Introduction to
Robotics
contents
• What is it?
• What can it do?
• History
• Key components
• Advantages/ Limitations
• Application
• Present / Future Robots
Robot Defined
Karel Capek
• Robota in Czech is a word for worker or servant
• Word robot was coined by a Czech novelist Karel Capek in a
1920 play titled Rossum’s Universal Robots (RUR)
Robot Defined
Definition of robot:( Robot Institute of America )
A robot is a Reprogrammable, Multifunctional manipulator
designed to move material, parts, tools or specialized devices
through variable programmed motions for doing variety of
tasks
Laws of Robotics
• Rules devised by the science
fiction author Isaac Asimov
(American writer) in his 1942
short story "Runaround"
Laws of Robotics
• 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 a
higher order law
• Law 3: A robot must protect its own existence as long as
such protection does not conflict with a higher order law
History of Robotics
• The first industrial robot:
UNIMATE
1954: The first programmable robot is
designed by George Devol, who coins
the term Universal Automation.
He later shortens this to Unimation,
which becomes the name of the first
robot company (1962).
UNIMATE originally automated the manufacture of TV picture tubes
History of Robotics
1980s:
• The robot industry enters a phase of rapid growth.
• Many institutions introduce programs and courses in robotics.
Robotics courses are spread across mechanical, electrical and
computer science departments.
Adept's SCARA robots Cognex In-Sight Robot Barrett Technology Manipulator
History of Robotics
1995 - Till today:
Emerging applications in
small robotics and mobile
robots drive a second
growth of start-up
companies and research
2003: NASA’s Mars Exploration Rovers will launch toward Mars in search
of answers about the history of water on Mars
Menial tasks that human
The SCRUBMATE Robot
don’t want to do
Repetitive jobs that are boring, stressful, or labor-
intensive for humans
Welding Robot
Underwater Vehicle Unmanned Aerial Vehicle
Robots in Hazardous Environments
TROV in Antarctica operating HAZBOT operating in atmospheres
containing combustible gases
under water
Material Handling Manipulator
Robots in Space
NASA Space Station
Medical Robots
Robotic assistant for micro surgery
Robot Work Crews Garbage Collection Cart
Robots at Home
Sony SDR-3X Entertainment Robot Sony Aido
Humanoids
HONDA Humanoid Robot
Robotics
Remote Emergency Notification System Smart Irrigation System
Robotics
RoboDry
Local Navigation System
Robotics
Four Legged Hexapod
Metal Mine Surveyor
Audio Enabled Hexapod
Applications of Robots
• Agriculture
• Automobile
• Construction
• Entertainment
• Health care: hospitals, patient-care, surgery , research, etc.
• Laboratories: science, engineering , etc.
• Law enforcement: surveillance, patrol, etc.
• Manufacturing
• Military: demining, surveillance, attack, etc.
• Mining, excavation, and exploration
• Transportation: air, ground, rail, space, etc.
• Utilities: gas, water, and electric
• Warehouses
Industrial Robots
• Material handling
• Material transfer
• Machine loading and/or unloading
• Spot welding
• Continuous arc welding
• Spray coating
• Assembly
• Inspection
Knowledge base for Robotics
knowledge base required for the design and
operation of robotics systems
–Dynamic system modeling and analysis
–Feedback control
–Sensors and signal conditioning
–Actuators and power electronics
–Hardware/computer interfacing
–Computer programming
Disciplines: mathematics, physics, biology, mechanical
engineering, electrical engineering, computer engineering,
and computer science
Key Components in Robots
Power conversion
unit
Sensors Actuators
Controller
User interface
Manipulator
linkage
Base
Advantages
• Greater flexibility, re-programmability
• Greater response time to inputs than humans
• Improved product quality and productivity
• Accident reduction
• Reduction of hazardous exposure for human workers
• Automation leads to less susceptibity to work stoppages
Disadvantages
• Replacement of human labor
• Greater unemployment
• Significant retraining costs for both unemployed and
users of new technology
• Advertised technology does not always disclose some of the
hidden disadvantages
• Hidden costs because of the associated technology that
must be purchased and integrated into a functioning cell.
