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MAKING ROBOTS - Coggle Diagram
MAKING ROBOTS
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Amazing Automatons
Čapek may have invented the word robot, but mechanical devices resembling animals and people had already existed for centuries when he wrote his play.
Sometime around 1495, the Italian artist and inventor Leonardo da Vinci drew plans for a humanoid mechanical knight in armor. Leonardo designed his knight to sit, stand, cross its arms, and lift its visor. However, he never built a working model
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Making Sense
Sensors are the devices that allow robots to feel and relate to the environment around them. They have helped make robots more like humans.
The first sensor
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To adjust the heat in his classroom, Johnson had to call a janitor, who checked the temperature with a thermometer and then stoked up the furnace by hand. He decided there had to be an easier way to keep his classroom warm. To solve this problem, he invented the first thermostat.
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Working Robots
The early robots were created for entertaining purposes, but inventors like George Devol and Joseph Engelberger recognized their potential for useful tasks.
In the 1950s, they designed the Unimate, a programmable robotic arm capable of performing repetitive and hazardous tasks in factories.
General Motors first employed the Unimate in 1961 for automobile assembly, and its success led to the use of similar robots across various industries in the subsequent decades.
Out of Ths World
The first satellites sent into space were not highly autonomous, but by the late 1960s, American scientists developed automated spacecraft capable of operating independently.
The Hospital Robot
Joseph Engelberger, a robotics pioneer, developed HelpMate, the initial fully mobile working robot, years after his involvement in founding Unimation.
Launched in the 1980s, HelpMate featured a plastic-encased mechanical body with bottom-mounted motors for mobility
Equipped with sensors, it navigated programmed routes within hospitals, ensuring safe operation by avoiding collisions with people or objects
A Busy Worker
HelpMate robots navigated hospital corridors transporting meals, medical records, and blood samples. They could call elevators via radio and were controlled by operators inputting commands on a keypad.
With new routes programmed into their memory, these robots were deployed extensively, operating continuously in over 100 hospitals.
Robots in The Home
In recent times, robots have been increasingly aiding in household chores, with iRobot's Roomba leading the trend since its launch in 2002.
hese robots, including various models from iRobot and other companies, perform tasks such as vacuuming, mopping, ironing, and debris removal.
They also extend to kitchen duties like floor cleaning and dishwashing, while outdoor robots tackle tasks such as gutter cleaning, lawn mowing, and window washing.
CHAPTER TWO
A ROBOTIC REVOLUTION
Robotic devices are increasingly assuming tasks across various domains, from homes to workplaces, military, and medicine, previously carried out by humans.
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These robots, designed for human interaction beyond traditional roles, foreshadow a potential future where they serve not just as assistants but as companions and friends.
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ROBOTS IN THE WORK PLACE
While robots have traditionally been limited to repetitive tasks in factories, advancements in technology have led to the development of more versatile robots for various workplace settings. .
Newer robots can perform complex jobs thanks to programmability, multi-arm systems, and innovative control methods such as wireless control sticks
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Humans VS Robots
As robots increasingly replace human labor, concerns arise regarding job displacement in various industries. .
A report suggests that nearly half of all jobs in the United States could be automated within the next two decades.
Major cities with diverse industries and skilled workforces are expected to weather the automation wave better than regions with limited technology.
However, areas heavily reliant on manual labor may face significant challenges as automation advances, both within the U.S. and globally
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Robots to the Rescue
Robots play a crucial role in disaster response scenarios, aiding in search and rescue operations, medical assistance delivery, and building assessments.
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Specialized robots like OSCAR investigate unstable buildings, helping architects and builders make informed decisions about their structural integrity.
Their versatility and ability to operate in hazardous environments make them invaluable assets in saving lives and mitigating disaster impacts.
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Medical Mericles
Robots are increasingly utilized in operating rooms, such as Cyberknife, which detects and targets tumors with radiation.
They're also employed in medical training; a Japanese robot simulates human flu symptoms and requires timely treatment from doctors in training, demonstrating realistic patient responses
Arms and Ants
Robotic prostheses have been used for a number of years to help people who have lost their hands, arms, or legs.
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Biologists are using tiny robots in mazes to study animal behavior, specifically how ants communicate and navigate around obstacles
Robots In Space
Robots play a crucial role in space missions, with remotely operated vehicles (ROVs) exploring distant planets by navigating diverse terrains, taking photographs, and collecting samples.
Robotic arms assist astronauts by fetching tools, performing dangerous tasks, and anchoring them during extravehicular activities.
The Robonaut, a humanoid robot with dexterous hands and arms, is being developed to handle complex tasks in space and is equipped with a thermal suit to endure extreme temperatures.
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Working Together
Robots, once considered too disruptive for human factory environments, are now being integrated into them
The Japanese-developed robot Hiro, equipped with sensors to avoid collisions, works alongside humans to boost productivity
By 2018, it is expected that 60 percent of product assembly factories will utilize Hiro-type robots.
