The design, development, and application of mechanical robots are the focus of the interdisciplinary field of robotics in science and engineering. You will gain a practical understanding of robotics from our guide, which will cover the various kinds of robots and their applications in various industries.

What Is Robotics?

Simply said, robotics is the design, construction, operation, and usage of machines that are programmed to mimic, replace, or help humans do activities of various complexity. It mixes science, engineering, and technology. We call these devices robots.

Although the first digitally controlled and programmable robot appeared in the middle of the 20th century, robots have a long history that dates back to ancient Greece. Early spot welding robot prototypes were employed in General Motors facilities in 1961, and robotics swiftly dominated important industries including the automotive manufacturing sector. Over time, robotics has produced ever more advanced robots that have benefited numerous industries.

Robotics Aspects

Mechanical Construction

A robot's mechanical component enables it to perform activities in the environment for which it was created. To help it firmly grip the rough terrain of the red planet, the Mars 2020 Rover, for instance, has wheels that are individually driven and composed of titanium tubing.

Electrical Components

Robots require electrical parts to operate and power their gear. In essence, the vast majority of robots require an electric current, such as a battery, to function.

Software Program

At least some computer programming is present in robots. A robot would just be another piece of basic machinery if it didn't have a set of instructions in its programming. By putting a program into it, a robot can learn when and how to do a task.

What Are Some Of The Common Types Of Robots?

Autonomous Mobile Robots (AMRs)

Autonomous mobile robots (AMRs) can assist with a wide range of tasks, including product delivery, safety and security inspections, inventory management, rescue operations, crop harvesting, and even space exploration.

Automated Guided Vehicles (AGVs)

Automated guided vehicles (AGVs) are moveable robots that can navigate pre-mapped pathways using radio waves, cameras, magnets, lasers, or cables on the floor. They are a type of autonomous mobile robot. One of the many uses for these robots is heavy material transportation in factories and warehouses.

Articulated Robots

Rotating joints, which can be as simple as two joints or as complicated as systems of several interacting joints and materials, are one of the primary characteristics of an articulated robot. One common kind of industrial robot that frequently mimics a human arm is the articulated robot.

Humanoids

A generic human body form is similar to that of a humanoid robot. Usually, a specialized design is employed to simulate human movements and interactions. Automating chores to boost productivity and reduce costs is a typical application for humanoid robots.

Cobots

A collaborative robot is commonly referred to as a "cobot." These robots coexist alongside human employees. They are not designed to replace human workers, which sets them apart from other robots. They are frequently small and serve a range of purposes in the automotive, electronics, metals, lab, and medical industries.

What Are The Main Components Of A Robot?

Control System

All of the parts that comprise a robot's central processing unit, often known as its control system, are included in the computation. Similar to how the human brain communicates with the body, control systems are configured to instruct a robot on how to use its particular parts to accomplish a goal.

Sensors

A robot can interact with the outside world by using sensors to provide it with electrical impulses that are processed by the controller. Video cameras that act as eyes, photoresistors that respond to light, and microphones that act as ears are examples of common sensors found in robots. These sensors enable the robot to record its environment, analyze the most sensible conclusion given the circumstances, and enable the controller to communicate commands to the other parts.

Actuators

Only when a device has a mobile body or frame can it be classified as a robot. The parts that are in charge of this movement are called actuators. These parts consist of motors that work together to accomplish the motion required to finish the task at hand after receiving signals from the control system. To effectively perform their particular functions, actuators come in a range of configurations and can be constructed from a variety of materials, including metal or elastic. They are typically powered by compressed air (pneumatic actuators) or oil (hydraulic actuators).

Power Supply

Robots need power to function, much as the human body needs nourishment. Although they can be powered by an AC outlet in a wall, stationary robots, like those in factories, often run on an internal battery. Because lead-acid batteries are safe and have a long shelf life, most robots use them; nevertheless, some may use the more compact but more costly silver-cadmium batteries.

Pneumatic power from compressed gases, solar power, hydraulic power, flywheel energy storage, anaerobic digestion of organic waste, and nuclear power are further possible power sources for future robotic advancement.

End Effectors

The actual, usually external parts that enable robots to complete their tasks are called end effectors. Factory robots frequently include interchangeable tools like drills and paint sprayers, surgical robots can have scalpels, and other types of robots can be constructed with hands or gripping claws for duties like packing, bomb distribution, delivery, and much more.

Robotics Applications

Robotics, which started out as a huge help to businesses, is now a standard technology in an increasing number of industries.

Manufacturing

Industrial robots are capable of welding, painting, sorting, and product assembly. In a factory or warehouse, they might even be employed to repair and maintain other machinery.

Healthcare

Medical robots carry out surgery, deliver medical supplies, and provide emotional support to patients undergoing rehabilitation.

Companionship

Social robots can serve as a therapy aid for those with dementia and assist kids with learning impairments. They can also be used for business purposes, such as carrying goods around warehouses and offering face-to-face customer service in hotels.

Home Use

The Roomba and other robot vacuum cleaners may be the most well-known to consumers. Other home robots, on the other hand, include robots that mow the lawn and personal robot assistants that can assist with housework, play music, and interact with kids.

Search And Rescue

When conditions get too bad for firefighters, search and rescue robots can extinguish fires, transport supplies to people stranded in distant places, and save lives trapped in flood waters.

Future Of Robotics

The future of robotics is significantly impacted by the development of AI. AI and robots can be used in factories to create digital twins and design simulations that help businesses enhance their workflows. More autonomy is another benefit of advanced AI for robots.

Furthermore, generative AI technologies like ChatGPT could be installed on robots to enable more sophisticated human-robot communication.

Robots' looks have changed along with their intelligence. Humanoid robots are made to be aesthetically pleasing to people in a variety of contexts, as well as capable of carrying goods, traversing places, and comprehending and reacting to emotions. With these shapes and capabilities, robots can play a significant role in a variety of industries, including manufacturing, healthcare, logistics, and customer service.

Robots could simply alter the nature of human work, even though their widespread use has fueled concerns about job losses due to automation. Humans and robots may work together, with humans concentrating on more challenging issues while their robotic counterparts tackle repetitive duties. In any case, as robotics advances alongside other technologies like artificial intelligence and deep learning, humans will need to adjust to the presence of robots.

Conclusion

One of the biggest issues in robotics is achieving safe human-robot interaction. Designing systems that do not injure people while in use is essential. However, very little study has been done on how to evaluate, grade, and enhance the safety of robots for tasks involving direct human touch because there aren't many real-world applications for pHRI. The word "safe" was primarily used to describe reliable robotic components, whose failure rate must be kept to a minimum and their reliability must be increased. In this way, the monograph explains the important elements of this intricate issue and provides the first extensive examination of the harm a human could sustain in a collision with a robot.