home

= Types of Robots =

Non adaptive robots
 * A non-adaptive robot would be a machine used to move steel into a blast furnace that would continue to follow its program regardless of the environment. It would collect the steel, move it to the mouth of the furnace and drop it in. Unless a human operator shut it down, the non-adaptive robot would continue its task repetitively, even if the furnace stopped burning or blew up.**
 * Non-adaptive robots do a variety of tasks in areas such as industry, where a robot may be able to both weld and spray, and may also be reprogrammable, that is, able to accept new instructions that alter their purpose. This is only possible if the robot is equipped to carry out the alternative task.**
 * Non-adaptive robots are also called //open-loop systems,// as they receive no feedback from the environment. An industrial welding machine will follow a set of instructions to weld metal components fed into the system by an assembly line. Should the supply of materials to be welded run out, the machine will continue to weld as it has no knowledge of the results of its actions.**

Adaptive robots In the case of the industrial welding machine, if it were an adaptive robot, it would detect that no welding materials remained and change its behaviour accordingly, that is, stop welding operations.
 * Adaptive robots have the greatest potential. They take the output from their systems and use it as feedback to control the behaviour of their systems and so are called //closed-loop systems.// The machine is programmed to make decisions based on feedback from its environment. For example, an adaptive robot in a blast furnace might have heat sensors and touch sensors that would provide input on which to base decisions. If the heat dropped below a set level or the door of the blast furnace was closed, the robot could decide not to continue feeding steel into the furnace. Making such decisions provides the robot with the basics for reasoning and intelligent reaction.**
 * Input in a closed loop system can produce a variety of outputs, depending on the additional input from the feedback. The robot would need to store a knowledge base of all the available outputs.**
 * Sensors in the robot input data that ‘teaches’ the robot about its environment. A touch sensor may ‘teach’ the robot that there is an obstacle in its path. This feedback from the sensor checks the knowledge base and alters the processing carried out by the robot so that its behaviour changes to avoid the obstacle.**


 * Source: Wilson C (2006) "Exploring IST" Sydney: Cambridge Press)**

=Uses for Robots=

gripper: device used to grasp and hold items industrial robots: weld, drill, assemble and paint manufactured items. remote controlled car: automated controlled toy switch: mechanical device used to connect/disconnect the power supply. 3. The use of robotic device in the industry can be both beneficial and detrimental to the society. Robots prove to be faster, smarter and more efficient workers, not to mention the fact that they do not require and income, and are less susceptible to falling sick or being injured - something that employers need to compensate for. The have limitless physical capabilities and they can endure what the average human would consider, dangerous, boring or simply to difficult to master. These characteristics and qualities make robots the ideal employee, and ultimately support the theory of use the robotics in the industry. Although robotics seems to be the way of the future industry, they still pose a problem to society and the industry. The costs of manufacturing enough robots for society to function is unrealistic, not to mention the costs of maintenance or repair and spare parts. Robots' knowledge needs to be updated as advances in society are made, whereas humans are always up to speed. Robots can never replace the instinct and intuition of a human being, which in some cases proves to be useful or crucial in a life or death situation. Robots also would ;eave many human workers out of a job and many jobs would be cut resulting in a loss of income for families who may find it difficult to earn a living. Robots would many positions originally held by humans, and this may create animosity and protest against the use of robotics in the industry. Therefore, I conclude that in order for society to function as it should and be ethically and morally cohesive, is for robotics to be used in places where humans simply cannot prevail, and the positions that humans are capable of handling, should be filled by them. media type="custom" key="6633827"
 * Read through Page 248 of your text.
 * Record definitions for the following terms:
 * Industrial Robots: An industrial robot is officially defined by ISO as an automatically controlled, reprogrammable, multipurpose manipulator programmable in three or more axes.
 * End effector: Any attachment on the end of a robot that interacts with the environment, such as a device to lift parts.
 * Gripper: Grippers, sometimes called hand grippers, are primarily used for testing and increasing the strength of the hands; this specific form of grip strength has been called crushing grip.
 * Domestic Robots: A domestic robot is a robot used for household chores.
 * Complete Exercise 8.2 - 1, 2 and 3.
 * Exercise 8.2:
 * 1) a) false b) false c) false d) true e) true
 * 2) end effector: robotic arm device used to do useful work.
 * Go to []
 * Argue whether the robot on the video is non-adaptive, adaptive, industrial or domestic.
 * This robot is a non adaptive industrial robot for the following reasons. Firstly, this robot is programmed to complete a task that is repeated as long as the machine is turned on and working. The rack form which the robot collects the sand is molded into one shape that does not change, so that the robot's arm can hold the sand without it falling, therefore meaning that this robot cannot adapt to picking up sand from another bench. Secondly, this robot is used to pick a heavy weight that in other situation, may be too heavy for a human to carry, proving its suitability and position as an industrial robot.
 * Work out what the specifications on the machine mean.
 * **Axes:** 4 -
 * **Payload:** 100 kg - how much a robot can carry
 * **H-Reach:** 3139 mm - the highest possibly height the robot can reach up to.
 * **Repeatability:** ±0.5 mm - how many times the robot repeats a certain task.
 * **Robot Mass:** 1500 kg - the mass of the robot.
 * **Structure:** Vertical Articulated -
 * **Mounting:** upright - the posture of the robot, or its orientation.
 * Construct a [|bubbl.us] on examples of Industrial robots and domestic robots and embed in your wiki.

