Robotics From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Jump to: navigation, search The Shadow robot hand system Robotics is the branch of technology that deals with the design, construction, operation, and application of robots,[1] as well as computer systems for their control, sensory feedback, and information processing. These technologies deal with automated machines that can take the place of humans in dangerous environments or manufacturing processes, or resemble humans in appearance, behavior, and/or cognition. Many of todays robots are inspired by nature contributing to the field of bio-inspired robotics. The concept of creating machines that can operate autonomously dates back to classical times, but research into the functionality and potential uses of robots did not grow substantially until the 20th century.[2] Throughout history, robotics has been often seen to mimic human behavior, and often manage tasks in a similar fashion. Today, robotics is a rapidly growing field, as technological advances continue, research, design, and building new robots serve various practical purposes, whether domestically, commercially, or militarily. Many robots do jobs that are hazardous to people such as defusing bombs, mines and exploring shipwrecks. Contents 1 Etymology 2 History of robotics 3 Components 3.1 Power source 3.2 Actuation 3.3 Sensing 3.4 Manipulation 3.5 Locomotion 3.6 Environmental interaction and navigation 3.7 Human-robot interaction 4 Control 4.1 Autonomy levels 5 Robotics research 5.1 Dynamics and kinematics 6 Education and training 6.1 Career training 6.2 Certification 6.3 Summer robotics camp 6.4 Robotics afterschool programs 7 Employment 8 See also 9 References 10 Bibliography 11 Further reading 12 External links Etymology The word robotics was derived from the word robot, which was introduced to the public by Czech writer Karel Čapek in his play R.U.R. (Rossums Universal Robots), which was published in 1920.[3] The word robot comes from the Slavic word robota, which means labour. The play begins in a factory that makes artificial people called robots, creatures who can be mistaken for humans – similar to the modern ideas of androids. Karel Čapek himself did not coin the word. He wrote a short letter in reference to an etymology in the Oxford English Dictionary in which he named his brother Josef Čapek as its actual originator.[3] According to the Oxford English Dictionary, the word robotics was first used in print by Isaac Asimov, in his science fiction short story Liar!, published in May 1941 in Astounding Science Fiction. Asimov was unaware that he was coining the term; since the science and technology of electrical devices is electronics, he assumed robotics already referred to the science and technology of robots. In some of Asimovs other works, he states that the first use of the word robotics was in his short story Runaround (Astounding Science Fiction, March 1942).[4][5] However, the original publication of Liar! predates that of Runaround by five months, so the former is generally cited as the words origin. History of robotics In 1927 the Maschinenmensch (machine-human) gynoid humanoid robot (also called Parody, Futura, Robotrix, or the Maria impersonator) was the first depiction of a robot ever to appear on film was played by German actress Brigitte Helm in Fritz Langs film Metropolis. In 1942 the science fiction writer Isaac Asimov formulated his Three Laws of Robotics. In 1948 Norbert Wiener formulated the principles of cybernetics, the basis of practical robotics. Fully autonomous robots only appeared in the second half of the 20th century. The first digitally operated and programmable robot, the Unimate, was installed in 1961 to lift hot pieces of metal from a die casting machine and stack them. Commercial and industrial robots are widespread today and used to perform jobs more cheaply, or more accurately and reliably, than humans. They are also employed in jobs which are too dirty, dangerous, or dull to be suitable for humans. Robots are widely used in manufacturing, assembly, packing and packaging, transport, earth and space exploration, surgery, weaponry, laboratory research, safety, and the mass production of consumer and industrial goods.[6] Date Significance Robot Name Inventor Third century BC and earlier One of the earliest descriptions of automata appears in the Lie Zi text, on a much earlier encounter between King Mu of Zhou (1023–957 BC) and a mechanical engineer known as Yan Shi, an artificer. The latter allegedly presented the king with a life-size, human-shaped figure of his mechanical handiwork.[7] Yan Shi First century AD and earlier Descriptions of more than 100 machines and automata, including a fire engine
Posted on: Tue, 15 Oct 2013 10:10:20 +0000
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