28-03-2011, 10:44 AM
presented by:
UNDRALLA NISSITHA
[attachment=11131]
Introduction
What comes to mind when I say The Matrix, Terminator, or A Space Odyssey? All of these movies have super-intelligent robots that turn on their human creators. Many people fear that as robots become more intelligent they will be able to use their strength and power against us. Though robots are far from this, many scientists believe that soon robots will be universal.
Robotics is the study of robots. What is a robot? According to robotics researcher Hans Moravec of Carnegie Mellon University’s Robotics Institute, “a robot is a programmable machine that imitates the action or appearance of an intelligent creature.” In order to be classified as a robot it must be able to react to its surroundings and have physical activity. There are two main types of robots. A rover, or ROV, allows a human to control its movements. An autonomous robot can make judgments and act accordingly. This paper will explain the history of robots, how they work, advantages and disadvantages, and examples of current and future robots.
History of Robots
The Czech playwright Karel Capek created the word robot in the early 1920’s. It comes from the Czech word robota, which means drudgery or slave-like labor. The word robot was introduced in Capek’s play, Rossum’s Universal Robot’s. The play first opened in Prague in January 1921 and soon opened in Europe and the United States. In the play, a scientist invents robots to help humans with simple tasks. But after the robots were used in wars, they turned on the humans and took over the world. The picture to the left is the robot that appeared in a variation of Capek’s RUR. I think it is interesting that Capek did not actually believe that his idea of robots would ever exist. Yet, approximately 40 years later in the late 1950’s early 1960’s, the invention of transistors and integrated circuits made the development of robots possible.
In the 1940’s, the scientist/writer Isaac Asimov wrote a set of laws that he used in his fiction stories. These laws are called “The Three Laws of Robotics” and are known by many researchers today.
They are:
“A robot may not injure a human being or, through inaction, allow a human being to come to harm.”
“A robot must obey the orders given to it by human beings, except where such orders would conflict with the first law.”
“A robot must protect its own existence, as long as this does not conflict with the first two laws.”
In 1968, a robot named “Shakey” was created at the John Hopkins Laboratory. This very large robot could simply find it’s way around a room. Today robots are used for many tasks.
How do Robots Work?
Robots can move and sense. They require multiple sensors and controls that allow them to move in an unknown environment. Robots usually have five parts. They are the controller, arm, drive/actuator, end-effector, and sensor.
Controller
The controller is the “computer” of the robot. It is often referred to as the “brain” of the robot. The controller allows robots to work with other machines, processes, or robots through networking. Right now, most controllers are controlled by a set of instructions written in code called a program.
Arm
The arm allows the robot to do its programmed task. Usually, a robot’s arm is like a human arm with a shoulder, elbow, wrist, and fingers. Most robots have 6 degrees of freedom. Each joint gives the robot one degree-of-freedom. Robots can have one arm or many.
Drive/Actuator
The drive or actuator is the “engine” of the robot. An actuator is defined as “a mechanical device that produces motion.” An example of an actuator is an electric motor. Robots can have many different kinds of actuators. A solenoid is an electric motor that produces linear motion. They are typically used in switches that turn things off and on. Because robots require small and repeated adjustments in position, stepper motors are often used because they turn in precise, incremental steps. Another type of motor is the servomotor, which allows a 90-degree turn to either the right or the left. It is often used in remote control toys. Robots also use non-electric actuators. An actuator that uses oil is the hydraulic actuator. They are often used in place of an electric actuator when the robot is around sparks. Pneumatic actuators use gas to move. They are normally used in the part of the robot that picks up objects. This is because gas can be compressed preventing the robot from crushing what it is picking up. Robots have air muscles, which are pneumatic. They contract by thickening when pumped with air. They are made of soft plastic and rubber. Nitinol wire is a metal used to activate robotic parts. It is different from normal metals because it contracts up to 10% in length when heated with an electric current. This contraction is very strong.
End-Effector
The end-effector is connected to the end of the robot’s arm. Its purpose is to help the robot do its job. Examples of end-effectors are a gripper, a vacuum pump, tweezers, scalpel, or blowtorch. Robots can even be programmed to change end-effectors or have different end-effectors on each arm.
Sensor
A sensor “measures a characteristic of the environment and makes a proportional electric signal.” The sensor then sends information back to the controller. This is how robots get information about their surroundings. Light sensors react by creating or changing an electric signal. If a robot is only supposed to react to a certain color, a filter is put over the sensor. Light sensors also allow robots to navigate. One way this works is with infrared light. The robot sends a beam of infrared light, which will bounce off obstacles and return to a light sensor on the robot. Feelers are touch sensors with contact switches and bump sensors. They tell a robot when it has made contact with something. Position sensors allow robots to learn how to do something. After leading it through the motions, the sensors in the robots joints remember and can repeat the exact movements. A robot can “sense” many things humans cannot. They can be programmed to see in the dark, detect radiation, or measure movement to quick for a human to see.