Keeping The Peace
Robots, with limited artificial intelligence and lack of strong emotions, could be ideal for maintaining peace and resolving conflicts without violence
While soldier robots might be more lethal and efficient than humans, they could also act as peacekeepers, deterring invasions and altering warfare dynamics
Chapter Three
On the Job
Experts predict the robotics market will reach $1.35 billion by 2019, with significant growth in healthcare and manufacturing robots.
This expanding industry will need more engineers, developers, researchers, and technicians, offering numerous job opportunities for those interested in shaping future technology.
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Software Developers
Without software, robots are inert objects of plastic and metal
Software directs how robots react to different situations or allows human operators to control them.
Developers design and test these programs, determining necessary features and making adjustments
For example, software for an automated vacuum cleaner tells it to avoid obstacles based on sensor readings, with developers adjusting how it navigates and moves.
Programmers
Programmers collaborate with software developers and write the code that robots and computers can understand, based on developers' designs
They continually improve their code, fixing bugs and enhancing functionality
Even after a robot is sold, programmers update its software with new features and solutions to newly discovered issues.
Robot Artists
Artificial intelligence (AI) has shown potential for creativity, especially when combined with human input
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The machine responds to these voices, transforming them into art.
The Painting Fool
Simon Colton, a computer scientist, started developing the Painting Fool computer program in 2001
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Colton has progressively enhanced the program's capability to generate original art without external references.
The Painting Fool's output includes paintings, three-dimensional sculptures, photographs, and poetry
E-David
The Drawing Apparatus for Vivid Interactive Display, also known as e-David, was developed by scientists at Germany’s University of Konstanz
Originally a welding robot for car part manufacturing, e-David was equipped with sensors, a camera, and connected to a computer
The computer issues drawing commands to e-David, which it executes using five brushes and 24 paint colors
e-David's camera helps it learn from errors, aiding in the improvement of the images it produces.
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Engineers
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They start by determining the requirements like lightweight, terrain adaptability, and durability
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Technicians
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Malfunctioning robots can significantly impact productivity, so technicians are essential for companies relying on robotics.
Robotics Researchers
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Researchers study existing robots, aiming to improve or create new models.
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Education And Training
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Engineers typically hold a bachelor’s degree in engineering, with various specializations available.
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Additional coursework in chemistry, physics, mathematics, and electronics is common.
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Continuous learning is essential for robotics professionals to stay updated with technology advances, often through conferences and training sessions.
CHAPTER FOUR
A Robot in the Making
Developing a new robot involves planning the design, building prototypes, and testing.
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Cost considerations are crucial to ensure affordability for consumers and profitability for the manufacturer.
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As an inventor at a robotics company, bringing your idea to life requires careful planning, testing, and problem-solving.
A Board Game Robot
A brainstorming session with engineers and designers is held to develop a new robot for the home market.
Inspired by a love for board games, the idea of a game-playing robot is proposed to address solo gaming needs.
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Designers create sketches while engineers plan the necessary components for the robot's functionality.
Step by Step
Among various designs, a humanoid robot is chosen as it serves as a companion for users, particularly for board game play.
The robot has a torso, a large head, and wheels for mobility, with no legs as it will sit during activities.
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Cost-effectiveness is crucial for market appeal, confirmed by financial review.
The project is approved, and prototype construction begins.
Robot Games
Robot competitions are significant for young individuals as they introduce them to building and operating robots.
Participants construct their own robots and engage them in various activities such as games or problem-solving tasks.
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Battling Bots
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The U.S. show BattleBots had a similar concept, with armed robots fighting in an arena.
BattleBots returned in 2015, demonstrating enduring interest in robot battles.
Down to Work
A software development company is hired to create programs for the robot, initially supporting popular board games like chess and checkers.
Future updates will allow users to download new board games to their computers and transfer them to the robot.
Designers choose plastic for the hands, arms, and face for a humanlike appearance and flexibility, and metal for structural support.
The prototype is progressing well, and it's time to test its functionality.
Testing and Tweaking
The robot’s computerized voice is too high-pitched and annoying, needing reprogramming for a more pleasant sound.
The robot is too good at some games, making it difficult for beginners. Adding multiple difficulty levels is necessary to ensure all users enjoy the games.
The plastic used for the robot’s hands breaks easily. Engineers found a more durable material, but it is more expensive.
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The Assembly Line
Robots are common in factories today, but the assembly line predates them by over a century.
Before the 19th-century Industrial Revolution, products were handmade by skilled craftspeople.
Eli Whitney introduced the use of standard, interchangeable parts, allowing unskilled workers to assemble products.
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Road Robots
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Commuters won't need to focus on traffic, as self-driving cars will handle driving.
Parking lots may turn into green spaces, as self-driving cars can continually move and pick up passengers.
With no humans driving, the potential for auto accidents decreases.