Subterranean robots

All answers should be given in full sentences. Subterranean robots are designed to investigate and map the areas below the surface of the earth, such as abandoned coal mines or cave systems that are too difficult and/or dangerous for humans to explore. These robots are mobile, flexible and equipped with cameras and other sensors that can detect variables such as gases, chemicals, distances and different rock strata. They are able to output data that enables the production of good quality maps and models of the territory they investigate. Many of these robots have 360 degree scanning systems for avoiding obstacles, planning their movement and mapping terrain. The variety of sensors featured on these robots enable them to handle different types of earth structures and conditions. Laser sensors are valuable in collecting data for range, contours and mapping; radar enables the robot to operate in conditions that are filled with dust or heavy fog; sonar works well when areas are filled with water. A human operator using a visual image of the area in which the robot is working, fed from the robot’s camera, can guide it. If the operator wants to make changes to the robot’s course that could not be anticipated because there was no previous knowledge of the area, these can be made by remote and avoid having to make the robot return to the base site.

Questions 1 What does subterranean mean? Below the terrain, below the Earth's surface. 2 Why would these robots carry small cameras and storage hardware? So that they can navigate without destroying themselves and also so that they can store any data or information that they were sent to collect. 3 What is a sensor? A sensor is something that picks up a particular thing that it was made to detect. 4 Name some of the different sensors these robots carry. Light, heat, pressure, magnetic. 5 Why is it necessary for subterranean robots to have more than one type of sensor? The more sensors they have, the more information they can collect about their surroundings. 6 How can you tell that these robots are adaptive? Robots are adaptive if they have sensors which allow them to analyze the input of data through the sensors, and chose or decide what reaction to have according to its programming. 7 When would feedback from the environment be valuable to such robots? When they are trying to collect information about their surroundings. 8 How could subterranean robots assist with gathering data for a mine rescue after a cave-in? They can detect where humans could be, they can find the source of the cave in, and they can lift heavy objects. 9 What would be the advantages of using a robot rather than a human in these situations? These robots detect when another cave in may happen, or fit through the smallest of spaces, they are immune to any poisonous liquids or gases that may have been released, but ultimately, they are dispensable. 10 How does these robots' ability to transmit data back to a base computer and the operator in real time improve this system? The operator can use the live feedback to make decisions, to re program them to do other tasks if the need be, or to input their expertise into the robot as it collects data to make the mission most effective.