Robotics

Computer Application in Food Engineering

Date: 4/04/11

Dr. Jayeeta Mitra

Introduction
Robots are programmable physical machines that have sensors and actuators, and are given goals for what they should achieve in the world. An automatic device that performs functions normally Ascribed to humans or a machine in the form of a human Sensor input Perception algorithms Commands/ signals motors

An automatic industrial machine replacing the human in hazardous work environment An automatic mobile sweeper machine in a modern home An automatic toy car for a child to play with A machine removing mines in a war field all by itself and many more

History
The term robot was coined by Czech author Karel Capek . He used the word to describe fabricated workers in his fictional play called Rossums Universal Robots (1920s ). Real robots were came into existence in the 1950s and 1960s with the introduction of transistors and integrated circuits. The first commercial robot nicknamed the 'Unimate, was created and the first Unimate was installed at a General Motors plant to work with heated die-casting machines .

Types of Robots
Industrial Robots : Materials handling Welding Inspection Improving productivity Laboratory applications Mobile Robots: Robots that move around on legs, tracks or wheels. Educational Robots : Robotic kits are used extensively in education. Examples are Robolab and Lego and Robo Cup Soccer

Building Blocks of any Control System

O/P Desired Action Controller Actuator

Feedback Closed Loop System

Autonomous Robot
Motion Database Intelligent Controller Physical Controller Motor

Sensors

 Database (Information) Defines the purpose of our robot Desired Goals Expert System Intelligent Controller (Software) Controls our robot Artificial Intelligence Decision Making Ability Neural Network

 Physical Controller (Hardware) Does electrical control of our robot Electronic Circuits Power Circuits Power Supply End Actuators (Converters) Provides mechanical motion to our robot Motors Electromagnets Pneumatic Systems Hydraulic Systems

 Sensors (Feedback) Informs our robot about the outside world Temperature Sensors Light Sensors Pressure Sensors Camera (Image Processing)

Applicability
With the flexibility of programming and the training supplied by a skilled operator, robots could carry out very complex, humanlike, repetitive tasks; however the task could be changed at short notice by using a different program. Access to a very rich set of sophisticated sensors, powerful computing platforms and all variety of agile mechatronic devices - fully autonomous robot agent which could carry out a variety of complex tasks in unstructured environments and at the same time be able to interact cooperatively with humans.

Robots are also used for the following reasons:

Repetitive tasks that robots can do 24/7. Robots never get sick or need time off. Robots can do tasks considered too dangerous for humans. Robots can operate equipment to much higher precision than humans. May be cheaper over the long term May be able to perform tasks that are impossible for humans

The practical application domains where robotic technology is most likely to be used are:
1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. 11. Transport (public and private) Exploration (oceans, space, deserts etc.) Mining (dangerous environments) Civil Defence (search and rescue, fire fighting etc.) Security/Surveillance (patrol, observation and intervention) Domestic Services (cleaning etc.) Entertainment (robotic toys etc.) Assistive Technologies (support for the fragile) War Machines Medical science (Surgical assistant) Scientific Instrumentation (e.g. synchrotron sample preparation, chemical screening etc.)

Future Trends
Although it has been a long time coming, the age where robots of various kinds and capabilities will work along-side humans [Harte, 2007] or in hazardous environments where humans dare not venture is soon to be realised. The challenges: Lack of relatively inexpensive sensor and computational technology. Many activities easily carried out by humans are much harder to realise in a machine than was originally thought. Huge amounts of effort in devising artificial intelligence and signal processing methodologies has only recently yielded modest commercially applicable results.

Asimovs Laws of Robotics (1942)

A robot may not injure a human being, or, through inaction, allow a human being to come to harm A robot must obey orders given it by human beings, except where such orders would conflict with the First Law. A robot must protect its own existence as long as such protection does not conflict with the First or Second Law.