what is a robot presentation

What Is a Robot?

Top roboticists explain their definition of robot

Written by Erico Guizzo

August 9, 2023

Updated April 25, 2024

Robots are a diverse bunch. Some use wheels to move, while others walk around on two, four, or even six legs . Underwater robots can swim, and drones can take to the skies. Some robots assemble delicate microchips in spotless facilities; others toil away in dusty car factories. There are robots the size of a coin and robots bigger than refrigerators . Some robots can make pancakes . Others can land on Mars .

This diversity —in size, design, capabilities—means it's not easy to come up with a definition of what a robot is.

In fact, the term "robot" means different things to different people. Even roboticists themselves have different notions about what is or isn't a robot. And for most of us, science fiction has strongly influenced what we expect a robot to look like and be able to do.

A simple definition of a robot

So what makes a robot? Here's a definition that is neither too general nor too specific:

A robot is an autonomous machine capable of sensing its environment, carrying out computations to make decisions, and performing actions in the real world.

Think of the Roomba robotic vacuum. It uses sensors to autonomously drive around a room, going around furniture and avoiding stairs; it carries out computations to make sure it covers the entire room and when deciding if a spot needs a more thorough cleaning; and it performs an action by "sucking dirt," as roboticist Rodney Brooks , one of the Roomba creators, explains.

But no definition is perfect. You may argue, and perhaps rightly so, that the definition above could very well describe a dishwasher, a thermostat, an elevator, an automatic door, and many other systems and appliances around us.

What makes something a robot?

Take, for example, cruise control in cars. It senses how fast the vehicle is going, compares it to a preset speed, and accelerates or brakes as needed. Is cruise control a robot?

For his part, Brooks is not enthusiastic about considering dishwashers a class of robot. But other roboticists are less strict. A home thermostat can measure the ambient temperature, check a prestored schedule, and turn on the heating or cooling system accordingly. For Gill Pratt , another roboticist, that's enough to call a thermostat a simple robot.

The thing to keep in mind about this or any other definition is that robots can typically do three things:

These three components vary widely from robot to robot. To sense the world, some robots use simple devices, like an obstacle-detecting sonar, while other robots rely on multiple sensors, including cameras, gyroscopes, and laser range finders.

Likewise, the compute part can involve everything from a small electronic circuit to a powerful multicore processor or even a cluster of networked computers.

As for the action, this is where robots vary the most: Some robots can move around; others can manipulate things. Some robots can move around and manipulate things. Some are designed to perform specific tasks, while others are more versatile and can do many different things.

How do robots work?

But although robots vary in how they sense, compute, and act, they all operate in a similar way: Their sensors feed measurements to a controller or computer, which processes them and then sends control signals to motors and actuators. A robot is constantly repeating this sensing-computing-acting cycle, in what roboticists call a "feedback loop." So you could say that feedback is the technique that makes machines "smart," and almost every robot uses feedback.

To make things more concrete, consider BigDog , a rough-terrain quadruped robot developed by Boston Dynamics . BigDog uses sensors to measure the position of its leg joints and the forces applied on them. It also uses gyroscopes and an inertial measurement unit (IMU) to keep track of its position in relation to the ground. Based on that information, BigDog's computer calculates which hydraulic actuators it should activate to move the robotic legs.

As BigDog takes a step, it's continually (several thousand times per second) updating its sensor, computer, and actuator information in a feedback loop that allows the robot to autonomously walk, trot, climb hills, and step over obstacles. Its creators have even kicked BigDog while it was walking and the robot didn't fall down.

To build BigDog, Boston Dynamics engineers studied how real animals run and balance. They used some of those ideas to develop sensing, computing, and actuation systems, and then they combined these three components in a feedback loop that gives BigDog great agility, allowing it to climb hills and even walk on an icy road. More recently, Boston Dynamics took robot agility to new extremes with machines like Spot and Atlas .

What about autonomy in robots?

Let's go back to our original definition. Another key concept that we should mention is the notion of autonomy. We said robots are autonomous machines, but the level of autonomy differs from robot to robot. Some robots are controlled remotely by human operators. Other robots can run without any kind of human intervention. And a large number of robots rely on both remote control and autonomous behavior.

Again, people will disagree on how much autonomy a machine needs to be called a robot. You can try to tweak the original definition to suit your own opinion on this issue, but the fact is, most definitions will never be perfect. When asked to define a robot, robotics pioneer Joseph Engelberger once said, "I don't know how to define one, but I know one when I see one!"

