Glossary:

click here for a good glossary of terms for robotics

Robotic Systems

Robotics is set to become a revolution in the way we live. The nexst 20 years will see a boom in robotics. Have a look at some robots in the Robot Gallery

• 1. What is a sensor?

  Sensors are input devices that measure data from the environment. Sensors are used to detect different physical conditions such as temperature, light, position, touch and flow of fluids. They generate potential difference of voltage which is used by the robot to vary its response to the environment.

   

  
  2. Give examples of sensors.

  Some examples of sensors include temperature sensors, light sensors, position sensors, touch sensors and flow sensors.

   

  3. What is an interface?

  An interface allows computers and peripherals to be connected. It is like a bridge that allows data to be transferred between two devices having different functions.

   

  4. What is a control program?

  A control program enhances an operating system of the robot by creating an environment in which you can run other programs. Control programs generally provide a graphical interface and enable you to run several programs at once in different windows. Control programs are also called operating environment or operating system. many robots will use PLC which will probably not use a graphically enabled operating system and will require programming using ladder logic.

   

  5. What is an actuator? 

  Actuators are devices that carry out a mechanical action of the robot under the control of a signal. They perform the actual work of the system, such as a pump stopping, a switch being moved or a light beam being turned on. Some common actuators are electric motors, solenoids and stepping motors.

   

  Actuators allow movement such as an arm or a leg type of motion. Actuators can also be used to help hold items.

  

  This illustration shows a breakdown of a Flight Telerobotic Servicer (FTS) used in space to make repairs and adjustments to satelite positions and other space payloads. http://www.algor.com.cn/example/aero017.htm 

  

Here you can see actuators at work in the car manufacturing industry.

 

6. What is an effector? 

Effector is another name for actuator.

 

7. What is an end effector?

End effectors are devices attached to the working end of a robotic arm or device. They include grippers, tools and switches.

 

8. Give examples of effectors.

 

Grippers, tools and switches. Grippers are instruments capable of grasping, holding and controlling an object in a robotic system. They form part of a control device to move the object from one position to another. Tools are instruments capable of performing mechanical operations such as cutting, twisting or drilling. The type of tool depends on task required. Switches are used to connect, disconnect or redirect an electric circuit.

This is a traditional "prehensile" automated manipulation involving a robot end-effector (gripper).

 

9. What is a robot?

A programmable computers designed to perform a variety of tasks by moving material, parts, tools or specialised devices.

 Robots do not look anything like the Science Fiction machines. They are machines used to do tasks which humans would find repetitious or dangerous. Below is a picture of a robot built for a nuclear reactor.

10. What is an ambulatory robot? What is the opposite of this?

Ambulatory (moving) robots are able to respond to their environment in the way humans do. Opposite of this, most robots are stationary and do specialised repetitive work.

11. What is an intelligent or adaptive robot?

An intelligent or adaptive robot can make decisions based on changes in their environment. A position sensor and a touch sensor might be used by an adaptive robotic arm to compare its position with where it should be.

 

Above is a picture or a robotic lawn mower.

12. What is a reprogrammable robot? 

A reprogrammable robot is when you change a robot’s behaviour. It is done by putting a new program into the robots computer.

 

13. What is a specific-purpose robot?

They are only designed to do one task, i.e. an automatic machine.

 

14. What are the four basic motions of a robot?

The four basic motions of a robot are called the LERT classification system in which L stands for Linear-movement in a straight line, E stands for Extension-moving an arm in or out, R stands for Rotation-moving through an arc and T stands for Twist- a spinning motion.

 

The LERT Classification System

The LERT classification system uses the type of motion produced by each robot axis as a basis for classifying the robot.The four basic motions are linear, extensional, rotational, and twisting (LERT).

Here is the linear motion of the type that might be seen on a rack and pinion. Linear motion is produced by a part moving along the outside of another part, as in a gantry or a rack and pinion system.



Here is an extension motion such as that which occurs when one part of a robot arm slides inside another part of the arm. Extensional motion is produced when one part moves inside another part with a telescoping motion.



Here is a rotational motion such as that found when a part turns at something other than its center; something like the arm bending at the elbow. Rotational motion is produced by one part moving about something other than its centre.



Here is atwisting motion, which may be seen when a part turns about its center; something like the turning of a human neck joint.



A gantry robot has three linear motions, has a wrist with three rotational motions, and has a gripper with one linear motion would be an L³R³L robot using LERTs.



The Rhino educational robot, mounted on an xy-coordinate table, has two linear motions for the base and seven rotational motions for the arm, writst, gripper.