ROBOTICS AND AUTOMATION

Robotics and Automation

Your guide to the world of Robotics

Index

05

01

What is Robotics? And Robots?

Uses of Robots

06

02

Types of Robots

Examples of Robots

How do robots function?

03

History of Robotics

07

Advantages/Disadvantages of Robots

08

04

Main components of a robot

What is Robotics?

Robotics is the intersection of science, engineering and technology that produces machines, called robots, that replicate or substitute for human actions.

What is a robot?

A robot is a programmable machine that can complete a task. Each robot has a different level of autonomy: from human-controlled bots that carry out tasks to fully-autonomous bots that perform tasks without any external influences.

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Types of Robots

There are 5 distinct types of robots that perform tasks depending on their capabilities:

Pre-Programmed Robots

Autonomous Robots

Humanoid Robots

Augmenting Robots

Teleoperated Robots

How do robots function?

Dependent Robots

Independent Robots

> non-autonomous > they interact with humans to improve their already existing actions. > relatively new form of technology expanded into new applications > one form of dependent robots advanced prosthetics that are controlled by the human mind. > famous example: Johns Hopkins (2018) > MPL (= Modular Prosthetic Limb)

> completely autonomous > independent of human operator control > more intense programming > take the place of humans in dangerous or impossible tasks (bomb defusion, deep-sea travel, factory automation). > the most disturbing to society = they eliminate certain jobs but also present new possibilities for growth.

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Main Components of a Robot

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Control System > directs robot's task

Sensors > provides electrical signals to allow a robot to interact with the world.

Actuators > motor parts responsible for robot’s movement.

Power Supply > the battery that provides power to a robot

End Effectors > the exterior features of a robot that allow it to complete a task.

Uses of Robots

APPLICATIONS OF ROBOTICS

• Conservation: fighting forest fires.
• Manufacturing: working in factories or in warehouses.
• Companionship: providing company to elderly individuals.
• Healthcare: assisting in surgical procedures.
• Delivery: completing food delivery and last-mile fulfillment.
• Household: vacuuming and mowing the grass.
• Rescue: undertaking search-and-rescue missions after natural disasters.
• Military Operations: detecting landmines in war zones.

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Examples of Robots

• Conservation: fire fighting robots, robobee (miniature robots).
• Manufacturing: robotic arms (factories) order picking bots (warehouses)
• Companionship: humanoids (Sophia, Erica...)
• Healthcare: drugs compounding robots, surgery robots, exoskeletons.
• Delivery: drones, pizza delivery robot.
• Household: vacuum cleaner Roomba.
• Rescue: deep-sea submersibles/submarines, packbots.
• Military Operations: drones.

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History of Robotics

History of Robotics

There are many people who believe that robots are only a recent creation, but they've been around since 20th century and even in 400B.C.

400 B.C.

• Holy Roman Empire: first robot created by Aechytas of Ancient Greece.
• Steam-powered pigeon: compress steam inside itself to fly.
• It flew for 300 meters before running out of steam.

1495

• Leonardo Da Vinci: first human-like robot.

History of Robotics

1739

• Jacques de Vaucanson: Digesting Duck or the Pooping Duck.
• Mimic a duck as precisely as possible
• Greatest feat = eat a piece of corn, digest it, and poop it out.

(Real corn. Real poop. Fake duck.)

1920

• The word “robot” makes its first appearance in Karel Capek’s play R.U.R.
• (1926) The first movie robot appears in Metropolis.

History of Robotics

1930-1950

• (1936) Alan Turing: publishes “On Computable Numbers,” a paper that introduces the concept of a theoretical computer called the Turing Machine.

• (1948) Turing publishes a paper on "Intelligent Machinery" where he first introduced the Turing Test as a criterion of intelligence for machines.

• (1950) Turing developed the idea of a "universal machine" - a computer that could be programmed to do any task.

History of Robotics

1950

• Isaac Asimov: the Three Laws of Robotics:

1. a robot may not injure a human being or, through inaction, allow a human being to come to harm; 2. a robot must obey the orders given it by human beings except where such orders would conflict with the First Law;3. a robot must protect its own existence as long as such protection does not conflict with the First or Second Law.

History of Robotics

2000 OnwardsConstantly developing many robots:

• (2013) Boston Dynamics releases Atlas, a humanoid biped robot that uses 28 hydraulic joints to mimic human movements — including performing a backflip.

• (2016) Sophia, a humanoid robot dubbed the first robot citizen, is created by Hanson Robotics. The robot is capable of facial recognition, verbal communication and facial expression.

• (2020) Robots to distribute COVID-19 tests and vaccinations.

Advantages and Disadvantages of Robots

Efficiency, Productivity, Cost Effectiveness and Quality

• no lunchbreaks, holidays, sick leave or shift time;
• work on a repetitive cycle = elimination of RSI (repetitive strain injury) risk;
• increase in production at a lower cost + investment costs recovered in a relatively short time;
• minimise material waste + remove the need for humans to put themselves at unnecessary risk. (e.g.: high level of chemicals, high or low temperatures)

• accurate production and check of items > higher standard products/tasks;

• create a better environment (factories) > staff members have the opportunity to expand on their skills and work in other areas.

Advantages and Disadvantages of Robots

Privacy and Security Issues, Cost, Job Competition/Loss

• range of potential security and privacy threats (performing surveillance, carrying out social engineering schemes, even committing physical attacks);
• high cost to buy and maintain them (not only money but also tech-based roles to maintain their technology)

• current employees get left behind > automation capabilities of robots vs human ones + lack of human tech talent = many workers are likely to be replaced by AI and robotics technologies (it’s expected that machines will disrupt 85 million jobs by 2025);

AI pioneer quits Google to warn about the technology’s ‘dangers’

Thank you!