Robot Technology: Invention
and Advances
Robot is a mechanical device capable of
moving independently such as walking, rolling on wheels and similar actions
performed by a living creature. Robot is built to resemble a human being or
animal in appearance and behavior, thus, Robots may be constructed to take on
human form but most robots are machines designed to perform a task regardless
on how they appear. Generally, a robot is a computer-programmed machine
developed to carry out a complex series of actions automatically. An external
control device can guide robot or the control may be embedded within the body
of the robot.
Today, there are different classifications
of Robots. Robots can be autonomous or semi-autonomous; they can be humanoids
or non-humanoids. The most popular is a humanoid robot. A humanoid robot is a
robot with its body shape built to resemble the human body. The design may be
for functional purposes, such as interacting with human tools and environments,
for experimental purposes, such as the study of locomotion, or for other
purposes. A typical example of humanoid robot is Advanced Step in Innovative
Mobility (ASIMO) developed by Honda in the year, 2000. Another example is "TOSY
Ping Pong Playing Robot" called TOPIO, which was designed to play table
tennis against a human being. It was developed by TOSY, a robotics firm in
Vietnam in 2005. It was publicly demonstrated at the Tokyo International Robot
Exhibition (IREX) on November 28, 2007. Other classifications are the industrial
robots, medical operating robots, patient assist robots, dog therapy robots,
collectively programmed swarm robots, UAV drones such as General Atomics MQ-1
Predator, and even microscopic nano
robots. By mimicking a lifelike appearance or automating movements, a robot may
convey a sense of intelligence or thought of its own. Autonomous things are
expected to proliferate in the coming decades with home robotics and the
autonomous car as some may be driven by robots drivers (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robot )
Ostensibly, robot technology deals with the
design, construction, operation, and application of robots to undertake
functions ordinarily performs by human being. Additionally, the technology
covers computer systems for robots control, sensory feedback, and information
processing as robots perform their assigned tasks. Thus, robot technology may
also deal with automated machines that can take the place of humans in
dangerous environments or manufacturing processes, or resemble humans in
appearance, behavior, or cognition. In the last two decades, Robots have
replaced humans in performing repetitive and dangerous tasks, which humans
prefer not to do, or are unable to do because of size limitations, or which
take place in extreme hostile environments to human beings such as outer space
or the bottom of the sea.
Efforts in developing robot technology are
largely focused on the production of commercial and industrial robots.
Obviously the industrial sector has relatively high demands of robotic services
as it grows proportionally with the population growth. Thus, the commercial and
industrial robots are now in widespread use to perform jobs more cheaply or
with greater accuracy, reliability and efficiency than humans. They are also
employed for jobs, which are too dirty, dangerous or dull to be suitable for
humans. Robots are widely used in manufacturing, assembly and packing,
transport, earth and space exploration, surgery, weaponry, laboratory research,
and mass production of consumer and industrial goods. Now, who invented robot
technology?
According to Wikipedia, the term 'robot' originates
as one
of the Czech words “robota” in the Slavic language, which means forced laborer,
a word used to refer to those peasants compelled to render compulsory service
under the feudal system. The feudal robota class depicts the imagination of a
new class of manufactured, artificial workers who toil daily for a peanut.
George Devol, an American was the first
inventor of industrial robot. Devol was born in the year, 1912 at Louisville,
Kentucky, USA to the family of George Charles Devol, Jr. During his basic
education at Riordan Prep, he gained experience through operation of the
school’s electric light plant but didn’t go to an engineering school after the
college and ended up establishing a private company. Devol died on August 11,
2011, at the age of 99 years, he was reputed to be a highly prolific inventor
and entrepreneur. His immense contribution led to the development of the first
industrial robot, called Unimate, a precursor of the machines that now automate
assembly lines all over the world. However, the industrial robot was only one
of his numerous contributions as he was reported to acquire over 40 patents during
his lifetime. Devol was one of the few personalities who spent their entire lifespan
transforming ideas from mere conception to actual reality. Some of his
inventions were radar systems, counter-radar devices and microwave test
equipment, microwave oven product, the popular Speedy Weeny, which
automatically cooked and dispensed hotdogs. There were several others.
On perfecting robot technology, Devol found
an inspiring partner by the name of Joseph Engelberger, an executive with
engineering degrees from Columbia University. Engelberger had a deep-hearted passion
for science fiction similar to Devol. They worked as a team to perfect their
device from “programmed article transfer” to “manipulator” to “robot.” Devol
and Engelberger worked hard to produce the first Unimate, a product of their
new Unimation Corp., Their product was hydraulically powered with digital
control, a magnetic drum memory, and discrete solid-state control components.
In 1961 the first Unimate was installed at a GM plant in Trenton, New Jersey,
to assist a hot die-casting machine. Over the next few years, some
modifications were carried out to perfect the product, their company, Unimation
Corp was able to develop robots for welding and other applications in
manufacturing industries across America. Devol and Engelberger obtained a Patent
Number 2,988,237 for their Unimate issued in 1961. This sow the seed that
spawned the robot industry across the globe (https://spectrum.ieee.org/automaton/robotics). Thus, Devol's patent for the first
digitally operated programmable robotic arm in the 1960s represented the
foundation of the modern robotics industry.
In the last five decades, from Unimation to
the present – day robot, the technology has undergone series of improvements as
a result of interest generated among the scientists. Consequently, various
techniques have emerged in developing the science of robotics and robots. One
method is evolutionary robotics, in which a number of differing robots are
submitted to tests. Robot with best performance is used as a model to create a
subsequent "generation" of robots. Another method is developmental
robotics, which tracks changes and development within a single robot in the
areas of problem-solving and other functions. Another new type of robot is just
recently introduced, which acts both as smartphone and robot, this variety of robots
are named “RoboHon”.
As robots become more advanced, higher
institutions of learning were not left out as they immensely contribute their
efforts in advancing the robot technology. In this regard, a computer-aided operating
system was designed mainly for the development of robots. Among these advances
is Robot Operating System (ROS), an open-source set of programs, which were
partly developed at Stanford University, the Massachusetts Institute of
Technology and the Technical University of Munich, Germany, among others. ROS
provides ways to program a robot's navigation and limbs regardless of the
specific hardware involved. It also provides high-level commands for items like
image recognition and even opening doors. When ROS boots up on a robot's
computer, it would obtain data on attributes such as the length and movement of
robots' limbs. It would relay this data to higher-level algorithms. Microsoft
is also developing a "Windows for robots" system with its Robotics
Developer Studio, which has been available since 2007.
No doubt, as technology is generally and
exponentially advancing, driven by ICT to reach zenith level, robot technology
is similarly advancing. Some of the
emerging trends in robotic science are providing insight to the direction in
which robotics development is heading in a near future. The annual Consumer
Electronics Show (CES) expo in Las Vegas in early this year (January 2018) showcased
robotics breakthroughs, which raised the public expectations on the type of
robots likely to be in the market, pretty soon. Among the robots displayed were
Domestic cleaning robots, Companion robots, Self-driving cars and
Artificial-Intelligence-powered health and wellbeing technology. What are these
advances in robot technology? Can robot replace human being in companionship?
(To be continued next week)
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