UNDRALLA NISSITHA
[attachment=11131]
Introduction
What comes to mind when I say The Matrix, Terminator, or A Space Odyssey? All of these movies have super-intelligent robots that turn on their human creators. Many people fear that as robots become more intelligent they will be able to use their strength and power against us. Though robots are far from this, many scientists believe that soon robots will be universal.
Robotics is the study of robots. What is a robot? According to robotics researcher Hans Moravec of Carnegie Mellon University’s Robotics Institute, “a robot is a programmable machine that imitates the action or appearance of an intelligent creature.” In order to be classified as a robot it must be able to react to its surroundings and have physical activity. There are two main types of robots. A rover, or ROV, allows a human to control its movements. An autonomous robot can make judgments and act accordingly. This paper will explain the history of robots, how they work, advantages and disadvantages, and examples of current and future robots.
History of Robots
The Czech playwright Karel Capek created the word robot in the early 1920’s. It comes from the Czech word robota, which means drudgery or slave-like labor. The word robot was introduced in Capek’s play, Rossum’s Universal Robot’s. The play first opened in Prague in January 1921 and soon opened in Europe and the United States. In the play, a scientist invents robots to help humans with simple tasks. But after the robots were used in wars, they turned on the humans and took over the world. The picture to the left is the robot that appeared in a variation of Capek’s RUR. I think it is interesting that Capek did not actually believe that his idea of robots would ever exist. Yet, approximately 40 years later in the late 1950’s early 1960’s, the invention of transistors and integrated circuits made the development of robots possible.
In the 1940’s, the scientist/writer Isaac Asimov wrote a set of laws that he used in his fiction stories. These laws are called “The Three Laws of Robotics” and are known by many researchers today.
They are:
“A robot may not injure a human being or, through inaction, allow a human being to come to harm.”
“A robot must obey the orders given to it by human beings, except where such orders would conflict with the first law.”
“A robot must protect its own existence, as long as this does not conflict with the first two laws.”
In 1968, a robot named “Shakey” was created at the John Hopkins Laboratory. This very large robot could simply find it’s way around a room. Today robots are used for many tasks.
How do Robots Work?
Robots can move and sense. They require multiple sensors and controls that allow them to move in an unknown environment. Robots usually have five parts. They are the controller, arm, drive/actuator, end-effector, and sensor.
Controller
The controller is the “computer” of the robot. It is often referred to as the “brain” of the robot. The controller allows robots to work with other machines, processes, or robots through networking. Right now, most controllers are controlled by a set of instructions written in code called a program.
Arm
The arm allows the robot to do its programmed task. Usually, a robot’s arm is like a human arm with a shoulder, elbow, wrist, and fingers. Most robots have 6 degrees of freedom. Each joint gives the robot one degree-of-freedom. Robots can have one arm or many.
Drive/Actuator
The drive or actuator is the “engine” of the robot. An actuator is defined as “a mechanical device that produces motion.” An example of an actuator is an electric motor. Robots can have many different kinds of actuators. A solenoid is an electric motor that produces linear motion. They are typically used in switches that turn things off and on. Because robots require small and repeated adjustments in position, stepper motors are often used because they turn in precise, incremental steps. Another type of motor is the servomotor, which allows a 90-degree turn to either the right or the left. It is often used in remote control toys. Robots also use non-electric actuators. An actuator that uses oil is the hydraulic actuator. They are often used in place of an electric actuator when the robot is around sparks. Pneumatic actuators use gas to move. They are normally used in the part of the robot that picks up objects. This is because gas can be compressed preventing the robot from crushing what it is picking up. Robots have air muscles, which are pneumatic. They contract by thickening when pumped with air. They are made of soft plastic and rubber. Nitinol wire is a metal used to activate robotic parts. It is different from normal metals because it contracts up to 10% in length when heated with an electric current. This contraction is very strong.
End-Effector
The end-effector is connected to the end of the robot’s arm. Its purpose is to help the robot do its job. Examples of end-effectors are a gripper, a vacuum pump, tweezers, scalpel, or blowtorch. Robots can even be programmed to change end-effectors or have different end-effectors on each arm.
Sensor
A sensor “measures a characteristic of the environment and makes a proportional electric signal.” The sensor then sends information back to the controller. This is how robots get information about their surroundings. Light sensors react by creating or changing an electric signal. If a robot is only supposed to react to a certain color, a filter is put over the sensor. Light sensors also allow robots to navigate. One way this works is with infrared light. The robot sends a beam of infrared light, which will bounce off obstacles and return to a light sensor on the robot. Feelers are touch sensors with contact switches and bump sensors. They tell a robot when it has made contact with something. Position sensors allow robots to learn how to do something. After leading it through the motions, the sensors in the robots joints remember and can repeat the exact movements. A robot can “sense” many things humans cannot. They can be programmed to see in the dark, detect radiation, or measure movement to quick for a human to see.
