What Are Robots?
A mechanical agent that performs one or more tasks is called a Robot. In those tasks it mimics a human or animal agent either through commands or programming. Automation is another synonym that is used for a robot. Bots is the name given to virtual robots that exist.
The Czech word robota which means servitude or drudgery paved a way for the name robot. Karel Capek who was a Czech playwright used it during a play named R.U.R. which means Rossum’s Universal Robot. In 1921, it was published and in 1923, it was published in English.
Robotics is the name given to the field of study of robots and Roboticists is the name given to the people who specialize in robotics.
We can classify robots in number of ways. The creators of robots may use locomotive means as the categories of robots which differentiates their creations which can be static or whether they have treads, legs, fins, rotors, wheels, propeller or some other means of propulsion.
On “Types of Robots” webpage of NASA (National Aeronautics and Space Administration), there are different ways in which robots are classified. Whether they work in space or on earth is the first classification and second consists of type of industry work they do and the third one classifies robots by what type of jobs they perform.
Industries which employ robots include military, transportation, medicine and manufacturing. In assembly operations, robots are widely used and perform following tasks:
• Spray painting
• Gas welding
• Spot welding
• Sealant application
• Arc welding
• Placement of items into a structure that is to be built
• Manipulation of machine tools
• Die-casting
• Fettling machines
Other use of robots include glass making, forging, loading, sand blasting, fastening, loading and unloading, monitoring radiation and parts inspection. Robots can also be used in hazardous situations like bomb detection, military warfare and firefighting where humans cannot be used. Robots that can do surgeries are under development.
However, there are robotic hands that are already being used in some surgical operations in which very small incision is required allowing a human surgeon more control on laparoscopic procedures.
A type of an intelligent robot is called Droid. The name Droid is derived from the name Android which means an automation having features like human being. C-3PO and R2-D2 are the examples of droids used in Star wars made by George Lucas who trademarked the name droid.
A number of companies today are working on android robots which can behave like human beings and can interact with people in real world. South Korea and Japan are the countries in which most of the work on the development of robots is being done. In next decade, South Korea is considering to make robots a household item.
Category: Technology