• A2:
• Robotics
• Actuators
• Control Architectures
• Displays
• H-Bridge
• Neural Networks
• Motors Conventional
• Motors Stepper
• Servos
• Power Sources
• Sensors
•  

A2

Overview

Robots interact with the world and come in many shapes and sizes.

Robots perform tasks originally carried out by humans.

Robots are most useful when, for humans, the task is

• too boring (factory assembly work)
• too dangerous (bomb disposal or industrial spray painting)
• too strenuous (assembling trucks) or
• too intricate (microsurgery).

Some Real World Examples

For each of the examples below, consider what the inputs, processes and outputs are.

• What sensors are needed for the input devices?
• How is the information processed?
• What are the output devices?
• How is the robot position controlled?

Here is a general purpose fixed robot. This would be used for assembly work, welding or perhaps painting. The gripping "hand" can be replaced with different tools and the robot can be re-programmed to carry out different tasks.

This driverless car was able to navigate over complex terrain including mountain roads.

Here is a medical robot used to perform keyhole surgery.

Asimo is quite well known.

Dangerous Work - The robot is working with molten metal.

Bomb Disposal

Robotic Snakes - Surveying drains perhaps?

More Robotic Problems

• cleaning swimming pools
• mowing lawns
• vacuum cleaning houses - roomba official site - Yawn    roomba kittens - ROFL
• performing brain surgery
• de-fusing bombs
• handling molten metal
• welding
• painting
• children's toys
• chemical and genetic analysis
• offensive weapons like cruise missiles and
• defensive weapons like aircraft drones used for surveillance.

Robots v.s. Machines

• Robots can be re-programmed to perform different tasks.
• Machines can only perform the task they were originally designed for.
• The most advanced robots can learn from experience. Machines can not.

Robots have ...

Inputs

• Sensors are needed to
  • see
  • hear
  • feel
  • smell or even
  • taste the environment.
  • position sensing - robots may need to know where they are to function correctly.
• Humans have five main senses.
• Robots can be equipped with many more so they can perform tasks a human would find difficult. For example
  • infra-red vision to allow operation in zero light or thick smoke.
  • ultrasound proximity sensing.

Processes

• Computing power is used to
  • process inputs,
  • make decisions and
  • send output signals to control actions.
• This can be based on simple
  • logic circuits,
  • microcontrollers,
  • neural networks or
  • more complex conventional computers.

Outputs

• Robots can perform many tasks originally carried out by people. They can
  • move
  • lift
  • cut
  • join
  • weld
  • paint
  • speak
  • navigate and
  • sing and this list is far from complete.

A wide range of output devices is needed to cover this list.

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