IOT — Robotics Introduction

Robotics

Robot Defined

• Word robot was coined by a Czech novelist Karel Capek in a 1920 play titled Rassum’s Universal Robots (RUR)
• Robot in Czech is a word for worker or servant
• Definition of robot:

Any machine made by by one our members: 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 the performance of a variety of tasks: Robot Institute of America, 1979.

Types of Robots:

1.Manipulator

2.Legged Robot

3.Wheeled Robot

4.Autonomous Underwater Vehicle

5.Unmanned Aerial Vehicle

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).
• 1978: The Puma (Programmable Universal Machine for Assembly) robot is developed by Unimation with a General Motors design support
• 1980s: The robot industry enters a phase of rapid growth. Many institutions introduce programs and courses in robotics. Robotics courses are spread across mechanical engineering, electrical engineering, and computer science departments.
• 1995-present: 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

Knowledge base for Robotics

•Typical knowledge base for the design and operation of robotics systems

• Dynamic system modeling and analysis
• Feedback control
• Sensors and signal conditioning
• Actuators (muscles) and power electronics
• Hardware/computer interfacing
• Computer programming

Sensors

• Human senses: sight, sound, touch, taste, and smell provide us vital information to function and survive
• Robot sensors: measure robot configuration/condition and its environment and send such information to robot controller as electronic signals (e.g., arm position, presence of toxic gas)
• Robots often need information that is beyond 5 human senses (e.g., ability to: see in the dark, detect tiny amounts of invisible radiation, measure movement that is too small or fast for the human eye to see)

Force Sensors

Force Sensor: e.g., parts fitting and insertion, force feedback in robotic surgery

Parts fitting and insertion: Robots can do precise fitting and insertion of machine parts by using force sensor. A robot can insert parts that have the phases after matching their phases in addition to simply inserting them. It can automate high skill jobs.

Robots in Industry

• 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

Industrial Applications of Robots

• Material handling
• Material transfer
• Machine loading and/or unloading
• Spot welding
• Continuous arc welding
• Spray coating
• Assembly
• Inspection