Maybe that is the perfect definition of a robot.

The future of robotics

Another question you may be asking yourself is, Where is my robot? Where are all those helpful robotic systems and humanoids that science fiction promised we'd have by now? Why can't a robot do my laundry for me?

The reality is that there remain huge challenges ahead for robotics, and practical home robots are still many years away. Many of the same problems that kept robots limited to factories and research labs are still around today. Two main issues are cost and complexity.

Cost is easy to understand: Robotics components, including specialized sensors and computers, but especially actuators to power wheels and robotic arms, are still too costly. And the more capable you want to make your robot, the more components you'll need, so the cost adds up quickly.

As for the complexity problem, when you combine sensors, computers, actuators, software, and user interfaces into a robot and try to operate it in the real world, things still don't work perfectly. The robot operates too slowly. Or it acts in an unsafe manner. Or it face-plants into the ground , like many did at a major robotics competition featuring some of the world's most sophisticated robots.

To put it another way, things don't work as well as they would need to in order to turn that robot into a practical commercial system.

Now here's the good news: Progress in solving those challenges is not only happening—it's happening faster and faster. Daniela Rus , a roboticist at MIT, believes that "the age of robotics is really upon us." Advances in robotics technology, she says, will have a big impact on everyday life as robots leave the lab and become capable, useful machines operating in real environments.

Areas that are seeing promising breakthroughs include robot vision, learning, and navigation. Robots are getting better at recognizing objects and people, mapping indoor and outdoor spaces, and moving through real-world human environments. Robot manipulation and biped locomotion are advancing too, though more slowly.

A key development is that the technological advances in processors and sensors that made computers and smartphones better and cheaper are also benefiting robots. It's getting easier to equip robots with powerful sensing and computing systems. Another benefit is that researchers don't have to keep reinventing the wheel when it comes to assembling a robot, and that means they can pay more attention to robotics software.

AI for robots

Robotics software is a big deal. Without effective and robust algorithms, a robot will never be able to accomplish much. Tools for robot simulation, control, and learning are getting better, but many roboticists would like to see them improving at an even faster rate. There's hope that recent advances in artificial intelligence (AI) could give robotics a major boost, and that is currently a very active area of research .

Hardware and software standards that would allow different robots to interface more easily are still lacking, but today's robots are not the one-of-a-kind laboratory contraptions they used to be. Major robot makers are relying on open (or mostly open) software platforms, like the Robot Operating System , tapping on their user communities to develop capabilities they'd never be able to develop on their own.

Clearly, things are moving in the right direction for robotics. So, where's my robot? you continue to ask.

The answer is that if we want capable, affordable robots to help us in the future, we need more people to develop such robots. That's right. In the end, it all depends on you to help build the future of robotics. See our guide on " How to Get Started in Robotics ." Then start building robots, join a robotics club or competition, take a robotics course, and become a roboticist.

And maybe then you'll build a robot to do your laundry. And mine too, please.

More Articles & Resources

How to get started in robotics article.

Robotics Glossary resource

Robotics: What Are Robots?

Robotics is the use of machines that can be programmed to perform tasks. And it’s boosting efficiency and safety in industries like manufacturing and healthcare.

Robotics is an interdisciplinary sector of science and engineering dedicated to the design, construction and use of mechanical robots. Our guide will give you a concrete grasp of robotics, including different types of robots and how they’re being applied across industries.

What Is Robotics?

Robotics is the intersection of science, engineering and technology that produces machines, called robots, that replicate or substitute for human actions. Robots perform basic and repetitive tasks with greater efficiency and accuracy than humans, making them ideal for industries like manufacturing. However, the introduction of artificial intelligence in robotics has given robots the ability to handle increasingly complex situations in various industries.

What Is a Robot?

A robot is a programmable machine that can complete a task, while the term robotics describes the field of study focused on developing robots and automation. Each robot has a different level of autonomy. These levels range from human-controlled bots that carry out tasks to fully-autonomous bots that perform tasks without any external influences.

In terms of etymology, the word ‘robot’   is derived from the Czech word   robota , which means “forced labor.” The word first appeared in the 1920 play   R.U.R. , in reference to the play’s characters who were mass-produced workers incapable of creative thinking.

Robotics Aspects

Mechanical construction.

