Control : Robotics and Automation

Control : Robotics and Automation

When most people think of a robot they imagine something that looks like a human, can perform a wide variety of tasks and thinks for itself. This is a long way from reality. The majority of robots are used in industry. They are designed to carry out one specific task over and over again. A robot will carry out its task very accurately but it is difficult to adapt a robot to carry out a task that is significantly different from the one it was designed for.

Robots are controlled by computer programs that respond to the inputs they receive from sensors. Robots use standard sensors such as buttons together with visual recognition systems that can be programmed to identify objects like screws or machine parts by processing images from a camera. Most robots use electrical motors or hydraulic systems to produce movement.

Here are some examples of uses that robots are put to :

Task Type	Suitability	Example
Repetitive Tasks	Many jobs in the manufacturing industry are very repetitive. Humans are not very good at these. They got bored and tired and make mistakes. Humans do not get much satisfaction from carrying out repetitive tasks.	Over 50% of robots are used to manufacture cars. Robots can move car parts, screw or weld them together and paint complete cars. Each robot on a car production line will perform one specific job. It will be able to carry out its job highly accurately 24-hours a day.
Dangerous Situations	Because robots are not affected by certain factors such as radiation and because human life is valued so highly robots are often used in situations that would be dangerous to humans.	A robot buggy can be used to defuse a bomb. The buggy is equipped with cameras so that a controller can see where it is, a robot arm that the controller can use to lift a possible bomb and move it to a safer location and a high pressure water jet or gun that can be used to disarm a bomb.
Highly Accurate	Robots can move and positions items much more accurately than a human can.	Electronic components can be placed onto a circuit board and soldered together far more precisely using robots than by a human hand. They are also being used to assist surgeons in micro-surgical operations as unlike a surgeon's hand, a robot arm does not shake.
At Home	Robots have not yet become popular in peoples homes as they are expensive and currently unsuitable for many domestic tasks.	Robotic vacuum cleaners and lawnmowers are available but they are currently very expensive.

The main advantages of using robots instead of humans are :

Robots do not mind carrying out repetitive tasks over and over again.
Robots can work 24 hours a day without getting tired or making mistakes.
Robots can make much more accurate movements than humans can.
Robots can work in situations that may be dangerous to humans.
You do not have to pay robots wages to work, so items produced by robots can be sold more cheaply.

There are also some disadvantages to using robots :

Most robots can only carry out one particular task. They can not easily be adapted to do anything else.
People who used to carry out jobs that can now be performed by robots have been made unemployed.

GCSE ICT Companion 04 - (C) P Meakin 2004