Robotics has undergone a major transformation in the last decade and is accepted by industry and a variety of public institutions to improve factory efficiency and augment human performance, and a variety of public institutions. Advanced research in the new generation of robots focuses on flexible engineering design and intelligent software, combined with the revolutionary changes in micro and nano technologies in computer-assisted surgery. Robotics is the engineering science and technology of robots, and their design, manufacture, application, and structural disposition. Robotics is related to electronics, mechanics, and software. Movable statues were the beginnings of what we would call robots. Today robot means any man-made machine that can perform work or other actions normally performed by humans. (http://ftp.wtec.loyola.edu/robotics/welcome.htm)
In the early 1800’s mechanical puppets were first built in Europe, just for entertainment value. And these were called robots since their parts were driven by linkage and cams and controlled by rotating drum selectors. In 1801 Joseph Maria Jacquard made the next great change and invented the automatic draw loom. The draw loom would punch cards and was used to control the lifting of thread in fabric factories. This was the first to be able to store a program and control a machine. After that there were many small changes in robotics but we were slowly moving forward. In 1950 Isaac Asimov came up with laws for robots and these were: firstly a robot may not injure a human being, or through inaction allow a human being to come to harm. Secondly the robot must obey the orders given it by human beings, except where such orders would conflict with the first law. Thirdly a robot must protect its own existence as long as such protection does not conflict with the first or second law. The mobile Robotics moved into its own in 1983 when Odetics introduced this six-legged vehicle which was capable of climbing over objects. This robot could lift over 5.6 times its own weight parked and 2.3 times its weight moving. (http://www.bsu.edu/web/mawilliams/history.html )
There are 3 main components to make robots. A computer program acts as the brain of the robot. Other components are actuators and mechanical parts with motors, pistons, grippers, wheels, gears and all of them are should have a program. Yet more components are called sensors - vision, sound, temperature, motion, light, touch, and with these three components, robots can interact and affect their environment to become useful. The impact of robotics on society is mainly in manufacturing. Robots are also used in cases where they can do a better job than a human such as surgery where high precision is a benefit. And robots are used in exploration in dangerous places such as in volcanoes which allows us to learn without endangering ourselves. (http://www.arrickrobotics.com/report.html)
There are advantages and disadvantages for the robotics, as with any machine. The advantage is that the robots can do things we humans just don't want to do, and usually do it cheaper. Also, robots can do unsafe jobs like monitor a nuclear power plant or explore a volcano. Robots can do things more precisely than humans and allow progress in medical science and other useful advances. The disadvantage is that the robots are especially good at boring, repetitive tasks such as making circuit boards or dispensing glue on parts. Robots can break and even cause disaster. They are powerful machines that we allow to control certain things. When something goes wrong, terrible things can happen. Luckily, this is rare because robotic systems are designed with many safety features that limit the harm they can do. (http://www.arrickrobotics.com/report.html)
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