Robotics and the future

Do you think robots are  taking over the future. I am currently working on a project on Autonomous  Robots. 
I will be sharing my work on my final year project which is to build an autonomous robot with local materials.

What Is A Robot

All robots are machines, however, all machines are not robot.  A robot is a machine that is designed to do work or operations that is meant for humans to do.
But that would mean that any device or appliance that is automated is a robot.

This would be saying a lot, that is why I think that there should be some fundamental criteria that defines a robot.

Criteria Of A Robot

1. Sensing
2. Reprogrammable
3. Interact
4. Power source
5.Non-living

In this post, we will talk about the criteria in depth.

1. SENSING

In order for a robot to be active and perform a task, it must be able to sense it's immediate environment. A way to measure, evaluate, or monitor it's environment is very important.

There are several types of sensors that we can incorporate in a robot. But firstly, let us do a quick comparison of human senses and the corresponding sense device  a robot

Sense.         Humans.           Robots
Seeing.        Eyes.                Camera, 
        
Taste.          Tongue.            Nill

Smell.            Nose.              Gas sensors

Sound.         Ear.                   Sound sensor

Hunger.       Hormone.           Nill

Thirst.          Receptors.      Nill

Direction.     Some cortex.   Compass

Pain.            Skin e.t.c.        Nil

From the description above, we can somehow assume what our robot can and cannot do.  

Finally, sensors are devices for provide information about the environment.

2. REPROGRAMMABLE

Assuming you have a robot that can wash plates,  that mean it has hands, wouldn't it be nice to use the same robot to carry books by just reprogramming it than to make a new robot.
That is why robots are diverse and important. 

3.INTERACTION

A robot should be able to interact with the environment using the data it has sensed and perform actions reasonably.

4. POWER SOURCE

For a robot to perform any action, energy will be expended and that energy needs to come from somewhere.

5. NON-LIVING

A robot obviously does not have life in it. Although there are scenarios where robotic arms are incorporated in a human. There are many controversy concerning this topic which is outside y scope at the moment. 

Well, well, we have talked about the basic characteristic of a robot. 

Although many People would want to add autonomy to a robot, I believe it's a matter of choice and the kind of work it is meant to do.

I hope you enjoyed this post,  you can place a comment in the comment box below.