The mechanical aspect of a robot helps it complete tasks in the environment for which it’s designed. For example, the   Mars 2020 Rover’s wheels   are individually motorized and made of titanium tubing that help it firmly grip the harsh terrain of the red planet.

Electrical Components

Robots need electrical components that control and power the machinery. Essentially, an electric current — a battery, for example — is needed to power a large majority of robots.

Software Program

Robots contain at least some level of computer programming. Without a set of code telling it what to do, a robot would just be another piece of simple machinery. Inserting a program into a robot gives it the ability to know when and how to carry out a task.

What Are the Main Components of a Robot?

Control system.

Computation includes all of the components that make up a robot’s central processing unit, often referred to as its control system. Control systems are programmed to tell a robot how to utilize its specific components, similar in some ways to how the human brain sends signals throughout the body, in order to complete a specific task. These robotic tasks could comprise anything from minimally invasive surgery to assembly line packing.

Sensors provide a robot with stimuli in the form of electrical signals that are processed by the controller and allow the robot to interact with the outside world. Common sensors found within robots include video cameras that function as eyes, photoresistors that react to light and microphones that operate like ears. These sensors allow the robot to capture its surroundings and process the most logical conclusion based on the current moment and allows the controller to relay commands to the additional components.

A device can only be considered to be a robot if it has a movable frame or body. Actuators are the components that are responsible for this movement. These components are made up of motors that receive signals from the control system and move in tandem to carry out the movement necessary to complete the assigned task. Actuators can be made of a variety of materials, such as metal or elastic, and are commonly operated by use of compressed air (pneumatic actuators) or oil (hydraulic actuators) but come in a variety of formats to best fulfill their specialized roles.

Power Supply

Like the human body requires food in order to function, robots require power. Stationary robots, such as those found in a factory, may run on AC power through a wall outlet but more commonly, robots operate via an internal battery. Most robots utilize lead-acid batteries for their safe qualities and long shelf life while others may utilize the more compact but also more expensive silver-cadmium variety. Safety, weight, replaceability and lifecycle are all important factors to consider when designing a robot’s power supply. 

Some potential power sources for future robotic development also include pneumatic power from compressed gasses, solar power, hydraulic power, flywheel energy storage organic garbage through anaerobic digestion and nuclear power.

End Effectors

End effectors are the physical, typically external components that allow robots to finish carrying out their tasks. Robots in factories often have interchangeable tools like paint sprayers and drills, surgical robots may be equipped with scalpels and other kinds of robots can be built with gripping claws or even hands for tasks like deliveries, packing, bomb diffusion and much more.

How Do Robots Work?

Some robots are pre-programmed to perform specific functions, meaning they operate in a controlled environment where they do simple, monotonous tasks — like a mechanical arm on an automotive assembly line.

Other robots are autonomous, operating independently of human operators to carry out tasks in open environments. In order to work, they use sensors to perceive the world around them, and then employ decision-making structures (usually a computer) to take the optimal next step based on their data and mission.

Robots may also work by using wireless networks to enable human control from a safe distance. These teleoperated robots usually work in extreme geographical conditions, weather and circumstances. Examples of teleoperated robots are the human-controlled submarines used to   fix underwater pipe leaks during the BP oil spill   or   drones used to detect landmines   on a battlefield.

Types of Robotics

Humanoid robots.

Humanoid robots are robots that look like or mimic human behavior. These robots usually perform human-like activities (like running, jumping and carrying objects), and are sometimes designed to look like us, even having human faces and expressions. Two of the most prominent examples of humanoid robots are   Hanson Robotics’ Sophia   and Boston Dynamics’   Atlas .

Cobots , or collaborative robots, are robots designed to work alongside humans. These robots prioritize safety by using sensors to remain aware of their surroundings, executing slow movements and ceasing actions when their movements are obstructed. Cobots typically perform simple tasks, freeing up humans to address more complex work.

Industrial Robots

Industrial robots   automate processes in manufacturing environments like factories and warehouses. Possessing at least one robotic arm, these robots are made to handle heavy objects while moving with speed and precision. As a result, industrial robots often work in assembly lines to boost productivity.

Medical Robots

Medical robots   assist healthcare professionals in various scenarios and support the physical and mental health of humans. These robots rely on AI and sensors to navigate healthcare facilities, interact with humans and execute precise movements. Some medical robots can even converse with humans, encouraging people’s social and emotional growth.

