Robotics is a branch of engineering that is used for the conception, design, manufacture and operation of robots. This field overlaps with electronics, computer science, artificial intelligence, mechatronics, nanotechnology, and bioengineering.
Science fiction author Isaac Asimov is pleased to be the first person to use the term robotics in a short story composed in the 1940s. In the story, Asimov suggested three principles to guide the behavior of robots and intelligent machines. . Asimov’s Three Laws of Robotics, as they are called, have survived to the present.
Index
Basic laws of robotics
- Robots must never harm human beings.
- Robots must follow human instructions without violating rule 1.
- Robots must protect themselves without violating the other rules.
How robotics works
Robotics creates artificial intelligence robots. These creatures are endowed with an intelligence that in some cases is very close to that of the human being. To understand a little how it works, we must know that human beings consist of 5 basic components:
- A body structure
- A muscular system to animate this structure
- A sensory system to receive information about the body and its environment
- A source of energy to activate muscles and common sense
- A brain system that processes sensory information and tells muscles what to do
On the other hand, a robot consists of these same components. Therefore, a typical robot is a set of a physical structure, a motor, a sensory system, a source of energy and a computer that acts as a brain to control these elements.
What is robotics for
Robotics basically serves for the automation and robotization of production and services on which the development of a society depends. For humanity, this science is a synonym for help, assistance, efficiency, progress and greater knowledge. There are numerous fields where robotic science can be applied effectively, and where it ensures greater performance and progress.
What is robotics used for today?
Robots have been designed to carry out complicated and forced labor. Currently there are many areas of development and production where robotics is used. In a global way we can name several fields.
Industrial robotics
The development of robotics has allowed to start a revolution in the industry since it allowed the automation of production. Industrial robotics has also allowed higher yields and a better quality of the final product thanks to the extreme precision of industrial robots.
military robotics
Today’s scouting robots make it possible to limit the danger to human troops by preceding soldiers and warning them of a dangerous event. Military robotics are increasingly adapted to hostile terrain missions and also use machines capable of lifting large loads of materials and greatly increasing speed. This allows soldiers to move faster and be less tired.
Research and exploration robotics
There are also many advantages in the field of research and exploration. For example, submarines cannot go to extreme depths and are replaced by more resistant underwater exploration robots.
Medical robotics
Robotization in the health field is one of the most important since it allows, in particular, to obtain better results in surgical operations, thanks to the precision of the robots, also simplifying the work of surgeons.
What is educational robotics for?
Today, educators are using robotics to teach their students in new ways. Robots are a practical way to teach children important concepts like math and science.
While the robots used in study classrooms do not fire lasers from their eyes, they are fast becoming a popular way to grab and hold attention during class, helping to prevent school failure.
Robotics can also be a fun stepping stone to getting a child interested in subjects like science, technology, engineering, and math, which in turn will help them successfully pursue a career in the future.
At a more advanced, intermediate or higher level, educational robotics continues to be a pedagogical tool and the main engine for student motivation.
What is robotics for in everyday life
When we think of robots, we think of giant machines that build cars and Hollywood creations that are too impossible to be real. Yet robots are found in our everyday lives in many ways, from large production machines to children’s toys.
Today, robotics is an important part of our daily life. Mainly, we can see it in industrial robots replacing man for many tasks, scientific robots or robots that help us every day, in the office, in beauty salons, in the kitchen, etc.
While many apocalyptic theories indicate that robots will take power over humanity, few conceive of a world without robots, proof of their importance is precisely their participation in our daily lives.
Evolution of robotics
Decades ago, robotics was science fiction, and any consideration of the types of robotics jobs was a thing of the future. Well, today it is not science fiction, but science. Its evolution and progress is still a thing of the future, but today it already offers us many opportunities to develop better and efficient jobs, with the certainty that it will continue to grow and increase employment prospects.
Automated robots : the first type of machine that was called a robot corresponds to the “robotics automaton”. These are usually programmed in advance and allow for repetitive or serial actions.
Robots with sensors : the second type of robot corresponds to those equipped with sensors. There are temperature sensors, ultrasonic for example, to avoid obstacles and follow a path.
These sensors will allow the robot to adapt relative to its environment to take into account random parameters that could not be considered during its initial programming. Therefore, they are more autonomous than programming languages or PLCs, but require an investment in design time and more money.
Robots with artificial intelligence : finally, the last type of robot that exists corresponds to the so-called “artificial” intelligence based on complex mathematical models. In addition to possessing physical sensors like their predecessors, these robots can make much more complex decisions and also rely on learning from their mistakes like humans do.
Advantages and benefits of robotics
- They make life easier for us.
- They do the hard, heavy, and over-the-top work for us.
- They save us a significant amount of time.
- They allow to produce more and more efficiently.
- They ensure the quality of production.
- They ensure optimal and accurate results.
- They are used in almost all areas and fields of work.
Conclusion of the use of robotic science
As we have seen, robotics science serves and represents a fundamental role in the development of all areas and provides greater safety and security in the life, work and employment of future generations. It is important to promote active participation at all educational levels in order to guarantee a sustainable human future.
However, despite the great advances already seen in robotics, it is still unlikely that the most intelligent robot will achieve the ability to adapt and make decisions, just as man does.
Dr. Samantha Robson ( CRN: 0510146-5) is a nutritionist and website content reviewer related to her area of expertise. With a postgraduate degree in Nutrition from The University of Arizona, she is a specialist in Sports Nutrition from Oxford University and is also a member of the International Society of Sports Nutrition.
