Robots are systems that combine mechanical parts and electronic controls to perform tasks. As robotic systems have evolved, the capabilities of robotic systems have skyrocketed, and robots are used in many industries to perform numerous processes. Robots are used in automobile assembly lines to create spot welds, operating rooms to perform surgery, and in space to move equipment into place.
History of Robotics
For thousands of years, humans had created mechanical systems to perform work and to provide entertainment. Automatons are documented to have existed as early as the 12th century, and as manufacturing methods improved, these mechanical systems became more complex.
The word “robot” was first used in a play by Czech writer Karel Capek in 1920, and the term “robotics” as an industry was introduced by author Isaac Asimov in 1941. However, these descriptions referred to fictional machines. Westinghouse Electric Corporation created the first actual robotic systems to perform tasks in the 1920s and 1930s. These models were prototypes, and never put into actual production environments.
The first practical robot was the Unimate, created by George Devol in the 1950s and sold to General Motors, who used the robot to remove hot die cast metal parts from the casting machine and stack them. Since that time, the automotive industry has embraced robotics and uses them in nearly all stages of automobile production.
Principles of Robotics
Traditional robotic systems integrated mechanical components and electronic control systems to perform a set series of tasks, such as move a part, perform an action, and repeat the task over again. Simple robots work in single planes, while complex robots can operate with several axes of movement and rotation. The challenge in the latter case is translating traditional Cartesian coordinate systems into instructions for each actuator in the robot, resulting in the correct motion.
The advancement in sensors, digital imaging, and software algorithms have resulted in decision making being moved to the robot, as opposed to strictly being performed by a human operator. In this case, the robot can use digital imaging to determine what part is on an assembly line, and perform a certain action based on the identity of the part. As vision and sensor systems have improved, the costs of these systems have dropped, making them more accessible to manufacturers of all sizes.
Robotics Applications
As computing hardware has improved, the footprint requirements for many robotic systems have dropped, allowing robots to be used in a variety of industries. Manufacturing is still the primary use for robotics, using machines to perform repetitive tasks quickly and accurately with minimal human interaction. Robots are being deployed on the battlefield to perform reconnaissance and to remotely detonate improvised explosive devices. Robots are also used as assistive devices for people with physical disabilities. Researchers look to push the envelope of robotics, developing machines that can walk and negotiate complex pathways.
Robotics combines mechanical systems, electrical controls, and software algorithms to create complete systems to benefit mankind in many ways.
Susan Kristoff - Susan Kristoff is mechanical engineer by trade, but has a diverse set of professional and personal interests. The glue that binds all of ...
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