Robots: What are they?
Robots. Defining the word sometimes confuses. A pioneer in industrial robotics Joseph Engelberger remarked, "I can’t define a robot, but I know one when I see one." Considering all the different robots out there, you can see that it’s nearly impossible to come up with a comprehensive definition. Everybody has a different idea of what constitutes a robot. To some robots view as friendly—as benevolent partners or helpmates like dictionaries define them. But to others robots view as a threat—machines with superior intelligence, that perhaps one day replacing humans. Like what some movies pictured them. Examples are “Terminator and iRobot.” But in short and simple meaning, I define them as “an imitation of life.” Why? Consider this.
Most robots are made up of five major components like human beings and animals.- A body structure
- A muscle system to move the body structure
- A sensory system that receives information about the body and the surrounding environment
- A power source to activate the muscles and sensors
- A brain system that processes sensory information and tells the muscles what to do.
But of course human beings have some intangible attributes, such as intelligence and morality. But on the sheer physical level, robots and human beings or animals are likely the same. Robots even replicated human and animal behaviors.
But to consider the name “Robots,” which comes from the Czech word robota, meaning “forced labor.” They sometimes live up that way as define above, a “benevolent partners or helpmates.” Imagine a worker who is always on the job, who never complains, and who can work tirelessly 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Well, industrial robots are doing just that as they a host of automotive, electrical, and household items. And now, they even come equipped with such things: voice-recognition software, gyroscopes, wireless data communication, Global Positioning Systems, and a range of sensors including those for heat, force, ultrasound, chemicals, and radiation. More powerful and versatile than ever, performing complicated tasks in helping human activities.
But what tasks does robot can perform? See my next posts.