Agricultural Robots

Agricultural robots   handle repetitive and labor-intensive tasks, allowing farmers to use their time and energy more efficiently. These robots also operate in greenhouses, where they monitor crops and help with harvests. Agricultural robots come in many forms, ranging from autonomous tractors to drones that collect data for farmers to analyze.

Microrobotics

Microrobotics   is the study and development of robots on a miniature scale. Often no bigger than a millimeter, microrobots can vary in size, depending on the situation. Biotech researchers typically use microrobotics to monitor and treat diseases, with the goal of improving diagnostic tools and creating more targeted solutions.

Augmenting Robots

Augmenting robots, also known as   VR robots , either enhance current human capabilities or replace the capabilities a human may have lost. The field of robotics for human augmentation is a field where science fiction could become reality very soon, with bots that have the ability to redefine the definition of humanity by making humans faster and stronger. Some examples of current augmenting robots are robotic prosthetic limbs or   exoskeletons   used to lift hefty weights.

Software Bots

Software bots, or simply ‘bots,’ are computer programs which carry out tasks autonomously. They are not technically considered robots. One common use case of software robots is a   chatbot , which is a computer program that simulates conversation both online and over the phone and is often used in customer service scenarios. Chatbots can either be simple services that answer questions with an automated response or more complex digital assistants that learn from user information.

Robotics Applications

Beginning as a major boon for manufacturers, robotics has become a mainstay technology for a growing number of industries.

Manufacturing

Industrial robots can assemble products, sort items, perform welds and paint objects. They may even be used to fix and maintain other machines in a factory or warehouse. 

Medical robots transport medical supplies, perform surgical procedures and offer emotional support to those going through rehabilitation.  

Companionship

Social robots can support children with learning disabilities and act as a therapeutic tool for people with dementia. They also have business applications like providing in-person customer service in hotels and moving products around warehouses. 

Consumers may be most familiar with the Roomba and other robot vacuum cleaners. However, other home robots include lawn-mowing robots and personal robot assistants that can play music, engage with children and help with household chores.

Search and Rescue

Search and rescue robots can save those stuck in flood waters, deliver supplies to those stranded in remote areas and put out fires when conditions become too extreme for firefighters.

Pros and Cons of Robotics

Robotics comes with a number of benefits and drawbacks.

Pros of Robotics

• Increased accuracy.   Robots can perform movements and actions with greater precision and accuracy than humans.
• Enhanced productivity.   Robots can work at a faster pace than humans and don’t get tired, leading to more consistent and higher-volume production. 
• Improved safety.   Robots can take on tasks and operate in environments unsafe for humans, protecting workers from injuries. 
• Rapid innovation.   Many robots are equipped with sensors and cameras that collect data, so teams can quickly refine processes. 
• Greater cost-efficiency.   Gains in productivity may make robots a more cost-efficient option for businesses compared to hiring more human workers.

Cons of Robotics

• Job losses.   Robotic process automation may put human employees out of work, especially those who don’t have the skills to adapt to a changing workplace.  
• Limited creativity.   Robots may not react well to unexpected situations since they don’t have the same problem-solving skills as humans. 
• Data security risks.   Robots can be hit with cyber attacks, potentially exposing large amounts of data if they’re connected to the Internet of Things.  
• Maintenance costs.   Robots can be expensive to repair and maintain, and faulty equipment can lead to disruptions in production and revenue losses.  
• Environmental waste.   Extracting raw materials to build robots and having to discard disposable parts can lead to more environmental waste and pollution.

Future of Robotics

The evolution of AI has major implications for the future of robotics. In factories, AI can be combined with robotics to produce digital twins and design simulations to help companies improve their workflows. Advanced AI also gives robots increased autonomy. For example, drones could deliver packages to customers without any human intervention. In addition, robots could be outfitted with generative AI tools like ChatGPT, resulting in more complex human-robot conversations.

As robots’ intelligence has shifted, so too have their appearances. Humanoid robots are designed to visually appeal to humans in various settings while understanding and responding to emotions, carrying objects and navigating environments. With these forms and abilities, robots can become major contributors in customer service, manufacturing, logistics and healthcare, among other industries.

While the spread of robotics has stoked fears over job losses due to automation, robots could simply change the nature of human jobs. Humans may find themselves collaborating with robots, letting their robotic counterparts handle repetitive tasks while they focus on more difficult problems. Either way, humans will need to adapt to the presence of robots as robotics continues to progress alongside other technologies like AI and deep learning.

