Technology has now driven us in numerous ways. Science has evolved, studied and well perceived in all spheres of life. The general term that implies everywhere in technology, mechanization and applied science is “Artificial Intelligence”.

Artificial intelligence implies the use of a computer to model and/or replicate intelligent behaviour. The development and analysis of algorithms that learn and/or perform intelligent behaviour with minimal human intervention are what artificial intelligence mainly focuses on. Robotics is one of the many genres that manoeuvres a broad range of artificial intelligence and applied science. 

What are Robotics and Robots?

The intersection of science, engineering, and technology produces machines, called robots which act as a substitute for or replicate human actions. Robotics is the interdisciplinary research that designs intuitive machines that can help and assist humans in their day-to-day lives. And, keeps everyone safe and involves the design, construction, operation, and use of robots. As technology progresses, more and more robots are designed with different mechanical construction, frame, form, or shape to achieve a particular task. Robotics uses robots that contain electrical components that power and control the machinery and may also involve some level of computer programming code to decide how or when a robot should do something. A robot could have excellent mechanical and electrical construction, but if its program is poorly constructed its performance will be very poor or may not perform at all. Hence, a program is the essence of a robot.

Robotics, with the virtue of robots, interact with their surrounding environment on their own without a control source. They can determine reactions to objects and problems they encounter using their pre-existing programming but all with the use of artificial intelligence. However, some robots use remote control programming and perform a particular task only when the pre-existing commands receive a signal from a control source.

To sum it, robotics is pretty much advancing in the field of technology and robots are designed to perform in diverse environments and aspects with distinct applications. 

Types of Robots –

Robots come in all shapes and sizes to carry out the task efficiently and accurately for which they are specifically designed. Based on shape, size, AI, or the task assigned, robots are of various types. Let us know about the different types of robots that exist in today’s tech-savvy world.

• Pre-Programmed Robots

Pre-programmed robots perform simple monotonous tasks and usually operate in a controlled environment. A mechanical arm on an automotive assembly line would be an amazing example of a pre-programmed robot. Here, in a mechanical arm, the arm can serve any one of the functions — to weld a door on or to insert a certain part into the engine, etc. The job of these kinds of robots will be to perform that task longer, faster and more efficiently than a human.

• Humanoid Robots

 Robots that look alike humans and/or mimic human behaviour are known as Humanoid robots. These robots are designed and programmed in a way to perform human-like activities such as running, jumping and carrying objects. They may or may not be designed to look like humans, having proper human faces and expressions but lack human emotions. Hanson Robotics’ Sophia and Boston Dynamics’ Atlas are two of the most well-known examples of humanoid robots. 

• Autonomous Robots

Independent of the human operators, these robots operate autonomously, hence known as Autonomous robots. To carry out tasks in open environments that do not require human supervision are the main goals of autonomous robots and are designed accordingly. The Roomba vacuum cleaner, which uses sensors to roam throughout a home freely would be an excellent example of an autonomous robot.

• Teleoperated Robots

 Mechanical robots which are controlled by humans are called as Teleoperated robots. They are designed to work in extreme geographical conditions, weather, or circumstances. The human-controlled submarines used to fix underwater pipe leaks during the BP oil spill or drones used to detect landmines on a battlefield is a great example of teleoperated robots. 

• Augmenting Robots

Augmenting robots are designed and programmed to either enhance the current human capabilities or replace the capabilities a human may have lost. The robotic prosthetic limbs or exoskeletons which are used to lift hefty weights are some well-known examples of augmenting robots.

Robotics in the 21st century

Technology is evolving and developing at a bewildering rate nowadays. The field of robotics is advancing at a similar rate as the innovations daily. For instance, the self-steering vacuum cleaners like the Roomba and the rudimentary self-driving cars are predicted to become mainstream shortly. Technology and robotics seem to play an important role in various fields today, one of them happens to be in the field of healthcare. Healthcare has evolved, developed, and nurtured in countless ways. The use of technology and robotics have been magnificent support in the field of healthcare. To state an example, the Da Vinci Surgical System is a remarkable example of technology that enhances a surgeon’s abilities. With the rise in machines, experts predict substantial growth in the healthcare area over the next five years. Healthcare will supposedly be the most likely to benefit from the evolution of technology, robotics, and artificial intelligence.

Currently, Robotics is used in various applications such as – helping in fighting forest fires, surgical assistants, landmine detectors, for food order deliveries, for search and rescue missions after any natural disaster, household tasks like vacuuming and mowing the grass and many more. 

Thus, it is quite clear that robotics has always been a helping hand to us humans and will continue to help us at work or nurse us back to health, making our lives a little bit easier in the near future.

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