robot Institute of America has given a very interesting definition on an Industrial robot. Industrial robots are usually used at industries. "An Industrial robot is a reprogrammable, multifunctional manipulator designed to move materials, parts, tools or special devices through variable programmed

motions for the performance of a variety of tasks". Karle Capek was the first person to introduce the word 'robot' and Sir Isaac Asimov coined first time the word 'robotics'. According to Asimov, robotics is the science of dealing with robots. Hence robotics involves a scientific study of robots. Control of robots is either through embedded microprocessors or linked to a computer system.

There are two ways program a robot to do a specific task. The first one is, programming it with a sequence of instructions. Secondly, a human operator manually carries out a series of task is done is relayed back to the robot or controlling computer. The sequence of instructionsis remembered so that the robot can automatically carry out each task identically each time.

So, a robot is capable of being reprogrammed. This feature that a robot can be reprogrammed makes the robot a flexible device.

Applications of Robots:

Though robots are used widely in industries but they are also popular in other fields like agriculture, nuclear energy, fire fighting, mining, undersea exploration, space exploration, medical applications etc.

(1) Industries:

Use of robots in industries are very common because they can offer reduced cost of production, increase productivity, improve production quality, and can operate hazardous and hostile environment. Robots, at industries are classified according to the type of work they perform like Pick- and place robots, point-to-point robots, assembly robots etc.

(2) Agriculture:

In agriculture, robots are now successfully utilized for fruit picking, potato digging etc.

(3) Nuclear energy:

Handling of radioactive substances in a nuclear power station is an important work done by robots. This relieves the human beings from doing such hazardous tasks.

(4) Fire fighting and mining:

Robots can perform hazardous works like fire fighting to extinguish the fire and in mining operations.

(5) Undersea exploration:

Robot can go dip into the sea of depth 2 to 6 kilometers attached with submarine for deep sea exploration. SCARAB-such a robot, was used to retrieve the black-box of the ill-fated Air India Jumbo 'Kaminski'.

(6) Space exploration:

Robots are used widely in space exploration and space research.

(7) Medical applications:

Robots have been valuable in the areas of artificial replacement of missing parts of human body (Prosthetics) and providing exoskeletons (orthotics) on an invalid arm or leg.

Advantages and disadvantages of robots:

Advantages

1) Going to far away planets
2) Spying on people in ways people can't move and from views humans can't reach
3) Going far down into the unknown waters where humans would be crushed
4) Giving us information that humans can't get
5) Working at places 24/7 without any salary and food. Plus they don't get bored
6) They can perform tasks faster than humans and much more consistently and accurately
7) They can capture moments just too fast for the human eye to get, for example the Atlas detector in the LHC project can capture ~ 600000 frames per second while we can see at about 60
8) Most of them are automatic so they can go around by themselves without any human interference
9) They can entertain us and help us in certain tasks

Disadvantages

1) People can lose jobs in factories
2) It needs a supply of power
3) It needs maintenance to keep it running

We hope that this will be useful for all of you.
XOXO,
MarJes <3