History of Robotics

Robotics as a concept goes back to ancient times. The ancient Greeks combined automation and engineering to create the Antikythera, a handheld device that predicted eclipses. Centuries later, Leonardo Da Vinci designed a mechanical knight now known as “Leonardo’s Robot.” But it was the rise of manufacturing during the Industrial Revolution that highlighted the need for widespread automation.

Following William Grey Walter’s development of the first autonomous robots in 1948, George Devol created the first industrial robotic arm known as Unimate. It began operating at a GM facility in 1959. In 1972, the Stanford Research Institute designed Shakey — the first AI-powered robot. Shakey used cameras and sensors to collect data from its surroundings and inform its next moves.

The ability of robots to perceive their surroundings led researchers to explore whether they could also perceive human emotions. In the late 1990s, MIT’s Dr. Cynthia Breazeal built Kismet, a robotic head that used facial features to express and respond to human emotions. This predecessor to social robots opened the door for future robots like Roomba and consumer-centric inventions like Alexa and other voice assistants.

Robots took another leap forward in 2012 due to a breakthrough in deep learning. Armed with volumes of digital images, British AI expert Geoffrey Hinton and his team successfully trained a system of neural networks to sort over one million images while making few errors. Since then, companies have incorporated deep learning into their technologies, promising more possibilities for robotics.

• (1737) Jacques de Vaucanson builds the first biomechanical automaton on record. Called the Flute Player, the mechanical device plays 12 songs.
• (1920) The word “robot” makes its first appearance in Karel Capek’s play R.U.R. Robot is derived from the Czech word “robota,” which means “forced labor.”
• (1936) Alan Turing publishes “On Computable Numbers,” a paper that introduces the concept of a theoretical computer called the Turing Machine.
• (1948)  Cybernetics or Control and Communication in the Animal  is published by MIT professor Norbert Wiener. The book speaks on the concept of communications and control in electronic, mechanical and biological systems.
• (1949) William Grey Walter, a neurophysiologist and inventor, introduces Elmer and Elsie, a pair of battery-operated robots that look like tortoises. The robots move objects, find a source of light and find their way back to a charging station.
• (1950) Isaac Asimov publishes the  Three Laws of Robotics .
• (1950) Alan Turing publishes the paper “Computing Machinery and Intelligence,” proposing what is now known as the Turing Test, a method for determining if a machine is intelligent.
• (1961) The first robotic arm works in a General Motors facility. The arm lifts and stacks metal parts and follows a program for approximately 200 movements. The arm was created by George Devol and his partner Joseph Engelberger.
• (1969) Victor Scheinman invents the Stanford Arm, a robotic arm with six joints that can mimic the movements of a human arm. It is one of the first robots designed to be controlled by a computer.
• (1972) A group of engineers at the Stanford Research Institute create Shakey, the first robot to use artificial intelligence.
• (1978) Hiroshi Makino, an automation researcher, designs a four-axis SCARA robotic arm.
• (1985) The first documented use of a robot-assisted surgical procedure uses the PUMA 560 robotic surgical arm.
• (1985) William Whittaker builds two remotely-operated robots that are sent to the Three Mile Island nuclear power plant.
• (1989) MIT researchers Rodney Brooks and A. M. Flynn publish  Fast, Cheap and Out of Control: A Robot Invasion of the Solar System .
• (1997) Sojourner lands on Mars. The free-ranging rover sends 2.3 billion bits of data back to Earth.
• (1998) Furby, a robotic toy pet developed by Tiger Electronics, is released and eventually sells tens of millions of units. Furbys are preprogrammed to speak gibberish and learn other languages over time. 
• (1999) Aibo, a robotic puppy powered by AI hits the commercial market. Developed by Sony, the robotic dog reacts to sounds and has some pre-programmed behavior.
• (2000) Cynthia Breazeal creates a robotic head, called Kismet, programmed to provoke emotions as well as react to them.
• (2002) iRobot creates Roomba. The vacuum robot is the first robot to become popular in the commercial sector amongst the public. 
• (2003) Mick Mountz and the cofounders of Amazon Robotics (formerly Kiva Systems) invent the Kiva robot. The robot maneuvers around warehouses and moves goods.
• (2004) Boston Dynamics unveils BigDog, a quadruped robot controlled by humans.
• (2004) The Defense Department’s Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency establishes the DARPA Grand Challenge. A self-driving car race that aims to inspire innovation in military autonomous vehicle tech.
• (2011) NASA and General Motors collaborate to send Robonaut 2, a humanesque robotic assistant, into space on space shuttle Discovery. The robot becomes a permanent resident of the International Space Station.
• (2013) Boston Dynamics releases Atlas, a humanoid biped robot that uses 28 hydraulic joints to mimic human movements — including performing a backflip.
• (2012) The first license for a self-driven car is issued in Nevada. The car is a Toyota Prius modified with technology developed by Google. 
• (2016) Sophia, a humanoid robot dubbed the first robot citizen, is created by Hanson Robotics. The robot is capable of facial recognition, verbal communication and facial expression.
• (2020) Robots are used to distribute Covid-19 tests and vaccinations. 
• (2020) 384,000 industrial robots are shipped across the globe to perform various manufacturing and warehouse jobs.  
• (2021) Cruise, an autonomous car company, conducts its first two robotaxi test rides in San Francisco.

