Robotics has grown exponentially in recent decades. Nowadays the term robot is often used to refer to both general-purpose devices such as self-driving cars and smaller items like personal assistants like Alexa. Another common definition is “any machine capable of sensing its environment and taking actions in response.” But since this definition doesn’t specifically include robots that can sense their own internal state and autonomously interact with other machines, the words can be used together to mean almost anything. The first real application of robotics began in 1950, when Karel Čapek created simple electric-powered vehicles that could follow a predetermined route with no sensors or controls. Over time, several companies built large fleets of similar vehicles. At that point, most people realized that even though something could get around the planet using just electricity alone, it wouldn’t be able to do much else — even if it worked perfectly as intended. So, after the realization of these ideas, engineers came up with a new objective: How could they make these autonomous vehicles work without the need for control or sensors? The answer was to have them drive along the road without being told what to do.
What is Robotics?
Robots are machines that use algorithms to perform tasks.
For example, when you open an app on your mobile device, you use an algorithm
to determine which action you want it to take based on things like the color of
a car that crosses your path or the sound that goes through your headphones. If
you want the smartphone to turn off at night because that's what it always
does, then that algorithm makes sure it gets there. That algorithm can be built
into software, or it can be programmed by humans, but at its core, it relies on
machines and algorithms to do a certain task. By definition, computer science
defines robotics as any system that interacts with itself autonomously. It also
refers to systems that are not just computers, but that have sensory input
capabilities.
Applications of robots
Robots can be used for many different purposes, including:
- cleaning,
- delivery,
- healthcare,
- entertainment,
- construction,
- inspection,
- transportation,
- military deployment, and
- manufacturing.
Some robots are already
in use today for these tasks, but others could come into use in the future.
Robot technology
Robot technology had major advances over the last 100
years. Before 1940, robots needed to be fed specific food to maintain weight
and health. Today, they can feed themselves. They don't rely on energy, so they
operate independently, and they can move freely without moving parts or
external assistance. Modern robots include artificial intelligence (AI) and
machine learning (ML), which allow them to carry out more complex calculations
and learn from experience, enabling them to carry out various tasks. These
technological innovations using automation and robotics engineering allow robots to accomplish tasks previously only
thought possible.
Pioneering attempt…
One such pioneering attempt was done in 1956 by Charles Hull
at Carnegie Mellon University. He built his idea on the concept of
human-machine integration, and made the first fully autonomous vehicle. The
resulting vehicle was called R2, and featured two wheels, one on each side of
the vehicle. Using an integrated circuit board, she controlled all of the
electronic components within her, including light sensors and actuators. She
could detect if the roadway had broken from traffic buildup and stop the
vehicle if necessary. Since the driver would still need to maintain control
remotely, he would control the steering wheel manually as opposed to having to
think about turning his handwheel. When the driver stopped the vehicle, the
passengers were automatically ejected to safety. However, since those early
attempts, it wasn't until 1963 that a working prototype of a vehicle with full
autonomy was built. This machine was powered by vacuum tubes, and it navigated
autonomously within a lane using radar signals. Within minutes of starting the
engine, the machine traveled 1.5 miles on highways and 2.4 miles as highway
traffic slowed down to a standstill. A few months later another successful
demonstration was completed, this time of a fully autonomous truck that drove
through fields without a single person in sight. Three years later General
Motors introduced its first fully automatic vehicle. Later models were designed
to travel farther distances, including ones that could even travel in snowy
conditions. With advances in technology, the goal of fully autonomous robotics
is steadily advancing in the next 20 to 30 years.
How are we doing this? Take the step back…
Before discussing the future of robotics, let's talk about
what exactly robots are doing today. We should have an insight into automation and robotics engineering. Robot engineers use a variety of tools to
build a robot, regardless of what type it is. Common programming languages used
are C++, Python, Java, and JavaScript. Then it's important to understand what
each one is designed to achieve—each language has special features that make it
useful when building a particular model of robotics. Here's a brief overview of
how these programming languages make sense of creating a robot.
C++
You write code in C++, and it's the go-to choice for
developing low-level applications. An easy way to think about it is like high
school math: everyone learns it without knowing why they're taught the subject
matter in the first place. Everything that a teacher says may help students
learn; everything a student learns is meant to teach. After college, university
courses use C++ as the primary teaching language. Popular examples of C++
include Turbo Pascal (which is now replaced by Fortran), Unix shell scripting,
and Game Boy games.
Python
Unlike C++, this scripting language isn't widely used yet.
Like C++, Python is written in a straightforward syntax. In fact, Python is
considered the most popular coding language in the world. Even though Python
can replace C++, there aren't as many programmers mastering Python right now as
there are those who know C++. Python has been adopted as an entry level language
in universities across Europe, while C++ is becoming more acceptable in high
schools. To date, however, neither language has become universally accepted as
a second language.
Java
Unlike Python, Java is a general purpose scripting
language. While Python is better known as an interface language, Java is best
known for object-oriented programming, which allows developers to create
objects and manipulate them and the data stored within them. Object-oriented
programming is an incredibly powerful approach to robotics, as it lets
researchers create highly abstracted software. Many industries use Java,
including business software and web development. It's also often used in
scientific computing, especially quantum computing.
JavaScript
Also known as JavaScript, this scripting language is very
closely related to both C++ and Java, although it differs slightly in syntax. Jscript is great for prototyping and writing small interactive apps quickly and
easily. Because JavaScript is a client server language, it's not typically used
for larger pieces of software like servers or databases.
To summarize, the difference between programming languages
is usually seen in three aspects: how well they support specific programming
paradigms, how fast you can write software with either language (as long as you
have the correct hardware and Internet connectivity), and how flexible each one
is. What kind of hardware requirements are needed for specific tasks? Do I need
a lot of memory or lots of CPU power? Does my program need to run on a
microcomputer, a PC, or on embedded systems? How rapidly will I be able to test
every line of code and fix bugs?
Final thoughts…
As robot technology, robot engineering and robot science continues to develop, the future of robot science is looking very exciting. Robots are becoming more and more advanced, with many now possessing artificial intelligence (AI) and the ability to learn and evolve over time. This means that robots are becoming more and more capable of completing complex tasks, making them even more useful in a variety of settings. Industrial robotics and medical robotics as reliable robotics are on their way for commercialization.
As robots become more ubiquitous, they are also becoming cheaper and easier to use. This trend is likely to continue, meaning that even more people and businesses will be able to benefit from using them. Additionally, as robots become more sophisticated, they are also likely to play an increasingly important role in our lives and society as a whole. For instance, they could be used for things like healthcare, elder care, or even child care. all in all, the future of robotics looks very exciting. With continued development, robots are only going to become more advanced and useful in a variety of settings. They have the potential to greatly improve our lives in many different ways, and it will be interesting to see how they are used in the years to come. Due to frontiers in robotics and AI, in near future having a robotics company will indicate how much advance a person is.
No comments:
Post a Comment