Robotics is one of the branch of engineering which contains the conception, design, manufacture, and operation of robots. It connects with electronics, computer science, artificial intelligence, mechatronics, nanotechnology and bio engineering. Robotics are becoming increasingly predominant almost in every industry, from healthcare and manufacturing to defense and education.

A robot is a device which helps human to complete tasks. Robots are like tools. It is basically employed by the human hand through the coding it was programmed to follow. Robots can be used to supplement or replace human activity. It’s an incredibly diverse field that produces all sorts of machines with numerous practical applications.

Features of Robotics

ØRobots are constructed mechanically. It is designed with with different shape designed to complete a particular task.

Ø They can control and power the machinery by the help of electrical components.

Ø Robots can determine what, when and how to do something by the help of computer program.

Categories of Robotics

There are the three general categories of robotics:

Computation

Robots have a central processing unit called a controller which determines the actions they take in a given situation. These controllers can be programmed to finish tasks as simple as turning a screw or as complex as matching human social elegance and expressions.

Movement

Robots require specific mechanical parts to allow them to move freely without direct physical intervention from their human operators. Parts like wheels allow them to travel and motors which propel them. Other components like grippers allow them to interface with the world around them in a direct and targeted way.

Sensors

Robots can recognize their surroundings by the help of sensors. Sensors help robots to determine things like the size and shape of an object or detect heat, cold and other properties. These features of robots help the processors to collect data about the surrounding environment, then move accordingly.

Independent robots

Independent robots can follow their programming automatically without any direct physical intervention from a human operator. There are various practical applications of independent robots in society. They can execute any specific task without help of humans entirely. For example, we can say about the automation in factories. Robots can automatically accomplish tasks in factories without help of human.

Dependent robots

Dependent robots are non-autonomous robots which can interface with humans in ways that enhance their already existing actions. This can commonly be found in medicine and the field of prosthetic where robots are programmed to act in tandem with the human body itself.

Next Chapter: CHAPTER-2: What is artificial intelligence?