Recent Robotics Articles

What is a Robot?

Learn about the three essential ingredients that make robots special.

Engineering

robots 3d landing page

Photograph courtesy National Geographic Entertainment

When you think of a robot , what do you see? A machine that looks a bit like you and me? The reality is that robots can come in many different shapes and sizes. They don’t need to look like humans—in fact, most don’t. What a robot looks like depends on its purpose. Flying robots might look like helicopters, or have wings like insects or birds. Cleaning robots often look like little vacuums. Robots that are meant to interact with people often have a face, eyes, or a mouth—just like we do! Whether they look like us or not, most robots have three essential ingredients that make them a robot : sensors , actuators, and programs . Together, these ingredients are what make a robot different from other electronics and gadgets you might have around your house, like your computer , your washing machine, or your toaster. Sensors, Actuators, and Programs First, a robot has sensors that allow it to perceive the world. Just like we have eyes to sense light, ears to sense sound, and nerves in our skin that sense if something is touching us, robots have light sensors and cameras so they can “see,” microphones so they can “hear,” and pressure sensors so they can “feel” the things around them. The kinds of sensors that a robot needs depends on what the robot was made for. A robot vacuum cleaner might use a bumper with pressure sensors to understand where a wall is. A flying robot uses a group of sensors called an inertial measurement unit (IMU) to help it stay balanced when it flies. Some of the sensors used by robots are very different from the kinds of sensors used by people. Second, a robot has actuators that allow it to move around. We might use our legs and feet to walk and run, and we might use our hands to pick up an orange and peel it. A robot might use actuators such as motors and wheels to drive places, and finger-like grippers to grab objects and manipulate them or turn them around. Third, a robot needs a program that lets it act on its own based on what it is sensing. This ability to act on one’s own is called autonomy . Let’s look at this idea of autonomy more closely. Autonomy Can you think of anything that has autonomy ? People have autonomy , because they can decide for themselves how to behave or move—at least most of the time! Your toaster, your washing machine, or a remote -controlled toy are examples of machines that don’t have autonomy , because they depend on a person to make decisions for them. When a robot is autonomous, it’s not quite the same as a person being autonomous, because a person still has to write the computer program that tells the robot what to do. For example, when we listen to music, our brains are in charge of telling us how to move our own legs to the beat—we don’t need someone to move our legs for us! But what if we want to build a robot that can autonomously dance to a beat? What three basic things would we need?1. Sensor. We would need a microphone (sound sensor) so that the robot could hear the music.2. Actuators. We would need some actuators (like motors with wheels) so that the robot could move.3. Program. We would need to write a program that says to the robot : “When you hear the music beat, move this way.” We would also need a computer —the robot ’s brain—that could process all the sensory information and run the program , and some kind of power supply (like a battery) to provide electricity to our robot . The video above shows a simple robot that has been programmed to dance autonomously when it hears music. Check out those dance moves! Some robots are more advanced than our little dancing robot . Autonomous cars, for example, have advanced sensors that allow them to measure the distance to all objects in their environment and build a 3-dimensional ( 3-D ) map of the area. They then have an advanced program that understands the meaning of the cars, roads, and obstacles in the 3D map. Based on this understanding, the program controls the robot ’s speed and steering. Other robots are being designed to help at home, explore space, or improve our efficiency at work. Whatever their purpose, each robot will need a carefully thought-out set of sensors , actuators, and programs . While robots are becoming more advanced, it’s important to understand their limitations. How can they interact with humans in a natural way? How do they adapt to the real world, which is often full of unexpected events that are hard for machines to understand? And how can we make batteries that will keep them powered for long periods and that aren’t too heavy to carry around? These are the kinds of questions that robotics experts are working hard to solve.

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Basics of Robotics PowerPoint Presentation

• by Refresh Science
• July 10, 2020 January 6, 2022

What is robotics?

• Robotics is the combination of engineering, science and technology that produces a machine called robot.
• Robotics is a domain where people work with the development and use of robots.
• It is mostly used as an alternative of human beings in various works.
• Robotics mainly deals with the design construction and operation of a robot and the computer systems for their control, feedback and information processing.
• It is a machine that is programmed to perform the given tasks and gather information from its surroundings.
• It works from a central microprocessor that helps to control the movements and they have sensors to sense the environment .

Why robotics ?

The main purpose of robotics is to automate operations that humans do and replace them with machines that can do the work with better accuracy. As we know robotics is fully automated, it can process the dangerous and mundane jobs from humans with high productivity.

While a human be able to do a piece of work at some speed we can definitely design a robot to do the same piece of work better, faster, economical and environmentally friendly . Because of its long run it can free humans from dangerous, repetitive and annoying jobs.

Robotics PPT:

Laws of robotics:.

Asimov proposed three laws of robotics, they are:

Law 1:   A robot may not injure a human being or through inaction, allow a human being to come to harm

Law 2: A robot must obey orders given to it by human beings, except where such orders would conflict with the first law

Law 3: A robot must protect its own existence as long as such protection does not conflict with the first law.

Types of robots ?

Robots are used in various sectors. some of the important sectors and the types used there are as follows

1. Industrial Robots

Various works such as Welding, material Handling, Improving Productivity, Inspection are carried out by robots.

There are various types of industrial robots as below:

• Articulated
• Cylindrical

2. Mobile Robots

Robots that move around legs, tracks or wheels. There are types of robots that can even handle radio active material. Types of mobile robots are

• Land based wheeled, tracked, legged robots
• Air based robots –plane, Helicopter
• Water based – Submarines
• Combinational robots

3. Educational Robots

Robots that are used in education. They are abled to bring schools to students who cannot be able to present Physically.

Types of educational robots are:

• Dash and dot
• Mbot    

4. Domestic Robots

There are two types one is to perform household tasks and the other one is modern toy that performs tasks like talking, walking etc .

Components of robots:

Manipulator.

The arm of the robot is called as manipulator. It resemble the human hand. It has several joints and links.

End effectors

End effectors are used by robots to interact with the environment. They vary according to the task given to the robot. It performs the tasks that are performed by palm and fingers of human hand

Sensors are used to gather information from the surroundings. If camera is present Visual representation of the surroundings can be seen. Microphones allows to detect the surrounding sounds. If the robot is equipped with thermometer and barometer temperature and pressure can be found out. These informations are used to guide the robotics behaviour.

Inside the body of a robot small motor is present known as actuators. Robot moves in reaction to feedback from sensors with the help of actuators.

The controller is the brain of a robot. Both the hardware and software are the controllers of the robot. The controller controls the movement of the manipulator and end effector.

Power supply

The main source of power supply for robots are batteries and photovoltaic cells. Lead acid and silver cadmium batteries are mostly preferred. Industrial and manufacturing robots are consuming an average of 21000 kWh annually. In future it may be designed such as a robot may charge by itself when the power is low.

Components of robots

Advantages of Robotics:

• No human intervention.
• Faster, precise and accurate.
• They can work 24*7 , so productivity increases.
• They can perform multitasking. So manpower gets reduced.
• They work in dangerous tasks, the risk of human health and safety is reduced.
• There is minimal risk if any failure occurs.

Disadvantages of Robotics:

• There are replacing human beings in many places which leads to widespread unemployment.
• They are costly to built.
• There is lack of emotions and conscience.
• They don’t have on the spot decision making capability, they act only as they programmed. When an unexpected situation arises it would be difficult for a robot to go through it.

Future prospects of robotics:

Many industries have started using robotic technology such as automotive, defence, pharmaceuticals , textiles, atomic energy etc. experts says that a moment may come when robots becomes smarter than humans.

At present robots can rotate base of arm, bend elbow, rotate wrist etc. In future it may look, feel and act like humans. Realistic looking skins and hair can be fitted which allows the robot to react naturally in the environment.